Elena Erin on her upcoming Gatsby-inspired album ‘Roaring 20s’

Elena Erin, a singer from a small town in British Columbia (B.C.), is getting ready to release her third album, Roaring 20s, on March 21. Inspired by the themes and aesthetic of The Great Gatsby, the concept album follows the story of a young singer from a small town. She moves to 1920s New York and climbs the social ladder to eventually find that the top is empty, leading her to reflect on her journey. 

Having moved to New York and London to pursue music, Erin notes that her experiences are part of her music. Yet, she tells them through the lens of a character. 

“There were so many things going on in my life that [reminded] me of the Gatsby vibes. Like a storyline of everything you would see aesthetically in the 1920s and then that kind of stuck with me,” Erin said. “I was like, ‘I’ve got some of these stories, I’m going to shake them through that lens.’ Then the rest of the album kind of came in that same perspective.”

To describe the album’s “Gatsby” theme, Erin painted a picture of someone attending a big party and having fun. But eventually they realize they aren’t meant to be there and don’t fit in with those around them. They try to feel happy about attending, but know this is where they’ll peak within high society. 

Erin originally wanted to leave her most recently released song, “what are you doing here?” off her upcoming album. It’s a story about her childhood, which she described as feeling “too personal and raw” to add to the project. However, after contemplation, she felt it tied into the overall story well. 

Working in various cities has allowed Erin to become a product of her environment

Following the specific aesthetic of the album, Erin lives it. With finger waves in her hair, 1920s inspired outfits, and visiting formal bars, Erin embodies the Jazz Age.  

While Erin’s previous projects had running themes, her upcoming release is her first concept album. She began the process in 2021, and explained how setting limitations allowed her to avoid “searching out in the void” so she could “ jump [in] and start writing it.” Overall, the set concept allowed her to have a more focused writing process.

Erin has worked in many different cities and details being a product of her environment. She described the energy of New York as more fast-paced, in comparison to the slow-going nature of the United Kingdom (U.K.). Yet, she also described how the energies affect her differently. 

“[In the U.K.] I felt like suddenly my music was being so much more nurtured, and I was creating so much more. I love going back to New York, I immediately will feel fired up. [But] I don’t create there the same way I get inspired and energized.”

Erin is expecting to perform in Alberta in May 2025 after the release of Roaring 20s on March 21.