Elyse Aeryn: Born To Do This 🔥

In this episode of A Chat with Heart, Christina Martin sits down with Cape Breton musician Elyse Aeryn for a powerful conversation about music, healing, and the kind of resilience you can’t fake. Elise opens up about a life-altering motorcycle accident that delayed her musical path, and the recovery that followed - physically and emotionally. From music videos and songwriting to independence, performance, and personal growth, this episode is full of heart, humour, and inspiration - the kind that sticks with you.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to A Chat with Heart
• 4:45 Celebrating Music and Community
• 10:00 Personal Journeys and Relationships
• 14:51 The Transition to Music Career
• 20:04 Healing and Recovery Post-Accident
• 24:57 Creative Expression through Music Videos
• 29:58 Life Lessons and Personal Growth
• 34:57 Looking Forward: Future Aspirations
• 40:02 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Transcript

Christina (00:00.206)
Hi, welcome to a chat with heart podcast. I'm your host, Christina Martin. I'm a singer songwriter. I live on a dirt road in rural Nova Scotia with my best friend, Dale, and our Calico cat, Olivia. This podcast is totally just a chill chat with her. As soon as you tune in here, I consider you one of my little heartbeat listeners. I love sharing these personal stories and recording these episodes are great practice for me to try and calm the fuck down.

just be myself. If we just talk about it We could shut away, we could break a dead day If we just talk about it

Cut away, we can make a better

Christina (00:55.97)
Alright Heart people, welcome back to A Chat with Heart. The podcast where we laugh, cry, overshare a little, and leave feeling emotionally hugged by a beautiful calico cat. Before we jump in, can we talk about Big Shiny Tunes? Because wow, that just happened. Two nights, Halifax, Marquee Ballroom, and a bunch of my friends came to stay with us at the Moxie Hotel. Huge thank you.

to the producers, Steph Purcell, Mike Farrington Jr., Dave Sampson, all the musicians in the bands, the singers, the staff at the Marquis, and Victor Cipric, who is the creative and business force behind the Marquis. And shout out to my beautiful friend crew who were by my side, Ali, Jen, Lydia, Krista, Dale, Ryan, Ricardo. Truly the best weekend of my year. We went and hung out at Soberish Bar.

on Agricola Saturday and played cards against humanity and made a lot of noise. And Sunday morning we went to brunch at Stardust, which was fucking amazing. Gotta try that out. Moxie Hotel was great. And you know what? gave them some feedback about some food I wasn't happy with and they wrote back to me and they were like, we're going to deal with this.

We love the Moxie Hotel. I love staying there. It's just such a cool spot. The location is great. It's clean. Staff's great. Anyway, there was just something on the menu that I was really disappointed with and they were fantastic. So I applaud them for responding to my negative feedback, but I think it was more constructive criticism. Anyway, pics are on social media and videos. If you're curious about

what the hell Big Shiny Tunes is. We basically sang a bunch of songs from the Big Shiny Tunes catalog and era and people go wild. The audience singing along, I even crowd surfed. Never have I ever done that before. And thanks to my gal pals, they made that happen. Now there were some people I could hear like underneath me being like, what am I supposed to do with this? What is going on?

Christina (03:20.098)
Yeah, anyway, it happened for about 10 seconds and it was exhilarating. Okay, so if you're in the mood for another magical night, now this is a different vibe altogether, but mark this down, Friday, March 6th, Halifax at the Syrup Factory. Now, this is a denim session that Dale and I are bringing to, we're bringing it on the road, because usually we do the denim sessions in our home, which is basically a house concert where

We and the guests are invited to wear as much denim as humanly possible and I play my songs. And it's always a blast. And so we have a special denim sessions at the Syrup Factory, which is hosted by Laura and Scott Simpson in the North End. And we'll be playing two, we're actually, let me back that up a bit. We're launching and celebrating a new album. It's a compilation album with one new song, total of 20 songs.

They are my deep cuts, they are my non-hits, but they're the songs that we love playing time and time again, maybe the most requested. And it's also an album that celebrates almost 20 years making music with my best friend, Dale Murray. So we're going to be playing all the deep cuts and selling this digital, it's a digital album, but I'll have a little special card that people can buy at the show.

and on my bandcamp. So here are two ways you can come to that show. If you are a paying patron on my Patreon page, no matter what tier you're on, you get a free ticket if you can come, but you do have to RSVP by emailing me, christinamartinmusicatgmail.com. Or you can just get a ticket if you want. can e-transfer me $30 to reserve your spot, 30 per person.

That's it. And if you're a member of mine on Patreon, but you're not a paying member, you can always upgrade and send me an email to RSVP. Anyone can become a Patreon member free or paid. It's super easy. The links are on my website. Just email me if you're curious. yeah, just saying that's going to be fun. A fun thing to celebrate. New single coming out soon.

Christina (05:45.326)
Also, Germany tour is coming in hot. Flags are booked, cars booked, hotels are booked. My nervous system. TBD. But I am really excited. Okay. Today's guest, an absolute gem. Maybe I say that a lot, but it's because we only have gems here on a chat with her podcast. Elise Aaron from Glace Bay, Cape Breton, is on the podcast. After a serious motorcycle accident, she had to postpone her second album.

Everybody loves you, but she is back. She's getting stronger. She is an absolute force, incredible voice, unreal stage presence, and that rare it factor that you cannot teach. So let's dive in. Here's my conversation with the one, the only, Elyse Aeryn.

