Elisa Nicolas is a Canadian-born, Ohio-based Asian-American songwriter. For three decades, she has been observing, experimenting, and translating the human experience into song. Elisa’s musical talents extend beyond songwriting, as she is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. Since writing and recording across numerous styles including rock, jazz, country, pop, and R&B, this critically acclaimed Asian-American LGBTQ alternative artist makes her re-debut after a 12 Year hiatus. Her latest song “No Answers” is the leading single of her new album, Year of The Locust, which was released early November. In addition to her musical devotion, she is committed to giving back in her community. Elisa spends time at her local foodbank, MidOhio Foodbank, and dedicates time each year to building houses for Habitat for Humanity. Continue reading below to learn more about the multi-talented woman, Elisa Nicolas!

Where are you based?
I live in Columbus, Ohio. The bluest dot in the very middle of the state.

How did you get interested in singing?
My parents loved great singers. We had vinyl records with all sorts of music that begged to be mimicked — Ella Fitzgerald, the Beatles, country, pop, show tunes. I was a fan of it all from a very young age. When we weren’t playing instruments in the house, one of us was humming or singing along to a tune. At some point, a friend in high school asked me to sing in his band. I “sang” the Pretender’s song “Message of Love.” I was hooked after that, even though I’m pretty sure I was terrible. I started playing guitar in a few bands in my hometown. I started playing in a cover band where the leads were all female gospel singers. They finally said to me “Elisa, you gotta start singing.” So I did. It was rough keeping up with those girls at first. They were miles ahead of me. Still are, really, but I learned how to harmonize and then discovered I had my own unique voice. I got one hell of a musical education playing with those ladies.

As an artist of many talents, a respected multi-instrumentalist, solo artist, singer and songwriter, how do you express yourself and your values in your music?
There’s really nothing better than the truth. The more I find myself telling people what I really think and feel, the easier it gets and the more I want to do it. That includes life experiences that I’ve found compelling enough to write about — some good, some, not so good. I used to worry what people thought about the style, subject matter, or even lyrical content of my songs. I don’t do that much anymore. The only person I really need to answer to anymore is myself. I honestly think that kind of perspective comes with age and experience.

In preparing to make your re-entry into music after 12 years, what are you anticipating for your return? What drove you to return to music?
I had been working on songs for several years before this record, and I actually started this record in 2019. Surprisingly, I got super busy during the pandemic, writing and engineering for Bravehearts For Broadway. I was non-stop composing and working on other people’s records and projects, but I wanted to keep driving my own project forward. So, my focus was still on making that happen. Thankfully, I knew lots of great musicians who had recording gear in their houses. I sent tracks to my producer, and he did a ton of work without me in the room. I just really trusted folks to do what they do best, and that's what they did on Year of the Locust.

Looking forward, we’re working on putting tour dates together for 2022 in support of the new record.

On November 4th, you released your album Year of The Locust. What are you hoping listeners will take away from this album?
There are a lot of themes on this record. Just to name a few, mental health, drug issues, adultery, and even murder. The record is full of seedy and arguably unloveable characters. Above all, there is the prevailing message that for all our flaws, we all still need love.

As part of your album, you have released the song “No Answers”. Can you tell us a little more about this song and what it means to you?
I think you guys are the first people to actually ask me about this song. {laughing} It's really about two people not being on the same page on a number of fronts. For me though, the song is as epic a song as I’ve ever written. From Thomas Bryan Eaton’s pedal steel intro to the strings and woodwinds in the outro it encompasses nearly everything that I would ever do musically. It was also a little bit of a gamble to put it out as the “single” from my record, since it's nearly six minutes long. It really is an everything and the kitchen sink song from a production standpoint.

What is your song writing process?
The hardest thing for me to do is to get motivated to walk the 20 steps into my studio and turn everything on. I’m fortunate that it's in my house. I usually have microphones already set up, and guitars and pianos ready. I want to be able to put down something the moment I think of it. My phone is also full of little snippets of ideas, lyrics, interesting guitar or piano chords, news, any subject that I find interesting, usually something someone else might find sort of depressing. {laughing}

How do you prepare for a show? Do you have any rituals before you take the stage?
The biggest thing for me is to be prepared mentally. I try to keep any other activities on gig day to a minimum. So being quiet and relaxed before hitting the stage is a big thing for me.

Jejune loves that your passions extend outside of your career as an artist. You spend time at your local food bank, MidOhio Foodbank, and dedicate time each year to building houses for Habitat for Humanity. How did you get started giving back in your community and what do you value about the work you do?
My family has always worked for and given back to the community. In the Philippines, my grandparents were civil servants, working for their local government. My grandmother was the mayor. I’ve been working with non-profits like United Way and Habitat for most of my adult life. I’ve cleared forests, built houses, taught music and recording to young girls, sorted and packed food at the foodbank, and registered people to vote.

We have heard that you have built five houses so far. Can you tell us a little bit about this experience?
Habitat for Humanity is a singular kind of experience. My first house, I remember thinking “I have no idea what the f*ck I’m doing here, but let's do this.” I was given a hammer, a super legit-looking construction belt, and a bunch of nails. I think I learned how to use the circular saw that day. In all the years I’ve been doing it, somehow I haven’t lost a finger yet. I’ve learned how to frame a window, put up siding, insulation, even roofing. Skills that I’ve never actually put to use anywhere else. The best part of working for Habitat though is that we eventually finish the work on the house. My favorite event is the “key ceremony” where all the people who have worked on the house, including the family, and usually the executive director will hand over the keys to the family. I’ve cried at all of them. You’re helping build a home where a family can build a life. A future. There’s just no experience quite like it.

You also worked to help support broadway actors during 2020. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Shows opened up, but now we are facing more closing with the new Omicron variant surging through New York City. How do you think we can support these artists through this new wave?
My good friend and the founder of Bravehearts For Broadway, Michael Merritt was working as an ER nurse in New York City during the absolute worst of the pandemic there in 2020. He is also a playwright and was deeply affected by Broadway having to shut down. He called me one day with the idea to do an online show. We ended up bringing together Broadway luminaries like Billy Porter, Megan Hilty, and Ann Harada. It was an incredible experience working with frontline workers and Broadway folks toward a common goal to raise money for the Actor’s Fund. People can still help our out-of-work entertainment industry brothers and sisters by giving to the Actor’s Fund.

How has your humanitarian work been affected by covid? Are you able to be active again now that things are slowly getting back to normal?
I haven’t really been able to get back into the swing of what I normally do because of the constant up and down with the virus. I’m hoping things get closer to normal in 2022.

How have you been staying positive during shelter in place? Are you back to normal now?
I’m a generally optimistic person. It helps that I have an incredible partner who keeps me laughing and helps me stay positive. I think I was scared like nearly everyone else at the beginning of the pandemic. Ordering takeout and wiping the delivery bags down. We don’t do any of that now, of course. I hate this term but it really is the “new normal.”

What is your motto in life?
Just say “yes.”

To learn more about Elisa, please follow her via the platforms below:
Bandcamp
Spotify
Apple Music
Website
Instagram: @elisasound

Photography by Manjari Sharma.

The Re-Debut of the Multi-Talented Elisa Nicolas