ELODIE GERVAISE HOLDS THE KEYS TO A CREATIVE UTOPIA

VOID: What’s the last thing that made you cry?

Oof. A situation with a lover that recently became heavy on the heart, but, you know, it’s all inspiration and it’s all gonna go into a song. I guess I’ve gotta use it, you know, if it makes me feel really alive. *laughs* That’s for sure. I felt really alive.

VOID: I love that. What’s your favorite curse word?

Ooh, putain in French. Yeah. Putain, which means like, fuck, basically. I think it’s really strong. And the way that the French say it is just, it’s really powerful. *laughs*

VOID: It sounds sexy. Are you going to heaven, or hell? And why?

Oh wow. I reckon I’d start out in hell, you know, just like sus it out, check the scene, get to know everyone… and then pop up to heaven after that. I feel like it’d be a mixed bag of both. Not that I feel like I’ve sinned to a great degree because I’m just living a human experience, but I’d love to check it out. You know, I feel like hell would be a vibe. *laughs*

VOID: If you could have any other name than Elodie, what would it be?

Anaïnja. That’s the new artist name that I’m actually transmuting into now. Inspired by Anais Nin, originally, it actually was my Chess dot com handle during COVID times. And then I realized the power of that name. It’s going to be my new music project and I’m really trying to step into this new identity of really sensual, soulful, heartfelt stuff. You know, take it up from the head-space and really bring it down into an honest, emotional place, through this new character. So I’m really excited to do that.

VOID: I’m excited for you. Okay it’s last call at the bar. What are you ordering?

Old fashioned, every time. *laughs*

VOID: It’s a strong drink.

Yeah, it is. It’ll take you home, hopefully with someone sexy. *laughs*

VOID: How has coming to New York influenced your idea of home?

I think it’s been a really interesting feeling being in New York this time around because I visited four years ago and that was very much just dropping in and out, visiting as a tourist. This time, coming here with a purpose – to perform – has been so fulfilling. To take your art with you wherever you go and to be able to share that with people is just so exhilarating. You can show yourself much faster, I think.

You show people what you are, what you’re doing, your expression of self, and then you connect after that point. So it’s been really satisfying. And having recently moved from Paris to Berlin, I’ve really been seeing the change up of myself within the different cities. But also then acknowledging that home is where your art is and where you are and it can be anywhere at any point in time. That’s the most exciting thing about it. And it’s a huge privilege to be able to do that and to share it across multiple cities and I’m just so stoked to be able to do that.

VOID: How do you feel yourself kind of changing of late? What season are you in?

Going from Paris to Berlin has been a huge transition. It’s required acceptance of myself much more because I feel way more grounded and at home within myself. And that’s been mirrored by the people surrounding me. Not to say that my crew in Paris isn’t also amazing, but the city of Berlin is really giving me what I need right now and it’s allowing me the platforms and the spaces to properly say what I want to say and to live the experiences that I want in my life.

I think this season is feeling really abundant. Especially because I just had my 30th birthday and experienced all of the love that comes with that. The word can be a little bit lame and a bit cliche sometimes, but I just feel opening and abundance in every realm. Friends, love, work, family, all of the above. I just want abundance of all kinds and I’m really trying to emulate that, especially with this new character that I’m gonna try and step into now. Yeah, it’s an opening. I feel a sense of opening, for sure.

VOID: How beautiful. What’s something that has remained unchanged throughout the season change?

I think connection. Connection to people and acknowledging that when I moved to Paris four years ago, that’s when I really came to understand the power of connection. And that was what my first EP was about. That’s the only time you feel held and safe is when you have connection with others and therefore connection to yourself. That, for me, is unwavering and it is what will guide me forever. That’s what friendship, love, lovers, family give you. And that’s what I want to always put energy into. And I think the community that is growing in Berlin around me and that we’re also actively growing with this event series that I’m doing with my dear friend Em Orshan called Femme Fatale. We’re seeing the community build around us and now my goals have shifted.

VOID: How have they shifted?

In the past I had this idea of going to a certain place with my music or performance or voice, and now I see that as involving many more people around me. And that feels so much better. It feels so much more exciting and so much more possible and something that I want to do more, actually. I don’t want to get somewhere by myself. That sounds horrible. Like what’s the point? “Lonely at the top.” No way do I want anything to do with that. I want to be with my crew, my family, my community, and I want us all to rise together.