Meet Elise Larres!
Music has had a hold on me since I was a baby, singing in the choirs directed by my mother and accompanied by my father on the piano. It has been a lifelong passion ever since, following me through choirs large and small, classical and modern, through theater performances and bands and recitals--and now to my own work as a singer-songwriter! I have been a teacher for over 6 years, and I currently devote all of my extra time to writing, arranging, and mixing original music, as well as playing gigs in the triangle area.
Why I Became A Musician
I come from a family of musicians, and each of them helped me to learn an instrument (voice from my mother, piano from my father, guitar from my brother). I have always had melodies and lyrics swirling around in my brain, and music has been the perfect avenue for getting them out of my head and into the real world.
My Memorable Musical Experience
The first time I performed a full set of original music at Slim's in downtown Raleigh. I was nervous to get on stage as a solo performer and did not expect much of a reaction. Instead, the entire room went quiet, listened intently, and demanded more. From the first moment on stage, I felt at ease, in my element, and brimful of joy. I knew down to my atoms that I was *exactly* where I was supposed to be. I have been avidly pursuing opportunities to perform my music live ever since!
A fun fact about me is...
I have translated multiple ancient Latin poems into modern pop songs.
My advice to someone starting to learn music is...
Our bodies and brains learn by doing. If you want to improve at guitar, have the instrument in your hands as often as possible; if you want to be more comfortable on stage, get on stage! The fastest way to improve at any skill is to make it interesting and engaging enough that you'll spend plenty of time doing it.