Christina (06:40.489)
Bye!

Hi, good to see you!

Good to see you too. didn't wear my robe, but I did wear my heart sweater.

kind of bummed you're not in your robe.

Well, I thought I should make a little bit more of an effort. This is a very, very special chat. I've been looking forward to chatting with you for a long time. Where is your house? what I don't like we, every time I see you, I'm like, Oh, I know this girl. Like we go way back, but we've never actually hung out really.

Elyse (07:07.732)
in Cape Breton, but like you've been to Sydney, So if you went to Sydney and then drove all the way out of Sydney, like past the university and down this long highway,

Yeah.

Christina (07:19.246)
You to Glace Bay. Oh, you're in Glace Bay? Okay, so I grew up here. You grew up there? Oh, okay. I know your hood.

back here now.

That, did you not expect to be?

I didn't expect to be, no, I came back for a visit and then I never left during COVID.

Where were you? Where'd you go to?

Elyse (07:41.838)
I was in Toronto and my plan was, actually I was with a guy and I was supposed to immigrate to the US with him. was the plan. And I came here for a little interim visit to see my mom and then I was like, you know what? This guy's a bad idea.

Ooh, lovely.

go.

Cut to Garrett at some point? Was that quick? Like was that, I want to know all the details now. Is this going to be broadcast? So I guess if we have to keep anything out, can.

It was pretty quick and my mom absolutely loved him which was just made it so easy for me to feel good about that decision because she didn't previously absolutely love people I had been with so it was it was great and we started playing music together and it was kismet was the only way I could have been.

Christina (08:39.212)
I love it. Well yeah, it's working out. but wait, were you into the bad boys? Me?

Maybe a little bit, yeah.

Did they all ride motorcycles?

No, Garrett is my first boyfriend to ride a motorcycle. I know, yeah. Don't be fooled by the good guy.

I was saying this to somebody this weekend, like it seems like I could be wrong. And this is a mass generalization, but all the guys that seem like, you know, like in rock heavy metal bands and like riding motorcycles, like they're the sweetest, sweetest guys.

Elyse (09:16.103)
They're always just teddy bears under the tough exterior.

Aww. What's something about Garrett that not many people know about him? I don't know much about him at all. I just know he's a really sweet, nice guy and he gets even sweeter when he drinks.

Yeah, that's probably what I would have said. I love that you know that about him because when we got together, know, a lot of people were like, what are you guys doing together? This doesn't make sense. But it did make a lot of sense. just think because we hadn't, you know, spent because we're both from Glace Bay, but didn't really hang out growing up. So I think people were confused, like you're so different, but actually we're not.

Yeah, people don't know shit.

People don't know, I'm kind of a bad boy.

Christina (10:00.322)
Yeah, you're probably the... You're probably dragging him into trouble.

Yeah, you got it.

I don't know what you do, probably robbing stores for lip gloss and stuff. Have you ever done anything like that? Like that we can speak of on the podcast? Like stolen a lip gloss?

Now you know what? I was pretty, uh, embarrassingly good as a kid. no!

I wanted to have stories where you did bet. What's the worst thing you've ever done that you can speak of,

Elyse (10:37.166)
Oh my god, the worst thing I've ever done. There's definitely, oh my god. I quit my engineering job to be a musician. My family wanted to send me to psych ward and be like, are you okay?

Thank you.

Christina (10:49.836)
bad.

Christina (10:58.674)
When you quit engineering school. That's, yeah, that's expected. Yeah. Wait, so that's what, that's what path you were on before music was engineering.

Yeah, I finished school and I was working as a chemical engineer for almost 10 years before I switched teams. Came to the dark side.

Yeah. Nice. Yeah. Okay. So I'm curious because I consider myself a late bloomer, you know, in terms of like really committing to music. So around what age were you when you were like, I'm switching over, I'm doing this.

was almost my 30th birthday. I have a picture of me in front of these foil balloons that say, 30. And I remember that as the moment, those balloons were hanging up and I was playing my guitar with one of my girlfriends. And I was like, I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna jump in.

That's amazing. You've done a lot independently. Like you didn't have an agent. I don't know if you have a manager now, but like, let's talk about some of the things you achieved on your own independently. Cause I mean, I've always been an independent and it's a hard and awesome and all that. So yeah, what's your deal now versus, and what's your deal now? And what are you proud of achieving on your, as an independent, you know?

Elyse (12:22.966)
Yeah, so I am completely independent. I have been working with someone for the past year, just over a year, who I started calling my manager because he's been so helpful and he's meant so much to me. But he's more of like, I don't know, like the best friend manager or, know, like he's totally a team player. So he's helped take work off my plate because you're right, it is hard and it is a lot.

but very rewarding, especially if you're someone who doesn't like being told what to do. And you want to have not just creative control, but control of your business decisions. And your life gets so mixed with your music when you're an independent. So it's all one, and I want to have total freedom in all of it.

Praise be. I love it. Give me some moments in your career to date where you were like, I can't believe this is happening.

Wow, yeah. A really exciting one was the Music Nova Scotia Awards in 2024. That was crazy. I couldn't believe that happened. As a fan voted category, that one meant so much to me.

Entertaining of the Year!

Christina (13:39.502)
Yeah, that's awesome. It doesn't surprise me if you've ever seen yourself perform. I mean, it's like you were born to do this.

