Canadian singer Elena Erin’s album Roaring 20s is shiny, sparkly, and summery. The production is vibrant and fun, combining alternative, electronic and R&B. This catchy concept album has been on repeat for me; it touches on themes of identity and self-discovery. Roaring 20s is inspired by high society and how beneath the glitter, glamour, and fancy cars, there is more going on under the surface.
The opening track is “Sick Rich Girl,” which discusses the feeling of trying to fit in at a party. The bouncy baseline and sunny synthesizer make this the perfect song to bump at a nightclub. This simple production is paired with thought-provoking lyrics such as the opening line: “How does everyone fall in love like that / I’m at this party and it’s going downhill fast.”
Along with the theme of high society, the album also discusses Erin’s personal experiences. According to Erin, “I was living in new York until 2020. A lot of times when I would go to parties or events, I would view it through movies that I have watched.” Different spaces and experiences reminded her of specific movie scenes, one movie in particular being The Great Gatsby. Erin reflects, “When I saw The Great Gatsby movie I was having nights in New York where you feel like you are at this secret little club where something’s happening; you are hanging out with people who know a whole different layer to the city. I kinda feel like I was able to get into some of that… At that time it was also realizing you watch a movie and everything looks glamorized and amazing but you don’t stop to be like, are those people actually happy and enjoying their lives? Or is it just cinematic?” Thus, Erin was inspired to write about her own life in this extravagant way.
There is actually a song on the album called “Gatsby” which discusses how Gatsby’s character was putting on a persona, and how money can not buy happiness. This is demonstrated in the lyrics “I think Mister Gatsby would approve/ of you as my muse / and me writing music / just to get us in the mood.” These lyrics highlight a superficial love for appearances sake.
There are also some deep cuts on this album including “Fine, Fine Way to Die,” “Most Honest Girl in the World,” as well as one of my personal favourites “What Are You Doing Here” which Erin almost did not include on the album. She said: “It’s a very special song that instantly felt amazing but I was like, I don’t know if it fits this album… Yes we are in this Gatsby-ish world in New York. But it’s also meant for this character, she is reassessing her life and where she came from, and that feels like the turning back point… And that one is special – people come up to me after and they are like, ‘that one hit me hard.’” This is a gentle piano vocal balled with raw emotion and emotional lyrics. I love how lyrically there is a cohesive theme, while exploring Erin’s sonic range.
Elena Erin will be performing songs from this album live on Saturday, June 7th at the Painted Lady in Toronto. I am looking forward to this cinematic performance.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.