Elizaveta Ephemeris

Icarus

I have met so many incredible, creative and talented people over the past couple of years.

One of these is Christina Yee, who I had the honor of meeting last year at a very special curated event called Hatch.

Christina is a filmmaker, a passionate, warm and lovely human being. I fell in love with the short animated film she screened at the event. The film was 'Miss Todd', and it had won a slew of awards, including a student Academy Award.

The movie was inspired by a real person - specifically, Lilian Todd - the first woman who designed an airplane.

As I was about to release my new album 'Messenger', I was struck by how one of the songs on the record resonated with the film's subject matter - and I approached Christina with an idea to take the footage of the film and make a music video. We agreed that the melancholy, but uplifting nature of the song would give new meaning to the film's story. 

The video was edited by Camille Penalver.

To find out more about the makers of the film, watch the full length version, as well as read about the painstaking process of making it, check out this site: http://www.misstoddfilm.com

 

 

Meant on 'Scandal' and Oscars:)

Well, tonight I was just at home, in my PJ's, working on new songs and re-singing vocal harmonies over and over, when my phone went crazy, and so did my Facebook and also Twitter.

In fact, my song Meant was being used for the promo of the ABC show 'Scandal' and it aired during Oscars. I missed it! I was working and not watching the Oscars: I'll admit it.

Also, I knew about the possible use, but it was not a sure thing - these things can change any moment - and so it came as a surprise to me, too... a very good one! I have been working very hard on the follow up music recently, and this is like a beautiful gift, and a fitting place for Meant. I have heard from some new fans who say the promo has a James Bond vibe:)

Thank you ABC for picking my song. Seriously: a big, big thank you.

And for those of you who are reading this and meeting me for the first time because of this occasion:

Buy the album version of Meant (the one used for the promo) on iTunes here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beatrix-runs/id495053308

There is a ton of cool things and videos on my official site, too.

Download a free copy of the original acoustic demo of Meant on my SoundCloud.

 

Official Meant video, directed by Julien Lasseur:

 

And if you're abroad, or on mobile or the You Tube video above is refusing to play, here is also:

 

 

Plus, the acoustic version with strings recorded and filmed live at Capitol Studios

(iTunes Live Session, also available on iTunes):

 

Attends! Attends..

Here is the complete demo of the French cover I have done recently, Ma Préférence by Julien Clerc. I wouldn't say that his style of music is very close to mine, but this is a brilliant song and I intend to make it part of my performing repertoire - I love the harmonic changes and the message. I am also translating it into English and Russian.

I added an intro from a classic French film (can you guess which one?) Hint: Gerard Depardieu is in it. Although, fair to say he is in almost EVERY French film of the recent 40 years. That man gets around.  

 

 

Here is the translation, as promised. This is a very literal one because I didn't try to write something here that would be more poetic.. yet.. as in real lyrics, so it doesn't flow well at all, but it is good enough to get an idea. The actual translated lyrics, as I hear them in my head, would carry the message across, but would not be the same words...

I love this song and its basic concept that sometimes, contrary to popular thought, others do not necessarily see better or are able to judge more accurately when it comes to our own lives and who we want in them. Sometimes it's best to withhold judgment, because there may be something there we do not see or would not value for ourselves, and yet it is everything to another person.

The original of the song is about her. When I did the cover, I switched it to him, and I think it makes it almost even more poignant.

 

 

I know that you don't approve of him

and his way of showing that he belongs to me

you fall silent around us

and yet, I choose him

 

Yes, I know - this air of indifference that's his defence

It often offends you

But when we are surrounded by my friends made of porcelain

I know where his failure lies.

Yes I know - you don't believe that I can be faithful to him

and you are already speaking of him in past tense

But he really is what I want.

 

You should believe me when I say

that I am the only one who can tell when he is cold

he only has eyes for me

and incidentally, he loves my uncertainty

while I love his solitude.

 

I know that you don't approve of him

and his way of showing that he belongs to me

you fall silent around us

and yet - he is my lucky charm

I choose him.

