The ultimate multi-hyphenate. A stylist, artist, music collector, storyteller, DJ and designer of experiences. Éle is inspired by the styles of Chicago House, Detroit Techno, Acid House, New Wave, Italo, Disco, Electro, Breaks, Ghetto and beyond.
Born in Maui, Hawaii in 1979, Éle drifted between the parallel worlds of the mainland and the Islands. She grew up inspired by her elders, especially her grandparents. They were animators and film editors for Disney, a famous chef, and a humble painter; all self-sufficient in their craft.
Spending many formative years in Southern California, Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farms became the weekend babysitter. It was then, at Knott’s Berry Farms she was introduced to the early rave parties in Anaheim, CA. Éle could feel a movement shifting in music. The very next year, Éle moved to the Midwest. A new obsession of this “rave” music, Chicago House and Detroit Techno had wormed its way into her headphones. Éle ran towards the new sound, even going so far as sneaking out of the house at 15 stealing her parents car and driving hours to parties after that first life-changing rave.
The balance between corporate showbiz and autonomy led her to release “Medúlla” and later “FauxPas Productions”.
At a rave in 1997, Éle met the seminal DJ and her future mentor, DJ Solve. They quickly found kinship while hopping from rave to rave, gogo dancing for “SuperStars Of Love”. During her years living with DJ Solve, and inspiring him to change his name to “Mr. Solve'', she was introduced to many Midwest artists resting and warming up at their flat for gigs; Tony Markham, Sarahplease, Miss Michaela, Djay Roberts/The Preachers Kid, NZA, PJ, Zac Smith, The Goldenchild, Tactic, DJ True, Terry Mullans, and many more. With so much inspiration, Ele started secretly mixing records. In later years, she worked part time at Deepfix Records (A LRG brand ambassador) and DeepConnections Productions throwing raves, providing ample opportunity to hone her craft. Meeting famous DJs and Producers such as Pat Nice, Derrick Carter, Honey Dijon, Lance Desardi, Chrissy, Brett Johnson, Demarkus Lewis, Iz and Diz, Dayhota, Paul Johnson, Tim Schumaker, Matthew Brian, Shanthrax and the list goes on, eventually building the courage to play her first rave party at a Zoo. From there, she established herself serious about the scene as by being the first one on the dance floor and the last one off. Her love knew no bounds when it came to music. As she says…
“I try my very best to give it my all. I’ve always found that I get a lot of attention whether it be positive or negative. After experiencing a sort of freedom of having fun and not taking myself so seriously, going to parties and becoming lost in sound. I often find myself being able to communicate telepathically to people I’ve never met before through music. The struggle of my eccentric and private self makes my journey a difficult one, I always find myself living in parallel worlds. I often tell myself I have to work very hard to write my own path because I will never fit in.”
In 2005 Éle moved to New York City. This was an exciting new chapter. She got acquainted with “America's Next Top Model” Star and DJ Shandi Sullivan aka “Shanthrax” (A nickname given to her by Éle). Together, often frequented and inspired by the designer parties “Misshapes” and “The Look” Éle and Shandi started their own party “KTHNXBYE” a New Wave/Electroclash party with guest DJs in venues like Sapphire, Mixx Lounge, and the infamous Piano’s in lower East Side.
By 2010 this was the year magic really started to happen. After befriending singer/songwriter “Stella Santana” freshly located from California and becoming very close, her friend revealed she was the daughter of legendary performer Carlos Santana. Together they opened a 3,500sq ft Penthouse loft named Medúlla in the heart of Manhattan of Union Square. Inspired by Andy Worhols “The Factory” it became a space for a luxury hair salon, spa, art gallery, and event venue. Many parties, charities, and fashion shows were thrown featuring talent of Éle (herself), Stella Santana, XRA, DJ Cindy Kim, DJ Dennis, Francois Morrison, Mr.Solve, DJ Legit, Francois K and many more.
Fast forward to 2017 Éle starts residency at Halcyon Records in Brooklyn. The basement record store of the famous nightclub “Output”. It is here she co-creates Fauxpas Productions and FauxPas Sounds. Where she throws events along with artists livestreams and video podcasts, featuring content of DJs like Lauren Flax, Zombie Nation, ALY-US, DJ Legit, Cquence, Sundae Suki and more.
Currently Éle has moved out to the beaches of Rockaway, the further stop of the A train of NYC. At this time she has begun honing her craft again, a novice to music production and finding her voice again post pandemic world.