Thank you.

Elyse (13:50.562)
I feel like I was and that's why I had to do it. That's why I left a whole life behind, because I couldn't ignore this call anymore.

rate.

Love it. Yeah. And as far as being proud of things and not being able to believe things are happening, like finishing a record at all is incredible. Like regardless of what happens after you make that record, standing there, holding it in your hand, it's like, what an incredible feeling. I know you can relate. It's like, I made this. This is my harsh.

Yeah, and there's a lot of, there are so many little decisions that have to be made. Like I almost feel, I don't know if you feel this way too, but please let me know, that the making of the music is almost the easiest and most fun part. Not that there aren't like challenges within that, but then it's like, have to think about so many little details in the marketing, the artwork and all that. And that can be fun as well. Like I've learned how to make that, you know, its own.

process and fun but long and you know requires a lot more money and you got to be really inventive. What's the fun? What are some of the fun versus I hate this bits about putting out a record? Because you have a new record coming out which we're gonna chat more about. Everybody loves you. It comes out February 26th. You could pre-order it now.

Elyse (15:14.7)
Woo! But you're absolutely right. The making of the music is the most fun part. And I've always said I didn't know if it was more fun to write the song and that feeling you get when you feel like, it's finished or when you perform the song and that feeling you get when someone says, I felt that. It's a very similar rush. And I think that's the feeling I get when I finish a song is like, how is this? I don't know. There's just this like connection.

this magic, this really ethereal out of body feeling you get when you're like, that's it. And it's very similar being on stage, because it's like your music in motion or your music is now come to life when you're performing it. And that's so much fun, but getting yourself to the show, getting those songs in front of people, that's way harder than it looks.

Yeah.

Christina (16:09.24)
I know, waiting for the show. The waiting is the hardest part. It was going to come out this album and then I'm going to assume that that the accident pushed it was a big reason for pushing it off. Now, are you ready now? And like we're what let's talk about some of the shows that are coming up because we want to obviously get, you know, raise awareness about what's going on.

Yeah, well I am so ready for it now. Sitting on a release or sitting on music is hard enough, but I've been literally sitting on it. The records are in my basement. And I had this maybe a little bit of a worry that like, people aren't going to be excited anymore. The time will have passed, which is probably not a thing. But our heads go to weird places. So I'm so ready for this music to be out. And I'm so ready to...

play the show that I've been planning that was supposed to happen in October. It's very exciting. And then the week after, I will have my first show back as an acoustic duo with Garrett. We're playing the Cabin Fever series at Port Huxbury. It's at the Legion in Port Huxbury put on by Robin's Nest Productions. So that's Steve McIntyre and Robin Chisholm. Oh, cool. So we're very much looking forward to that. It'll be a very special, intimate show. I booked a bunch of stuff for the summer, but none of it's announced yet.

So, is the hardest part once again.

Christina (17:36.756)
But that's awesome. Congratulations.

Thank you. So it's starting to feel like things are moving again. Like it's nice to have things on the calendar and be in talks again about what's happening, you know?

Yeah, totally. Okay, so people do want to know, I want to know, post accident, how are you? How are you doing? This has been a long process.

yes, so much better now. Like I felt like January was a turning point for me for sure. had little turning points throughout the chapter, but definitely feeling better. What are we five months out now? Amazing. people might have heard from me, so it's good. I feel good.

Amazing. what are some of the things that surprised you about your own mind and body along the way?

Elyse (18:31.63)
I honestly thought that I was going to be jumping right back on that stage immediately. Like we had plans to be at Nova Scotia Music Week last November and I was like, still gonna go. We're still gonna do it. We're gonna play a showcase, right? And it wasn't till even I think I was home for a couple of weeks recovering that I was like, I can't do that. I just had this, I don't know, like, I was like, what do I think I am?

I think we chatted about this. Yeah.

I've never been really hurt before, so I guess I honestly just didn't accept or believe what it would be like healing broken bones.

Yep. Yeah, for sure.

Yeah. And as far as the mind stuff goes, I was surprised at how hard all of that was on the psyche and the dark places your mind goes to when you're not doing the things you normally do. And, you know, I've always been such a positive person. So when I had days where my brain would really go to the, what are you doing? Who are you? Places. They were scary days.

Christina (19:35.982)
Are there things now in your day to day where you're like, this cup of coffee is fucking amazing. Like I could just do this all day and sit here. Yeah.

Definitely. I've been spending more time with and making more time for friends and family. And I used to be too busy to take a phone call sometimes and be like, can't chat right now. And now I love to see a friend's name light up my phone. like, I have all the time for you. What are we going to talk about? like phone calls or just a lunch with someone or a visit with my mom. I have a different perspective now.

Yeah.

Elyse (20:15.914)
for sure and I've really been making a point to connect with people and to get outside. I love 10 minutes outside breathing the fresh air in the sun. Something else I would never give myself 10 minutes to do.

Yeah. Why are we like, don't know, but I was like, I was exactly like that. And then I, when I lost my brother, I was, changed everything. It took a, took a while, but I, know, where you started breaking these, I had to actually really try to break these habits for myself and, know, my life is better for it now. Like, as you said, you make more time for the special people in your life.

Why are we always so busy?

Elyse (20:57.166)
It's unfortunate to have to go through something like that to see it that way, but I think that's life.

