BEST OF TASTY CLIPS: Representation to Elle Varner is a blessing and a gift
By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
ELLE VARNER is not one to settle for a no. This trait has guided the vocalist to a Grammy and a rewarding career as a working entertainer. And so, she has been working with Dr. Beverly Bond for years to spread her message and mentorship to young girls through Black Girls Rock programming.
In fact, she was witnessed live at The Kennedy Center’s inaugural three-day Black Girl Rock Fest held in Washington, D.C. with fellow performers Jazzmine Sullivan, Leela James, Rapsody, Nonchalant, masked sensation Leikeli47 and the amazing Be’la Dona Band.
“To be a Black woman in music and to continue to feed my culture and be a representation of who we are,” said Varner to Tasty Clips, “That’s such a blessing and a gift.”
The Brooklyn born, L.A. raised prodigy, who plays keyboards but prefers the guitar, credits her mother Mikelyn Roderick, a former singer with Barry White, with getting her over the hump.
Said Varner: “With all this college scandal going around, I remember [the school counselor] telling me not to bother applying to NYU because I didn’t have the grades. My mom was like forget that completely. Finish the application. Write your essay and then we’ll at least let them tell you no. I ended up getting in. If it wasn’t for my mom encouraging and pushing me many times in my life, I probably wouldn’t be as strong as I am.”
An example of her fearlessness was on display in the video for the single “Pour Me” featuring Wale and a massive snake.
The song, co-produced by her father Jimmy Varner, was the follow up to her hit single, “Refill,” and is featured on the mixtape project called “Elevation” released on 4/4 Sound/Entertainment One (eOne).
Asked whether it’s a boon or challenge to work with her dad, she answered both.
“I could only dream of having the experience and accomplishments of my father,” said the then 30-year old. “He’s produced Diana Ross, The Temptations and so many people; and he was Tevin Campbell’s musical director. That man just knows music like the back of his hand. It’s a goal of mine to get there. We go back and forth, but ultimately, it’s a blessing to have so much expertise in the camp.”
Varner already experienced her dream collaboration when she was called upon to join Prince on stage.
“He was like an outer worldly being,” she said. “For me to have been invited to perform with him is something I always have to treasure. That I was on the radar of arguably one of the greatest talents to ever walk the earth was incredible.”
With her statuesque natural beauty, acting could be a next step for Varner.
“Everybody says that,” she yelled before admitting a desire to play her major musical influences Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James in a movie fully dedicated to her and not a label like “Cadillac Records.”
“I’ve actually studied a lot of her performances and learned so much from those videos while I could catch them because a lot of them have been taken down actually after she passed away. She was just on another level.”
As for getting to the R&B legend’s buxom figure, Varner says, “Hell yeah, I’ll take that weight on. Give me some pizza. Some cornbread. Gladly. I get to do it in the sake of art so no one can judge me.”
The singer-songwriter is gearing up to headline for the first time in Jamaica for the exclusive All White R&B Live Concert at Island Vybes Pt. 4, to be held next Jan. 21–25. For more information on the five-day adults-only, all-inclusive luxury at Hideaway at Royalton Jamaica, visit www.ready4themainevent.com.
For 12 years, Bill Vaughan has kept Wave readers up to date with the latest news in entertainment. To contact Vaughan, visit his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or @tasty_clips, on X @tastyclips, and on LinkedIn to William Vaughan.
