Echo Wants Her Voice Back: Feminism, Folk Noir And Future Plans

Image by Christina Jansen Photography [http://www.cjansenphotography.com] (Copyright-free)

Eleni Skarpari, known by her stage name Echo Wants Her Voice Back has had a whirlwind 3 years. From independently raising enough money through crowdfunding to self-release a debut album in 2015, to securing a slot performing at the 2016 South by Southwest Festival. Fast forward to today and her rate of success has not slowed, with a steady release of new music, music videos, and live shows.

Aside from Echo’s distinctive voice and notable stage presence, the way in which she built her way up into the London music scene is also extremely unique. After having set her sights on working with a prestigious music producer in the US, Echo set up a crowdfunding page on Kickstarter with the goal of raising £3,800 to make her dream a reality. In under 20 days Echo had raised £2000, and by the end of the campaign she had over £4,000 with 102 backers. When asked why remaining as independent as possible with the release of her debut album was so important to her, Echo explained that: “The independency for me is a way to remain authentic, and to try to strive for expression rather than anything else, I’m more concerned about my songs and whether they connect with people more than anything else.” Echo’s attitude towards her music is clear through the way her words heavily drip with the passion and excitement she can’t help but coat them in. The mischievous twinkle in her eye paired alongside an extremely professional and self-controlled attitude encapsulates her entire essence; an essence of determination and self-belief. These wholesome features seem to be ingrained in her entire being, assumedly playing a big part in her success over the years.

The striking Greek artist often pays homage to her Cypriot roots in her music, frequently referring to these roots as her main inspirations for her music and her unusual stage name. After being asked about her stage name, she gives a reflective pause before explaining: “Echo was a Greek mountain nymph who loses her voice through a curse by Hera as myth has it. She falls in love with Narcissus but they obviously can’t communicate because she can only echo what he says. He ends up drowning in love with himself and she wastes away and only her voice remains. I find that quite romantic and sad, and interesting and, depending on how you look at it, funny. So I came up with Echo Wants Her Voice Back, back in the day with my guitarist, we just came up with this name because we both kind of wanted to encapsulate the Greek idea, the echo and the voice, and feeling lost and finding oneself.” Echo is extremely expressive, with her every emotion unintentionally etching its way onto her face. When talking about her Greek roots and history, she smiles nostalgically. The mischievous twinkle in her eye has now turned to sentimentality, and it is clear that she takes extreme pride in her country and her culture, a quality that demands respect.

After having released debut album ‘Heart of Stone’ in November 2015, Echo’s journey had only just begun. Her music was beginning to be recognised by music publications, with Songwriting Magazine presenting her with the epithet of ‘folk noir artiste’ and comparing her to the likes of PJ Harvey and Bjork, comparisons not to be taken lightly. On her bestowed Folk Noir genre, Echo laughs and states “I’m fine being folk noir, I think it’s very sexy and it’s very dark and it’s very dramatic, which connects to my Cypriot and Greek roots… I love humour in songs so folk noir is folk noir but with a tinge of humour, there’s always a funny side to things.” Her attitudes towards her music comes across light-hearted and playful, never taking herself too seriously especially whilst on stage, and throughout our interview her melodic laugh entices a sense of friendliness and informality into the atmosphere. It is apparent Echo is creating music for the right reasons: for herself and for her fans. “I like to look at things in small steps rather than to envision something huge. I just want to record my album and I want it to connect to people, that’s all.” she thoughtfully explains regarding her plans for the future. This mantra is extraordinarily powerful and displays a real sense of empowerment and relatability surrounding her brand and her personality; and the loyalty she shows towards staying true to herself is something many artists can learn from.

As we move on to discussing International Women’s Day, an event that had recently passed, there was certainly a feeling of an elephant in the room. When asked if she identifies as a feminist, she proudly admits: “I am a feminist, I’m proud to say so, it’s not about burning my bra, or hating men, it’s about wanting equal rights”. The conversation then drifts towards the Me Too movement, with Echo speculating that “especially regarding things that have happened in the news recently, you know, all the stories, I think we’re in a new kind of era, and it’s important to spread awareness for the need for such ideologies and how not to make it a dirty word.” When asked on her thoughts about the way women are treated in the music industry today, her tone becomes sombre, and she speaks with an air of caution. It is easy to see that her every word is being carefully thought out. “When you’re a woman, it's sometimes harder to make your talent and hard work stand out on their own. You’re noticed first as a sexual being, your image and appearance is prioritised, and your music may come second. Especially if you haven't yet broken into the industry...it's even harder then perhaps.  There is often a very thin line between being sexually empowered and being manipulated or exploited by the music industry.”

So what is next for singer/songwriter Echo Wants Her Voice Back? She’s been releasing singles ever since the launch of her EP, which can be found on her YouTube channel. Her current venture is working on coming up with the money to record her first studio album. With her exceptional talent, quick intuition and undeniable passion for the field, there is no doubt that Echo will only find more success from this point onwards.

See Echo Wants Her Voice Back live on Wednesday 26th of September @Century Club, Soho. For more information and ticket links visit Eleni on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and SoundCloud.