'I still haven't really processed it entirely': Luna Elle opens up about her first Juno nomination
The teen musician is up for R&B/soul recording of the year
R&B singer Luna Elle, who was the top teen in CBC Music's Searchlight competition in 2023, scored her first Juno nomination for traditional R&B/soul recording of the year. The 18-year-old's silky track "9 to 5" will compete against projects and songs by RealestK, Aqyila, Jhyve and Katie Tupper.
Elle put out her first single in 2021, and is only in the third year of her career. She's been described by CBC Music's Andrea Warner as an exciting emerging artist to watch, whose commanding voice "is a study in dualities: a tether and a release, flirty and frank, hushed shadows and moonlit glow."
Joining The Block's host Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe for an interview ahead of the Juno Awards on March 24, Elle discussed her passion for songwriting, her upcoming performance at the Juno Songwriters' Circle and more. An excerpt of their conversation is available below.
From her 2023 EP, Coping Mechanism, [that was] Luna Elle with [her] Juno-nominated [song] "9 to 5." So before we get into the latter part of that statement, Juno-nominated, let's talk about the EP Coping Mechanism. What's up with the title?
So this was at a point in my life where I kind of I was going through some little things, you know, a little childish romance thing.
Oh, we can't discount that.
Yeah, you know, I think like a lot of people do. I was listening to music to kind of work my way through my feelings to cope. And so then that kind of inspired [it]. The whole concept of it is relatable music. That's what I make. I want you to relate to it. I want you to know that you're not the only one that's feeling like that, and then that's your way to cope, just through music. Because to cope with anything really, I listen to music for stress, whatever I'm going through. So I want it to be an outlet for someone, and that's why I named it Coping Mechanism.
Medicine music.
Yeah.
And the latter part of the statement, Juno-nominated track right there, you heard. And this is happening quite early in your career. How are you feeling about being nominated for traditional R&B/soul recording of the year?
I feel like I still... I always say this, but I still haven't really processed it entirely. I don't think until I literally hit the Junos that I will actually process that I'm Juno-nominated. It's just, I never expected it year three into my career, let alone at 18. I just didn't know how to feel, I literally don't even know what I did in that moment. I just blacked out. I don't remember. But I am very grateful to everyone who's helped me along my journey and everyone who's going to continue to.
And you are a songwriter.
I am.
And that means you're going to be part of a pretty impressive event ... the crown jewel of the Juno Awards, the Songwriters' Circle. It's like the big, big, big event where basically all these different musicians and songwriters gather around and they kind of dig into their process and into their careers and stuff, and you're going to be a part of that.
Yeah, I'm kind of nervous just because I'm still very new.
And you'll perform as well, right?
Yeah. I'm performing. I'm so excited to perform. Oh my gosh, I'm going to perform "9 to 5."
Yes, of course.
And I'll perform my newest single, "Certainty of Life," and I love that one so much.
Yeah?
Yes.
This is very exciting for you. I'm super, super excited for you because I think that's a lot actually, you know, for your first one, because [for] most people's first nominations, [you] go and you experience the atmosphere and you go to all the events and stuff, and then you see if you win your award and maybe you do, but you're also participating in a pretty high-profile event as well.
Yeah.
So I've heard that you're an overthinker. What does that mean? And how does that affect your songwriting? How does that affect the process of getting a project out there into the world?
Yeah, so I overthink about just about everything. I could post a story and it'll be sitting on my phone for 30 minutes because I'm like, do I want to post things? Maybe I should move this around?
And is it a perfectionism thing or [an] overthinking thing?
I don't really know. It's like a mix of both, but it's very much present in my songs [and in] my writing just because it'll take me a long time to write a song to a point where I think, is it good enough. So I guess it is a little bit of perfectionism.
I don't know. I think maybe it might be a confluence or a crashing in of [how] the world moves really, really fast. So it's almost a perspective [of] is this really taking me a long time, or is it just taking me a long time in the context of how quickly content is coming at you constantly.
That's true, I never thought about it like that.
Yeah, because I remember, I think it was Snoop [Dogg] who said something like, "By the time you're ready to put out a song, you are sick of hearing it."
That's so real. Honestly, yeah. It depends on the song for me. But that's happened a lot before.
Yeah.
So it's definitely hard overthinking, especially because I have to put out content so fast. Like TikTok for example. TikTok is like, you post three times a day. For those three times a day, it takes me two hours each because I'm just out there [wondering], should I post it? Will they take this wrong? ... And I'll sit there and dwell over it for so long.
But do you find that social media is a major part of your career? Do you feel like it pushes it forward, or is it something you feel like you have to do?
I think it does push it forward. I don't dislike posting, I love it, but it's just at some points, I can get a little self-conscious, especially 'cause there's so many people that I know are going to see it. It's overwhelming, but I do have to remind myself that nobody's perfect.
Facts.
And social media is [a narrow view]. They don't see that's what's going on in your life. Social media is just social media.
So it's like life through a filter. And then you can hear the sad bits in your music.
Yeah.
Last year you were also crowned the top teen of CBC Music's Searchlight competition. How would you say that that has impacted your career?
That honestly was a really good look for me. Just because ... big things like that can help with the little things that I kind of dwell on because sometimes I'll be feeling like maybe I'm not working hard enough [or] maybe I'm not where I need to be at this moment. But then things like that help me understand that I am going places and people are seeing me and it keeps me going.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. To hear the full interview, listen to The Block on CBC Music.
Host Nelly Furtado is bringing the party to the 2024 Juno Awards on Sunday, March 24, at 8 p.m ET. Tune in on CBC-TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and CBC Listen, and stream globally on cbcmusic.ca/junos.