Absolutely, right. mean, the low times in our lives, mean, they almost, you know, either seeing someone you love go through something or going through it yourself where you get so low, it almost, for me, mean, the lows like kind of made me a little bit numb to my fears and or, you know, less, I just didn't maybe care as much about the things like, you know, that were plaguing me.

It's this weird sort of like gratitude for like everything, even though it was really painful. Yeah.

It's very weird because you obviously wouldn't choose that and you wouldn't wish that on anybody. But I think looking back or being in it, what I'm seeing is that's just life and it's just how it is and it's hard and it's messy and it's weird. But we've got to just take it for what it is sometimes and find the best outcome even when it's hard. But that's what makes you as a person, I think, is your highs and your lows. That's what make you who you are.

Yeah.

Christina (22:06.156)
Yeah, exactly. And I like myself. I kind of do. I like you too. I like you too. yeah, I think it's, hey, you know what I want to ask you about? Cause I love making music videos and it's been a big part of my progress and growth as an artist and just someone expressing, know, physically as well. Like, so I wanted to ask you.

I like you.

Christina (22:34.836)
about making your videos because I see, I mean, they're so intriguing right out of the gate. Like, and how is that part of your process as an entertainer? Like what's going on in your brain when you're making these? does it, do you think also, even though you're making a music video, are you also thinking about, like, does it tie into your life, your stage some in somehow or, or even when you're in the studio, like, are you thinking about music videos? What's that like for you?

by the way, I love them.

Sometimes something, sometimes a song is just accompanied by a visual in my mind, or there's just a way that I want to express that song through another medium or on another level, but sometimes it's harder. And sometimes I feel like I have to make a music video and I'm trying to come up with something, but when it happens naturally,

like, you know, Unstoppable was the first single from this record. I knew I wanted to bring dance into it again. I did it with Under My Skin on my last record. And like, no one could stop me. That was like, this is what I'm doing. And I'm so excited. And I knew the people I wanted to work with. And dance was such a part of my life growing up before music. yeah. And I did always feel that they went really hand in hand.

so it was just so fun. mean, I spent months working on that choreography and trying to get myself limber and flexible enough to, to be able to do that again. And it was such an experience. It was, it was like my, you know, my life and my, music and my art forms were all hand in hand during the making of unstoppable and under my skin. Some of the other videos weren't so intricate and detailed, but I still had a lot of fun. Criminal, for example, I was just me and my motorcycle.

Elyse (24:27.252)
And for that one, I wanted to keep it very simple, but I wanted it to be an expression of me. it turned out to be one of my favorite videos, as simple and, you know, as, I don't know, I was going to use another word that meant simple, but yeah. I'm planning a music video filming next week and now I have all the stressors of, am I ready to do this? Is it going to be what I want it to be? So.

That conversation was giving me a little confidence. It's going to be great.

I always tell myself, if it's not, this is terrible. If it's not, you don't have to use it, but it will be, it's all in the editing too, right? A lot of it is in the editing and I mean, maybe that is a big important part of it. But as long as you just get a ton of great footage, which is not gonna be hard for you and then you can always re-edit it if you don't like it. Do you do this thing where, I don't know who you shoot with, but where you're like, ask for the...

raw footage like you own all this stuff. So if you did want to use it for bits and bots, social media, or if you had to re-edit it someday, you could. Did you do that?

Yes, I started doing that more recently and I had looked back and wished I had it for something. I don't know if a lot of videographers are okay with that, but I wish I would have had some raw stuff for social media clips or little things, but I don't know. Then I kind of saw the controversy there how, now I'm using, I mean, guess you could still credit the videographer, but it's a little taken out of the context of the video.

Christina (26:02.118)
Yeah, I see what mean. I mean, like, I think if you go into something and you're paying for it and they're okay with it and you all agree on it, that's fine. And some people aren't. And that's fine, too, if you're still like, okay, cool, well, I just want the video and I don't want to deal with any of that other stuff. But yes, some people are not cool with handing over the raw footage and other people have no issue whatsoever.

Right. But I do think it's important to ask because you're right, you've hired someone, you're paying for everything. If it can be yours, it can be very useful down the road. So it's worth thinking about and having the conversation.

Exactly. Some fun questions. You ready? Okay. Is there a snack that you are kind of embarrassed to say is your favorite snack? Like do have any gross food things?

how gross is poutine?

I mean, it's pretty gross for your body, but it tastes amazing. Yeah, that's a meal. Do you like hamburger on it?

Elyse (26:59.822)
I would consider that a meal.

Elyse (27:06.942)
I like, I used to love stuffing on it. Kind of a classic poutine gal now, but I used to love stuffing and maybe a little cranberry sauce.

yeah, yeah, yeah, I've done that.

Christina (27:17.23)
Was this a big part of your healing process, Poutine?

I had craved a poutine all the time because my jaw was wired for a few weeks. poutine was the number one thing I craved until I could eat solids again.

my god, so I think I messaged you about that because I had my jaw wired for very different reasons. It was like when I was 14, cosmetic.

It's actually very popular. A lot of people do it.

Yeah, when I did it, was like a big, like I had to be in the hospital for a week. And now they do it. I'm sure they just send you home in three hours. It gets super popular. But what was that like for you doing the food through the straw? Like, was it, were you like, get these chains off of me? was it?

Elyse (28:07.05)
It was making me insane. Smoothies were delicious, then I'd have, you know, maybe we'll have a soup for dinner. We'll switch it up. I don't want to look at butternut squash soup for maybe the rest of my life. Like, I don't know. I didn't get sick of smoothies, but I got so sick of soup.

Yeah, yeah, Can we talk about the moment when they released your... they took off, they snipped it right? And then they go, I don't know if this was your experience, but to me they're like, okay, open your jaw. And I felt like my jaw fell off, but it only opened like a crack. I couldn't open my mouth because I think it had been, I don't know, yeah, three or four weeks. So what was it like for you when they just cut the wires? Was it weird?

Well, you know, I was a little bit luckier in the sense that I had elastics instead of the hard wires. So I could open my mouth a little bit. But, you know, they were always like, stop opening your mouth so much. You're just not gonna heal properly. But then I didn't have to worry about cutting the wires in an emergency. So it was a little less intrusive, I guess. So I had the elastics off a week before they took the hardware off.

So it was kind of a tease. A guy was like, I can, you know, I can eat like maybe mashed potatoes or something, but I still had all of the metal. And when they took that off, it was horrible because they don't put you to sleep for that. They just rip them out.

Noooo

Elyse (29:43.286)
It was crazy. It was one of the most, one of the craziest experiences of my life. I couldn't believe that it was happening and it was legal.

Like was there stuff in your gums and stuff? Like was there stuff in your-

What? Yeah. Yeah.

By the way, your smile looks amazing. it all worked out.

My teeth were saved, so I'm not complaining, but that was a pretty wild day.

Christina (30:06.018)
Amazing. Yeah. What? They just- No painkillers.

They give you a lidocaine mouth rinse that's supposed to, I don't know, numb your gums a little bit. It did nothing. It just numbed to the back of my throat so then I was just anxious.

Mmm.

It was super weird and Garrett was in the room with me. He was just giving me the thumbs up like, you got this, you got this. It's so funny now when I look back, but in the moment I was trying to be cool and tough, but I, you know, wanted to die.

huh.

Christina (30:40.386)
Sounds like my IED experience. totally different opening. Different opening. The things they don't tell you though, I think because they know it will freak you out obviously. You have no... Yeah. I'd like to be prepared for that kind of stuff. And then say, agree to it. Okay.

Yeah.

Elyse (31:01.078)
Yeah, you know what, you're right. If I had to agree to that, I probably would have just been like, you know what, don't break my jaw. Just let it, or don't, I guess it was broken, but don't reset it. Just let it heal as it will. It'll be fine.

It'll be fine. What would it feel like over here? Where's your job over here?

I don't know. This is kind of funny. There was a rumor, someone said, I heard that your jaw was up by your eye. Which, where do these rumors come from? I have no idea. It didn't look weird to me. I don't know. I think it just would have been an issue with chewing and probably speech.

Yeah. So it wasn't up by your eye. Damn it. We could keep that rumor going though. When I post this, be like, I'll just be like, at tell us the story of how her jaw was behind her ear and.

Was not up by my eye, no.

Elyse (31:59.982)
There were so many rumors. I remember when my mom, the first conversation we had in the hospital that I can remember, she said to me, oh my God, you know, there was a rumor that your eye fell out.

That happens though.

It does happen. And I guess that's where the rumors come from is because my orbital floor needed a complete reconstruction. So I guess with that injury, oftentimes people's eyeball will fall out. didn't happen, but these are things people were saying around Glace Bay.

Your orbital floor? can't even tell.

my gosh, honestly, I had the best plastic surgeon.

Christina (32:38.582)
And where we're in Halifax, I can't see anything. It looks amazing.

Yeah, the technology I guess it would be called is amazing. Like they did something through a little incision under my eye and something through my mouth.

Amazing. So you had plastic surgery. can be one of those people. It's like, yes, I had. I had cosmetic surgery.

had work done, had some work

That's been kind of my joke. People are like, you look great. I'm like, thanks, had some work done.

Christina (33:07.306)
Yeah, it's awesome. I want the name of your plastic surgeon.

I could absolutely give you his name. Everyone in the hospital knew who he was.

Dr. Palitz.

Did you...palettes?

Pallets, that was his name.

Christina (33:23.634)
I had pallet surgery. could have used him, but no one sees my pallet. it doesn't matter. That's another story. It's boring. Wow. Dr. Pallet. Did you get to pick any of these people?

No, I didn't get to pick, but I do know that he does also cosmetic plastic surgery as well if anyone is looking for something because he was really funny. He would say, you know, I get paid to do this for people sometimes. Which I found laughable, you know, because I was like, who would electively choose to have their jaw broken? Well, you would.

Yeah, I did. Yeah.

Yeah, he said you wouldn't believe how many people do and how rewarding it is for people on the other side of it.

There you go. Yeah, I wish when they showed me my profile with and without, I was sold as a 14 year old. It's like, okay.

Elyse (34:20.236)
Yeah, and your healing time would be so quick at that age as well. Like that's the time to do it.

It was pretty quick. I had to carry around the scissors in case of emergency. And the only emergency was when we were partying and if I were to puke. But one party, yeah. But I went to this party and I was like, I'm not going to drink. Cause back then when we drank, it always ended up with puke. but instead I made the decision to smoke like an entire pack of menthol cigarettes and I wasn't a smoker. And so that made me want to puke.

