Exclusive: Elen Levon Interview

“There’s no play time,” says Elen Levon of life since releasing her debut single “Naughty”. “You wake up in the morning and you’re on, it’s go time, there’s no time to breathe,” she notes of her relentless recording, performing and promotional duties.

The ambitious 17 year-old is juggling a budding music career with her high school studies – torn between the two but insistent on conquering both. “It’s hard to be devoted to both because you can’t give half-half to either,” laments the Sydneysider. “You’ve really got to be devoted to school, especially in Year 12, and it’s not that fun when you really want to be on stage. I want to give my all to being an artist, but education is so important.

“It’s been hard to adjust to this new lifestyle, and I guess I will at some point, but I’m not used to it yet.” In a move to better manage the balancing act between school and music, Levon this month left her friends at Reddam House School in Bondi to begin home schooling.

Chaperoned by her mother [“My mum’s very supportive of everything I do”], the pint-sized performer is determined to make the most of her career momentum despite the inherent strains of its lifestyle. “I’m definitely still having fun with it and staying focused and ambitious,” reassures the teen.

Fueling that ambition is the fact Levon is on the precipice of realising a dream she has been inadvertently preparing for since a toddler – to be a superstar. “I’ve been training since I was about 3 years old, going to ballet classes and things, so I guess I’ve always been working towards this.”

Landing a management deal at age 13 and signing a recording contract with dance powerhouse Ministry of Sound [via singer/songwriter/producer Israel Cruz’s NuFirm label], the songbird this week debuted at #5 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart with “Naughty”.

“It’s not really about being raunchy or crazy,” insists Elen of her electro-pop lead single, quashing any innuendo its title may lend itself to. “It’s more about expressing yourself – being that fun girl or fun guy. It’s about letting go of your inhibitions, not caring what other people think. I call it a care-free song.”

“Naughty” – while definitely carefree and catchy – wildly understates Levon’s talents. A trained pianist, budding songwriter and powerful vocalist, there is more to this teenager than the choreographed moves and autotuned vocals of her first impression. “I definitely write. I love writing,” shares the songbird. “And I started playing piano when I was about 6 or 7 years-old. I did all the grades. I haven’t input a lot of that into my music yet, but I definitely will when I get the chance.

“At the moment [my sound is] R&B/Pop, but progressively it will change into all different styles, as I really do love all genres of music. I definitely just want to make timeless music and I think timeless music consists of all genres.”

According to Israel Cruz, who signed Elen to his NuFirm imprint earlier this year, the youngster is a natural in the recording studio. Learning of the up-start through her management team, Cruz recalls their first encounter with excitement. “I wrote a record and asked [Elen's manager] if she can come in to sing the hook. He said she’ll be there in 30 minutes. She arrived in 30 minutes and 30 minutes later the hook was done – and she got it perfect, ad-libs and all, in 30 minutes,” remembers Cruz, who has written and produced hit records for the likes of Jessica Mauboy and Jay Sean.

“I told her manager, ‘Shit bro, you’ve got something really, really special here – and for her to be just 17 is amazing.’  There are alot of 17 year-old girls that look pretty, that can sing and can move, but when I press record will they get nervous? Will they understand timing? That’s what I look for.”

In addition to working with Israel, who crafted “Naughty”, Elen has also hit the studio with James Ash of the Rogue Traders, Brian McFadden, Robert Conley, and has writing sessions scheduled with Kylie Minogue collaborator Luciana next month. “I’d love to work with Tinie Tempah,” she adds, noting an appreciation for Hip-Hop. “I love a lot of MCs.”

Interview by Dominic Di Francesco.

Watch Elen Levon’s “Naughty” music video below: