Elle E goes back to her roots on five-track Afrikaans EP, Skree en Huil
South African artist Elle E is once again demonstrating her versatility with the release of her latest EP - a five-track Afrikaans offering titled Skree en Huil.
“It felt like this EP brought out my roots, like a throwback to my teenage angst from that time,” says the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. “It was almost an homage to the music I was listening to back then and my experiences growing up on a farm full of animals and surrounded by nature - a feeling of complete freedom and rebellion.”
Elle E says that she found it exciting to write and express herself in a language other than English, especially because it was the home language she grew up with. “Some of the topics are about personal experiences and some are stories and gossip I heard while living and growing up on a farm in a small conservative Afrikaans town,” she says.
“‘Skree en Huil’ is about feeling like you are losing control over your life and realising that no matter what you do you can’t seem to get a grip on it - dealing with stress, anxiety and not coping; always being in a rush but feeling like you are not getting anywhere.”
The title track’s lyrics capture this feeling of wanting to hide away from reality:
“ń Donker kamer is al was ek soek, depressief van baklei oor simple goed”
(A dark room is all I want, depressed, fighting over stupid things)
“Wil net skree en huil!”
(When screaming and crying is the only thing you feel like doing)
Creating the EP’s artwork and accompanying videos also reflects Elle E’s return to her roots - specifically the farm where she grew up. The result is a set of images that reflect being surrounded by wildlife and mountains - and escorted around the farm by “Jesus” the donkey, who features on the cover art.
