As part of our Music Made Us campaign, BIMM student Elinor Madeland tells us what inspired her route into music, why she chose to study Vocals, and what drew her to London.
Who inspired your route into music?
I grew up watching Swedish Idol on TV and that was what first got me sucked into the world of music and performance. It was clear that I had already made my decision to be a singer at eight years old, when I fell in love with the Swedish singer Darin Zanyar, but it took me a while to gain the confidence and the guts to fully go for it.
At 12, I discovered The Cure, and I had never connected to a voice or storytelling like Robert Smith’s before. I feel like The Cure showed me what was possible musically and showed me how music can really touch you and speak to you. The Cure took me on a journey that inspired me, and still inspires me, to be myself and to trust my voice and my creativity.
What made you choose to study Vocals?
Singing is and has been the most powerful way of connecting to myself, to my emotions and my creativity. In listening to music, I would notice the singer the most, the qualities in their voice, how they made me feel.
“It is difficult to hide what is really going on inside of you when you sing.”
I love (and sometimes hate) how raw and vulnerable the vocal instrument is. It is difficult to hide what is really going on inside of you when you sing, which makes it such a great tool for storytelling and being honest on stage. It’s something I am craving to develop more so choosing to study vocals felt very natural to me.
Why is London right for you?
I fell in love with London at the age of 12. I knew I would end up living here one day, and as soon as I graduated from school in Sweden, I came straight here. I have now lived in London for five and a half years, and it is my home.
“There is always something to discover, which is perfect for a songwriter.”
London offers opportunities; so many different cultures and people all over the world. It is hard to get bored here, and the inspiration is never-ending. The people, the streets, the art, the creativity: there is always something to discover, which is perfect for a songwriter.
Our Music Made Us campaign is told through the students, graduates, journalists, experts and passionate people who have been shaped by music. Discover their stories here.