So I was really paranoid that I'd have to cut my wires and then my mom would know that I was at a party smoking and anywho.

That's the reason why I had elastics instead of the wires in case I went to a party and menthols.

And yeah, and were you partying while you're during your healing process? Did you go out and get plastered? Okay.

Elyse (35:22.094)
I wanted to, but no.

Are you like when you go on tour, are you the kind of person after the show you're like stay at the hotel cozy up or are you like let's go party? What are you like?

I love to have a drink with the band after the show, but I'm always conscious of the next day and what we have going on. But I do love to have a bottle of whiskey that we share after the show. And it's like a rule. like, everyone has to come back to my room.

Stump and Tom Connors did that. It was literally in his contract that you had to stay up with Tom until he was done drinking.

people into having a drink with him?

Elyse (36:06.266)
my God, that is so funny. feel like if Garrett could have a contract that it would be in it.

He could, just do it. Just like, yeah.

I'm going to make a pretend one for our next show.

Do you think if you had had, cause I had to do all these things on my own, so I never drank on tour or anything like that. And I always tried to work hard to stay really healthy cause I had to do everything. And do you think if you had had someone doing everything for you, you might've just kind of drank your face off or like partied more or not, I don't know, slept in longer or is that not you?

I guess on how the tour was formatted, you know, if it was long and there was recovery time in there between shows and whatnot. But the thing with drinking and partying for me is it usually results in not sleeping, for most people I would say, and that affects my voice so much. And I can be a bit of a baby-er to the vocal cords because I really lose my top end once I get too gritty and too tired.

Christina (37:01.762)
Yeah, that's true. Same.

Christina (37:12.782)
Yes. Yeah. So what, what do you do? Do you do anything like to, like, I only started doing like vocal warmups and took some lessons from M Griner. Amazing. Uh, in the last five years. like I'm 46 now. So it's been like, it took me, it took me forever. think I did my first songwriting workshop where I learned how to write a song a couple of years ago.

Like it's just, I'm very late to the game for everything. But is there anything that you do training wise for your vocals or what's your deal?

I started working with a vocal coach three years ago now. His name is Mitch Seekins. He's based in the London, Ontario area and he's incredible. We do everything over zoom and he changed my life, honestly, because I was losing my voice every weekend because I wasn't supporting. wasn't, I didn't know about diaphragmatic breathing and I was like, got to change. I can't keep losing my voice like this. I was, I was thinking I had nodes and my career was over.

when I started working with him and he was like, okay, stop being so dramatic. You don't have notes, but you're not singing properly. So now I see him bi-weekly.

Amazing. And do you have some warmups, some daily?

Elyse (38:29.134)
Yes, we recorded together actually. He took me through a general warm-up and then he also took me through one that he calls blended singing, which is for accessing your higher range. So I have to do 20 minute little ditties that I do. I do them every day, even if I'm not playing a show just for vocal health and seriously it changed my life.

Yeah, love it. Agreed. It makes me feel more at ease and confident just stepping right on stage.

Absolutely.

I love it. Did you ever have stage fright?

my God, yes. I was so nervous. mean, my first year of performing or so, I think I would pretty much black out every time I got on stage. I wouldn't remember anything. And then I would be so nervous that I thought I was going to lose my voice. That was usually the biggest issue. And vocal training really changed that for me because now I know, when I get to this part, this is what I do and I'll sing it and it'll be great. Yeah. So I'm...

Elyse (39:31.252)
I wouldn't say I don't get nervous, but I don't have this crippling anxiety anymore.

Amazing.

Yeah, so if you need a phone number, I can hook you up.

I think we should give everyone his phone number. Do you have it with you? Seriously? let's get the website out for folks. We'll give people too. We'll give it. Go see, go look up Grinder everybody or Mitch. What's his last name? Seakin.

Yeah, he's got a website, MitchSeakensVocalStudio.com.

Christina (40:06.71)
Okay. Let's check them out everybody. I think it's fun to even if you don't, you know, aren't out there on stages and stuff, like vocal lessons are so, they feel so good. You feel so good after and you're.

I just want to, I really want to be able to sing into like my eighties and enjoy it. be, you know, have you, you, have you been sick on tour where you're like, wow, I, actually have zero control over hitting any notes. It's really scary. Yeah, I hate it. Sucks. but I also, I don't know, I have this wild belief. know our voices do change. I feel like my voice actually is, it's has been its strongest in my

Scariest thing ever. Yeah.

Christina (40:49.745)
forties, but probably because of the, some of the training and stuff and, and working on the relax, chill out, calm the fuck down, you know?

Also, I saw a thing from Kelly Clarkson come across my Instagram or something the other day and she said, as your voice matures, it will change and you will access new depth that you never experienced before. And she said she thinks her voice is the best it's been as she's aged. So, you know, I think your training and whatnot is part of that. But I also think just embracing, you know, the positive parts about aging and your body maturing, there's one of them.

Exactly. Thank you. Well said. I think Anne-Marie told me once that her voice was its best in her 40s.

I love to hear that. I love to hear any story about things getting better with age. Yeah. Not just wine.

Exactly. Ugh, I hate wine. Um, yeah, I'm not into wine. That makes one of us. Yeah, you really like the taste of it? You really do?

Elyse (41:56.878)
That's my drink of choice. Red wine.

You put it in your mouth and you're like, could you chug it? Like a juice?

