The title of Eleni Mandell's new album, "Country For True Lovers," tells only a part of her story. In reality, the music of the singer/songwriter is an emotional mix of genres. When listening to the album, it is apparent that while her voice is true to the tone of country music, her music possesses an offbeat, bluesy quality that is full of longing.
Fans can listen to the Los Angeles-based artist tonight at The Mohawk Place, where she will show off her talents as a performer who, as Mandell herself said, does not "do just one thing."
A listener can relate to Mandell's lyrics, backed by soft and soothing tunes, through plain old emotion dissatisfaction. On "Don't Say You Care," she croons, "I know that real love/Is hard to find/I'm just a girl in my heart/ Hoping that someday it will be mine." The words of much of her songs are passionate and often sad. But that is exactly why she can draw listeners into her performance and tour on a national level.
Mandell's cynicism breaks down to plain old - or rather, bad old - unrequited love. This dismal concept is explored further in such songs like "Another Lonely Heart," in which she sings, "I was certain you were true when you kissed me in the dark/Now I'm just another lonely heart."
Regardless of how long Mandell held such feelings, she nursed her musical talent at the start of elementary school. A musician since the age of five, Mandell said, "Music was my destination, for better or worse."
She attended University of California at Berkeley, where she studied art, focusing on printmaking, oil painting and lithography. Even with her busy career, she said she still manages to continue her artwork and engage in hobbies such as knitting.
Mandell has versatile talents. She sings her own lyrics, as well as plays guitar, violin and piano. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences and her idol, the venerable curmudgeonly singer/songwriter Tom Waits, Mandell said, "I'm not trying to send a message, I'm just trying to write music I like."
As an example of her eclectic talent, it is important to take into account her jazz interest. According to Mandell, it is "really fun and challenging to play jazz." But her love of music is devoted to all kinds of genres. She said this indecisiveness accounts for some of the difficulty she encountered in making a music career for herself.
With four albums under her belt, and two more already planned, Mandell is a busy woman. But hard work and touring has alleviated the need for a day job in the past two years.
Although she thinks of herself as an outsider to the music business, Mandell is certainly privileged to perform globally. Her current tour stops include Paris, New Orleans, New York City, Montreal and Chicago - not too shabby for a lone, indefinable songstress.
If she can place herself in some sort of clear-cut context, it's in her mix of honesty and heart.
"I try to be sincere in every way possible ... I'm not a perfect singer, but
Her polite, soft and modest voice almost insists to the listener that her genuineness is no lie.
Mandell is confident in her abilities and described her strategy towards success in simple terms: "If I didn't give up, I'd eventually get somewhere."
Similarly, she said she hopes aspiring musicians believe in themselves and maintain their artistic integrity.
Mandell's performance is sure to be entertaining and endearing, for her draw is in her chanteuse-like quality. In other words, there is something about Mandell that befits the solo lounge singer, whose enchanting vocal vibes are pleasant yet appealingly pitiful to listen to.
Elena performs at The Mohawk Place tomorrow at 8 p.m. Entrance is $6.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
