WRITTEN BY CAITLIN TRAVERS
“Selene” is the title of Los Angeles-based band, Elle Belle’s, recently released single—and with its mellow and folksy sound, it fits perfectly into the rest of their stunningly made discography. The song itself is a testament to the indie rock groups’ musicality and intensely personal lyrics. Lead vocalist Christopher Pappas classifies “‘Selene’ [as] a song about grifters and the people they prey on. It examines how our hope can be weaponized against us.” He continues, describing the personal anecdote that explains the song’s namesake. He shares, “My wife, Mary Beth, thinks I have a ghost that has followed me around my whole life named Selene. While I don’t believe in ghosts, her playful belief inspired this song. It’s fascinating how belief can shape our experiences, whether they’re real or imagined.” The song’s accompanying music video, released alongside the single, continues to build on the band’s poppy, intimate aesthetic with its handwritten lyrics and neon visuals.
This song is only the beginning for this burgeoning band, consisting of Pappas and Pierre de R. Having just played two shows in Los Angeles, Elle Belle has a whole string of singles set to go out later this year, following the 2023 release of a full-length album titled How Do I Feel? It seems the band has found its niche. Pappas’ rich songwriting ability and high-value productions allowed for a wealth of experience on which he can draw: including, but not limited to, writing music for NASA, having a musical slated to go off-Broadway, and assembling his own 27-piece orchestra to perform his original orchestral works.
You can look to support the band on their Patreon, where you can hear about upcoming new shows, preview new songs before other fans, and even sit in on songwriting sessions. Of course, you could also stream their new single, “Selene”: I promise it doesn’t disappoint!