Premiere: Meet ELLE, who today share the clip for their debut, If You're Not The One

Over the last twelve months, we've placed an increasing emphasis on the rising Australian pop scene and its many pockets of brilliance, whether it be through the big stars finding success in international waters, or those just beginning to make their mark on a local scale - the latter of which consistently proving itself amongst the world's most exciting. Rising Melbourne-based duo ELLE - composed of Richard S. He and st. James - are a newcoming pairing amongst this latter category of up-and-comers, bringing an exciting new take on local pop music with their debut single, If You're Not The One.

Released not too long ago, If You're Not The One is a shimmering pop single that places an emphasis on the genre's most recognisable and genre-specific qualities, refusing to shy away from the strong hooks and tall-standing productions that often artists feel a little 'on the fence' about grasping with open arms (for some strange reason). It's starry-eyed and uplifting though its brooding, steadily-rising production and the triumphant vocal that it elevates, while underneath, it tells a story of vulnerability and love: "If You’re Not the One might be a love song, but more than that, it’s about the need for beauty in art — especially in today’s uncertain times," explains Richard on the single.

Today, however, we're premiering If You're Not The One's official video clip, which emphasises the dreamy qualities of the single's sparkling 'feel' and places it on a pedestal - the duo's vocalist st. James in the centre eye as they take the track to the Mornington Penisula's Rosebud Pier. "The music video shoot was really interesting for me. It wasn’t the first one I’ve been in, but it was the first where I’ve been the lead artist," said st. James on the clip, which was directed by Kai Perrignon and Conor Herbert. "We didn’t know what to expect, as we were at the mercy of the elements, and shooting in a popular tourist spot had its challenges."

As ELLE arm themselves with a bright and promising 2020 bound ahead, dive into the clip for If You're Not The One below, and better introduce yourself to the rising Melbourne duo while you're at it:

Tell us about yourself?

st. James: We’re a pop duo from Melbourne. I moved down from the Gold Coast a few years ago and met Richard playing in the same ’80s tribute show, of all places. I feel very blessed to have met someone who shares the same dream I’ve had since I was 4; an intense ambition for pop music stardom.

Richard: Some of you may already know me as a music journalist, but I’ve been not-so-secretly been honing my production skills in ELLE all along. We’ve both played music our whole lives, but this is a new level of self-expression for us - which is a little bit scary, but nothing could feel more natural.

What’s the vibe music-wise?

st. James: Neither of us like to sum up our music into one genre! The first single is definitely pure pop, but our other songs are heavily influenced by many other genres; R&B, art pop, house, classical music…

I love to romanticise not-so-romantic themes. If you love something that’s completely impractical, illogical or downright crazy, people look at it in a negative fashion. But I love that shit! This song embodies true pop music: dramatic, vulnerable honesty.

Richard: I just think of us as ambitious pop, whatever that means to you! We want to make music that’s emotionally and sonically generous, and that challenges your preconceptions - of our own abilities, and of what Australian pop music can be.

What are your production and writing processes like?

st. James: This is really where our individual strengths shine. When I start a new piece of music, I generally have a pretty vivid yet scattered vision in mind. Then we’ll build and rebuild our tracks till they barely resemble the original project. When we start a song we never know how it’ll sound in the end, and I love that.

Richard: I piece together every track from the ground up in Ableton. I like to think they’re as much orchestrations as productions, with layers of synths and ambience. Curtis Jay of Studio Truth recorded the vocals and mixed the track, and did an incredible job - I think we all pushed each other to the next level.

Can you tell us about your new single, If You’re Not the One, and its official video clip?

Richard: If You’re Not the One came to me almost fully formed as I sat down at the piano one day - and that almost never happens to me. It was inspired by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift and ten different Madonna ballads at once, but it sounds to me like a new beginning. I guess it’s a love song, but it’s as much a question mark as a declaration.

So much of our music is about embracing your feelings and letting the outside world in - and we wanted the video to heighten that. We shot it with two very talented friends and filmmakers, Kai Perrignon and Conor Herbert, at Rosebud Pier on a cold winter’s day. They made a simple concept feel vivid and dreamlike.

st. James: The music video shoot was really interesting for me. It wasn’t the first one I’ve been in, but it was the first where I’ve been the lead artist. We didn’t know what to expect, as we were at the mercy of the elements, and shooting in a popular tourist spot had its challenges! We had both intrigued onlookers, and others who were determined to walk in front of the camera and go about their usual business. But hopefully we gained a few early fans, too.

Any tour dates coming up?

st. James: We’ve already spoken a lot about playing live, and how we’ll translate our artistic vision into a tour setting. It’ll definitely be on the cards for next year, once we get a few more of our songs out into the world.

What does the rest of 2019 – and beyond - have in store for you?

st. James: We’re currently spending all our time promoting If You’re Not the One, but I cannot wait to get back to writing. Our second single is finished and ready to be released, and we’ll soon be going back in the studio to record a mixtape. It’s all happening!

Richard: We love If You’re Not the One, but it’s just the start - ELLE is going to sound like so much more. We’ll leave that to your imagination (and ours)...

Where can we find more of your music?

On all streaming services - and follow us on YouTube for behind-the-scenes footage and more!

Follow ELLE: FACEBOOK