Today we’d like to introduce you to Ella Matteisse
Hi Ella, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Before moving to LA, from the age of 6, I grew up in a small town in Northern California called Grass Valley. Although its one of the places I call home, there was little no opportunity for me to express my creative talents. Music was really my first introduction to the arts, and even my mother new I was going to be an artist, which is why she gave me the name Matteisse, after the French painter, Henri Matisse. Growing up I loved painting and art museums, and was going to concerts from age 3. The first one I can remember seeing was Beck in 2010, which really inspired me to start singing, and ultimately was the gateway into why I started performing as well. My mother always played Aretha Franklins ‘Lady Soul’ album, and was the first CD I ever had, which I still listen to all the time for inspiration. I started acting in musicals at age 6-13 before the company shut down, and I started dancing at age 11. To my surprise I fell in love with it and danced on a competition dance team and various companies for about 4 years. I had a very negative experience with that dance team in the end, which prompted me and my best friend, Amanda Herr, to open up our own competition team at age 16. We call it “Dance Natural Creative Complex” and is still open and running in my hometown. Also in that same year of opening the studio I started releasing my own music and getting better at my guitar skills. Using the root of my name from the artist, I am now available on all streaming platforms under the name MATTIESSE and I just released my newest song “I know” with an album on the way.
During my senior year of high school, I graduated early, was working 3 jobs, and saved up enough money to sell my car and move out of my town. Los Angeles was kind of my last decision, but I had gotten really into film making that past year and decided that’s where I needed to be.
Now, living here almost 7 months in, I have worked as a production assistant, modeled commercially and on runways, acted in multiple short films, and have met some of the most beautiful people along the way. Los Angeles really shows you the dangers hardships of being an independent woman and just how tough it is to be an artist out here. But I wouldn’t rather be doing anything else or have it any other way. As long as I represent women properly, hold my ground, and keep a steady head with the ambition to make enough art as possible, I feel like Im getting to do what I was put on this earth to do.
Currently Im working on being an exposé film artist and would like to host documentaries and docu-series exploring the art of video journalism and exposing the world as we know it. Much of my inspiration comes from the content seen on Vice Media. Now, more than ever I believe there is a message I have for the world, and art to give. So any form of art I can immerse myself in, I will gladly part take in.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nobody ever said that being an artist would be easy. There are constant struggles, but that’s what makes the art. All those times I spent in pain, those terrible days and years, that’s what has made the pieces I’m most proud of. I never had a father growing up, my mom was a single mom till I was about 4 and I was lucky enough to have a step father who supports me. I fell into bad habits and mental problems at a young age and will be something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. But each day I implement change for myself, is just another day I’m overcoming my own personal battles. And that’s what I beautiful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In my hometown of Grass Valley, I’m mostly known for my dancing and teaching abilities. I am also known as the girl with a million jobs, as some would consider me a workaholic. Before LA, I was working the front desk at the local bowling alley, serving at a restaurant, running a dance company with Amanda Herr and Karen Janson, and also working as a dance and art instructor at my former middle school. Now in Los Angeles people know me as Ella Matteisse, singer, artist, model, actress, and classified badass. I just recently was in public and was recognized for my music, which was something I has never really experienced. I just starred in a couple short films and just started getting my recognition from those. I also comment to San Diego for fashion shows, as I have only walked in two, people know me for my grungy style and the girl they shot a music video for. Truly, I try to immerse myself any way I can,
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson Ive learned is understanding the importance of being independent. Someone can say they are independent and still rely on other people to fulfill their needs. Which is not a bad thing as people do need people. But I’ve learned just hoe important it is to be your own best friend and understanding that I am the only one who can change my life. Which is also why I strive for complete control of my artistic ability and know that sooner or later, my music, my art, will reach the people who need it most. I just want to make others feel something, as I believe we live in a world that has become so numb. Even if you hate what I created, I still made you feel something, and that’s what matters.
Pricing:
- N/A
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ella.matteisse/#
- Youtube: @ellastoltenberger2427
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-782330454?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3dzmhKxTJwJ9BNea5KvDde?si=ex63JqxHTZSF_sLv-wIFvw
Image Credits
I have Ownership of the all these photos.
The black and white photo was taken by Gibson Cain, former partner and music partner.