Well, I could, but I sh- won't. No, We'll be cutting our wires off and canceling the show tomorrow.

And it doesn't make you mentally unstable like it does for me.

well, you know, wine is something that I really have to pace myself with. It's delicious, but it's not something I would drink to party. It's like I'll have a couple glasses to relax, but usually I stick to light beers, maybe a of whiskeys. That's kind of, you know, I'm safe there.

Christina (42:41.272)
Well, next time you're in town in Halifax, I will take you to the soberish bar and we'll try their, you're going to love this. We will try, I'm sure they have red wines, but they're not alcoholic. And I'd be curious to see what you're taking, but they make the best mocktails. Incredible. Yeah. Soberish Halifax. Do they have something like that in Sydney?

I'm interested.

Christina (43:06.978)
Do they have like a no, no, I'd say it's something I've been dreaming of for many, many years. Like if I could just go out and buy a shot that like is healthy for me, why can't I, you know, why can't we do that? And now there's options like.

Yeah, cool. That's cool. And it's a great option for, know, let's say you did have a show and you didn't want to have a drink beforehand or you were in the middle of your workday. Yeah. It's nice to have an option like, can you get food there?

You can get snacks, but nothing like olives and chips and popcorn. And there's an Italian restaurant across the street. So if you really want to, you know, just go back and forth, you can play cards there, Skippo, Cards Against Humanity, whatever. Do you like games?

Love snacks.

Elyse (43:56.13)
I like skip-o-fuck. I used to like Cards Against Humanity too, I just haven't played it in so long.

Yeah, yeah

Christina (44:02.988)
I threw out our deck because I felt, I was through the, was during a time when I was feeling like I was overly offensive to everything and everybody. So I should probably clear my house out of all the things that I could go to jail for at the time. Anyway, that being said, we played this weekend. and I was reminded of how, how incredible that game can be and liberating, but extremely.

It could be considered extremely offensive, you know, like, was it the brothers grim? Those kinds of stories where like kids got eaten and stuff like that. And those kinds of books like serve a purpose for kids where it's sort of like an outlet for morbid curiosities. And I kind of think of Cards Against Humanity like that. It's like, you know, these things that we don't-

But like we don't believe in these things. We don't want to be using these phrases out in public, but can we get it out of our system in a group of people who agree? Some of these cards are offensive, could be offensive to anybody in the group playing.

stand-up comedy, Like, you know, stand-up comedians are making jokes that you don't agree with their opinion on, but there's humor in the, I don't know, the lightness of it. Like, I don't really know how to explain that. Maybe, yeah, like you're like, of course I don't believe that and I would never say that, but I'm laughing at this slightly offensive

Are you? Yeah.

Elyse (45:38.114)
Comedian on stage. I don't know. I can't put into words what it is But obviously people agree with me because we've got Kevin Hersch and we've got Bill Burr. So not the only one

Yeah, think, well, it's like it forces us to look at these things and you're laughing because it's so outrageous. And you know that I enjoy the comedians where I know the comedian is on it thinks very probably is have the same opinions about me, but they're saying the complete opposite and they're just throwing it right in your face. And then you never have to worry about saying that outside of that venue because it's already been said and you had that.

And lots of times they're making the joke at their own expense and it's their own experience that you're like, that was a horrible experience, but you're laughing it off and I'm laughing it off with you and this is so fun.

It is fun being offensive. Hey, next chapter of your life, which is now, what are you looking forward to? like, you want, what do you want to stay the same versus change?

I'm looking forward to performing again, of course, that electric feeling, doing shows on the road with my band. Some of my best memories are all of us getting in the car together, driving somewhere, staying at Airbnb or some weird hotel, eating at some cool, maybe weird restaurant, playing the show, having that whiskey after the show. I just love that whole moment. I can't wait to do that again.

Elyse (47:17.838)
What am I looking forward to and what do hope?

changes. What do you want to toss? Or maybe you already have.

Well, that's a good question. I don't want to be so hard on myself and I'm going use word busy. I know it's busy, but I don't want to be busy without meaning, I guess. I want to make sure the things I'm doing are the things that light me up and the things I feel like are making a difference. I don't want to just be busy with busy work. And I can definitely...

fall into that sometimes. like, I got so much done today. And then I look at what I did and it was just busy work. The days, I don't have time for that phone call. I don't have time for that lunch, but what am I actually doing? So really taking a look at what fills my cup and what lights me up and focusing my career decisions and my life decisions on that.

Cool, well I'm not worried about you. Sounds like you've got it all figured out.

Elyse (48:22.222)
Well, we'll see. know, in theory, things sound real good. We'll see how practice goes over the next few months.

Have you not started practicing yet? Like with the band? Has that happened yet?

yes, the is back to rear and we've got three left before the big show.

nice. Okay. Let's talk about the big show, where it's happening. Tell me all the details. my little heartbeat listeners all the details.

Yeah, it's happening at member to trade and convention center here in Cape Breton. I'm very excited. It's a very beautiful place to have a show and maybe one of the nicest places I'll have ever performed. So I'm really excited for that. It is officially sold out. If someone wants tickets and they didn't get them, check your Facebook because someone's always trying to sell one.

Christina (49:02.732)
Congratulations!

Christina (49:11.253)
Yeah, cool.