He is what I want.

 

 

 

good morning! (and new cover)

We are frantically packing up and jumping in the van. Yes, a van. I am so tired and completely bleary-eyed, but excited. Tonight I perform in New York City.

"Beatrix Runs" debuted at #24 on iTunes, and climbed to #16.

I have no words to express, really, how I feel. This album means so much to me and was crafted with so much love and care. I gave my everything into the process, and both Greg (my producer) and I really felt we made something special. And it appears that the world at large agrees with us. And it makes me want to cry (in the best possible way).

I hope the album will continue to connect with people and really get to fly. If you are reading this, please share the iTunes link (above) with your friends, loved ones, co-workers and classmates. After all, it's how the word gets out - not through commercial exposure or promotion. And I don't have those luxuries. But who needs them, when I have such listeners as you?

And here is something I did just before leaving for the tour - another cover. This is Irving Berlin's 'The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On).

Enjoy. I hope my melodies continue to linger on for a bit longer..

 

tedxhollywood and random encounters of the ex kind.

I had a ball yesterday, participating in the event. The presentations were informative and amazing, as well. I also got to meet Curt Smith (of tears of fears, among other things) and it sounds like we will collaborate on a song. He was extremely gracious towards me.

I was also inspired and blown away by the photography presentation by Jay Mark Johnson. What he does is something called timeline - or spacetime - photography. I can't really - and probably shouldn't try to explain what it really is on here, but I do recommend his website and checking out the concept: it will make your mind spin, and in a good way. I love being exposed to things like this: areas where philosophy, art, poetry, science and technology are fused into one, without trying to negate one another.

When you go to the Artworks section of his site, you find yourself with a brilliant quote by William Blake:

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through the narrow chinks of his cavern.

- William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

This photo below is one of his, and it is a shot of a dancer in motion. Simply amazing.

http://www.jaymarkjohnson.com/artworks/

 

Then, we were treated to a presentation by Rob Schwartz, who is the creative CFO for Chiat/Day, and the mastermind behind the recent Pepsi Refresh Campaign, which invests $$ into grants for community-oriented ideas around America. It reminded me of my friend and fan Geoff Cottrill, who has singlehandedly reinvented the Converse brand (I am very partial to it, especially because I got to do a music video for them last year and now own a gazillion multi-coloured converse kicks, hooray!), and it is also all branding centered around giving back, community, art and connection between people.

If you have a brilliant idea, go to the Pepsi website and submit it! You never know. My designer Missy (http://www.i102fly.com) and I were thinking of trying it out to raise some funds for a Cambodian orphanage she has been involved with for a while.

Curt Smith spoke about how his career and interactions with fans have been dramatically changed by the use of social media and played us a couple of collaborations that came from it, including one with an amazing cellist Zoe Keating. I'd love to meet her! Maybe now I will!!

All in all, it was a blast. I got to meet lots of new people and make fans. I also overdosed on free cupcakes. Sue me.

At the end, as we were leaving, there was someone walking down the parking lot alongside us, who complimented me on my performance. He looked familiar, but I could not place him. And all of a sudden it struck me: he was the neighbour to my ex's power boat where the two of us lived for a year or so, before we broke up and I moved out! When I pointed it out to him, he looked flabbergasted and said: oh wow. But you look so different now. (it was a positive). and your music is so much more... uh....

What a difference two years make. I drove away, whistling. Hello, new life. I am SO on top of it now:)

 

Tito Melega who organized the event and graciously invited me to perform, Melissa Washington (who styled me, equally graciously), and myself.

sunday, sunday

Tomorrow I am going to give up coffee for a while. Sigh. And wine. I love both, but neither really agrees with me - I had wine twice in the past week, neither my voice nor my body were happy with me.

but, as I am having a cup of coffee this morning - the last hooray! - here is something to see your weekend out. A cover I did of Breakfast at Tiffany's Moon River. See the original below it. Sheldon Gomberg the Great is playing acoustic bass on it, too.

Moon River by elizaveta