EXCLUSIVE: A BRAND NEW ELLER!!

You know that feeling you get when you listen to that one song…and you think, “Hey, this is exactly how I feel today”??

When the words you hear are the words running through your mind in that specific moment?

Yes, I am sure we all got this, but for me personally, it doesn’t happen quite often, it depends on the mood and on the phase of life I’m going through…So, when “Brand New” hit me right in the feels a couple of weeks ago,it immediately hooked me up with its charming (and pretty deep honestly) lyrics.

My pop rock soul side broke through…again!! And in that moment I knew it was going to be a pretty special song to me, the one to play over and over from now on.

Now, just pretend you were me for a moment ok?

You are listening to this gigantic tune during a perfect mid summer night…its lyrics hunting your thoughts while the captivating smile and eyes of Eller are sending you the right amount of positive vibes you need right now…and yes, it happens..you start singing at the top of your lungs….

“I feel brand new …because of you…yeeeeaaahhhh….It’s what you doooo…..oh yeah brand newwwwww”…..

( and I am so out of tune guys you have no idea but just can’t help myself as the song is so catchy)…..so….what’s the next thing that comes to your mind now?

HINT: remember you are still me…a blogger……oh YESSSS!!! I’ve decided to keep in touch with Eller and see if he was up for a little chat….

And yes, he was!! And such a nice guy!!!

The very first thing I perceived is that I am really talking with a “Brand New” man, starting from the artist name which has been changed in just Eller (direct and friendly if you ask me) I’ve got the feeling he’s been through a lot lately and this led him to a certain kind of evolution… so Let’s found out more about our little talk…

 Hi Eller, and many thanks for taking the time, it’s really a pleasure to have you supporting my blog.

How are you doing lately?
I’m doing very well actually, thanks. Some big changes has happened. I moved houses and studio, and of course my upcoming EP. Lots of singing, writing, playing etc. Really good vibes going on!
First of all congrats for the new single Brand New, I am in love with it, what has inspired you this tune?
All the change that happened to me was the big inspiration. It was the first song I wrote together with Tony Cornelissen. I insist that a song could only be about stuff which stays close to myself, musically, but moreover lyrically. That’s one of the reasons I started singing myself. I might not be the best singer in the world, but working with other singers, who had to understand my emotions and thoughts just feels unnatural. I think people can interact with the song, too. 
Your passion for the music started at a very young age, how did it all begin and how much your family influenced you?

There was always music at home. My father is a huge music fan, who played recordings in literally almost all styles of music. That influenced me. Also my guitar teacher Eltjo Cleton helped me a lot. Because of my parents and Eltjo I started dreaming and practicing. Oh my God, I’ve practiced so much, haha! Of course my brother helped me a lot in learning how music and the industry all works. And my friends are all great music fans, too. I remember playing in bands and talking hours and hours just about music with them. I still do that. So it’s actually the whole environment around me that formed me personally as well as a musician. 

What about Bagga Bownz project?
Bagga Bownz still exists, but not as a band at the moment. I still see the guys quite often and I’m also still working with them, but more in different projects. Sometimes you just got to let go stuff, even if it’s very good, and move forward to new things. But Bagga Bownz was (and is) still a very good band and act. I still listen to “Done With The Pain” a lot. 
Can you tell me something about your upcoming solo album?(I can’t wait to listen to it)
Oh yeah! It’s an EP, called “Brand New”, and, like I said before, all of the songs are written from true experience. I did some co-writes and a duet, which at the moment I can’t say too much about (sorry!). The next single is called “Traffic Dance”. It’s a really happy one about the movements in a traffic jam, which makes it more a dance than just a bunch of cars. I thought of the concept while I was stuck in traffic on the way to Tony (Cornelissen, co-writer) for a writing session. 
The next single is ehmm…, AAARGH! Can’t say too much about it. The title though is “Better Now”. You should also listen to the pianos and Hammonds done by Sytze Verbeek. 

The other songs are ‘Ready To Go’, a heavy blues, about being done with the relation ship you’re in. The drums on that (by Tim Brink) are really pumping. Then there’s “Rescue Me”, an uplifting “Maroon 5” kind of feel, on which I really love the basslines (Auke Haaksma). The song sounds happy, but is about feeling helpless. 

And there’s more coming! Already did some writing for the second EP, which is already sounding great in demo phase. 
Talking about your professional life, you are a musician, a song writer, a singer… And you are always on the road with more than one project as you are following your brother on his world tour, so I was wondering if any of your song is maybe born really on the road? 

At the moment I’m not on tour with Armin. Touring is one of the best things that could happen to you, but on the Armin Only tours there’s almost no room for writing, because I need to be focussed. I was actually mostly having fun or sleeping the jetlags out 😉

And about collaborations with other artists, is there some one you would really like to get in touch to write something together ?

Ow, there are so many people, but if I had to name one right now it would be Ed Sheeran. In the beginning I wasn’t a big fan of his music, but when I listened more closely, and after I read his book, I would love to hear how he writes.

The funniest things happened to you while traveling?
So much funny things happen during touring. Laughing is one of the most important things during any tour. Me, Michael and Koen (Bagga Bownz members) used to have great laughs. The more stupid it is, the better. Of course it makes no sense in telling this in this interview, nobody would understand a particular situation. I also used to do solo shows, or tours with others, like my friend Chris Jones. Because “touring equals being tired” it makes the jokes even worse than they already are. Nobody would understand, but we just couldn’t stop laughing at some points. 
Looking back to some time ago…. There is an album you releases called Aacustico Dance Music, all my favorite trance tunes were rivisited in acoustic version… The very first time I heard the album I was attending Armin Only Intense in Utrecht if i am not wrong and I was like … Wow… Maybe you can tell us the idea behind this project ?

It happened during the shows. When you’re ‘home alone’ at your hotel room, waiting, or when you can’t leave for whatever reason, you’re just being bored. I started playing the songs acoustically, with the original singers, who were also in the same hotel. I recorded it with some iPhones, put it on YouTube and people starting asking where they could buy it. That was what helped me into doing this album. My name is on the front, but I did this together with the people from Bagga Bownz.

I know you also been a model in the past, how have you been involved in that?
Modelling was just something I ran into. I always love the creativity behind a photo shoot, also for an album. I love working with photographers, I don’t know why. Maybe because they have a different eye on the world?
What do you love to do in your spare time, if any? 🙂
“If any”, yes! Haha! I’m still learning on how to relax, I’m not very good at it. I love hanging out with my friends. 
Thank you very much and hope to see you soon!
Thank YOU very much. Really enjoyed your questions.
Eller – Brand New 

On Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2hpdDhe9nE5hhkmS8TmVcs

On YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/ellervanbuuren

On Apple Music/iTunes:

https://itun.es/nl/TR7xdb?i=1130347354

Also available in all streaming/download services