That's awesome. I'm very excited. have a young gal from out here opening up. Her name is Kira Folds. She plays keyboards and her brother Aiden plays drums and they're going to do a keyboard-drum duo performance to open and I can't wait to see it. I've heard so many good things. I think it's going to kick the night off just right.

Amazing. Okay. everybody listening, Elise is nominated for ECMA Fans Choice. No, wait. Yeah. Artist of the Year, right? It's Fans Choice Artist of the Year. ECMA folks. of the Year. Oh, it's video. Fans Choice.

Breakthrough artist of the year is another nomination, but not voted.

Congrats. Okay. Okay. So you can't vote for that folks, but go vote. How can people vote? I went to your website and clicked a button and voted.

Elyse (50:03.406)
Well, I have the link in the link tree in my Instagram, TikTok and pinned on my Facebook, I think ecma.com. It was kind of hard to find. I think if you go to ecma.com, you can also find it.

yeah, that's where I voted. I went to your Instagram, the link tree. Yes, that's where I voted. Okay.

I just love a Lincoln bio. That's the millennial in me.

No, I do too. was definitely like, when that happened, but then I was like, wait a second, isn't this what a website's for? But whatever. I'm old. Everybody loves you drops February 26th. It's in your basement now. If anybody wants to go over to your house and bring some cash. And you've already released a book. what? Pre-order.

Thanks.

Elyse (50:53.837)
Pre-order, yeah, I'm shipping him out next week.

well there you go. Okay. This is awesome. Check out my new favorite song, Unstoppable, in the music video for that. And there's other singles out too. Are there four other singles out now? Did I count four? A total of five or six.

Get them out of my basement.

Elyse (51:15.736)
A total of five, yeah, couple, it was only supposed to be three, but a couple extras came out to bridge the gap.

Amazing. Okay, this is fun. Well, what are you going to do for the rest of your day today? Now that you've been on a chat with her podcast, congratulations and

It was awesome. Thank you for having me.

Is there anything else that we should gab about? Like, do you have any hopes and dreams that you wanted to spill on a chat with Art?

Hopes and dreams.

Christina (51:46.954)
Or any, yeah, do you want to put out a wish for the world? Do you want to win the lottery? Do you want, what do you want from us? What do you want? I've never asked. I'm still tired.

feels like a time for a wish for the world, right? With everything that's going on. I wish that everyone could just take a breath and try to understand each other in any situation. Yeah, think we need a little more of that right now.

Yeah, you're right. If anybody before they acted in a weird way, was like pause, what is this person in front of me experiencing right now? how can I make it better?

Yeah, or what could I just, you know, not say that might not need to be said? Or how could I just see that, you know, this person's a human too?

Yeah. Let's them be. Do I really need to bring my gun out with me today? know? Yeah.

Elyse (52:46.776)
Mm-hmm. You definitely don't.

This has been fun. And if you're coming by where I live, will you come visit me?

Absolutely. So you're on the North Shore? Is that, like Sheet Harbor?

It is like Pugwash, like Amherst. think it's the Eastern Shore, but don't worry.

Christina (53:12.706)
I didn't know the Eastern Shore existed for like, no one ever talks about it. Sorry folks, but I think the next- Are you though? I thought there was another shore almost- you're a-

Play Brett in the Eastern Shore?

Elyse (53:28.554)
I guess not. We're just Cape Breton.

Y'all are like you're on an island of joy. No, but it took me forever to know we were in the North shore by Amherst. You know, the giant blueberry in Oxford, relax down, kind of down the road from there on, and then we hit the coast, North Armblin Street.

I always stop at the big blueberry on my way to Halifax.

You stop that you go that way. like if you're going, how do you get here?

that must be on my way to New Brunswick. You know what? It's been a really long time since I've left the house.

Christina (54:05.974)
Yeah, you need to get out more. And yes, that would be where you stop on the way to New Brunswick. now you'll also come to see me.

New Brunswick. Okay.

Elyse (54:15.192)
You're right, it's the mastodon that I stopped at on the way to hell.

That's right. Yeah. I've never stopped there. Elise, this is awesome. And I'm excited for all things you and the new album. And I think you're fucking amazing.

thanks girl. It was great chatting with you.

You too. Okay, go enjoy the rest of your day. You too. going to go to the post office.

Perfect. Looking forward to seeing you out there in the world.

Christina (54:44.29)
Yeah, like, and hang. I wanna hang with you. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Alright.

and not have red wine.

Nope, not for me.

Just for me.

Christina (55:04.938)
Say goodbye to you

Christina (55:11.712)
I don't wanna say goodbye to you

Christina (55:20.398)
Welcome to the Heartbeat Hotline, 1902-669-4769. I'm the host of a Chat with Heart podcast, Christina Martin, and I'm so excited you called. Leave me your question, a suggestion for the podcast, or a comment about this episode. Please be aware your message may be used on the podcast and social media. Tell me your name, where you're calling from, and it's also fine if you want to remain anonymous. Thanks for listening.

Have a great fucking day. Hey, thanks for listening to a chat with heart produced by me, Christina Martin, co-produced and engineered by my partner in life and sound, Dale Murray. Dale's not just a wizard with knobs. He's also a killer singer songwriter, session musician, and music producer. Go snoop around his world at dalemurry.ca. The podcast theme song, Talk About It, and I Don't Want to Say Goodbye to You were written by me and recorded by Dale. Want to support what we do?

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