With a beautiful yet unique voice and a multitude of other talents (including being a gifted songwriter), Elle Varner is a star on the rise. After a long year, that might not be more apparent than it is now, as according to VIBE Vixen, her LP, Perfectly Imperfect entered into the Billboard 200 at number four and has been getting rave reviews. Just see all the love she’s received from publications like New York Magazine, who ranked Elle’s piece of work as one of the top albums of 2012 (alongside everyone from Kendrick Lamar, Mumford and Sons, and Killer Mike). So now that she’s done such magnificently big things in 2012, what’s next for Varner? Niki McGloster of VIBE Vixen sat down with the starlet to discuss all that, but some of the most notable quotables came from conversations about what a true “artist” is, dealing with being someone’s idol, and also trying to resurrect a dating life that has been virtually nonexistent due to a busy work schedule, and some suspect men…

When asked if she’s okay with the reality that fame could be here one minute, and then be gone the next:

I’m more comfortable with my choices. The more I step into Elle Varner as an artist, I’m more comfortable with what I want or what I feel like I want because that’s really what being an artist is. Playing into what you think people want you to be, that’s not an artist. It is scary, but that’s why the greatest ones are the one that take the risk and just be whatever they want.

When asked how she feels about fans crying over her and idolizing her nowadays, while a little much for Varner, she graciously accepts the love, but reminds herself that she’s just like everyone else:

It’s nuts [laughs]. I feel, honestly, that you have to constantly remind yourself that you are just like everyone else because everyone is treating you like you’re not. People are making you their savior, their role model, their idol. People actually love you, and it’s crazy. They’re like, ‘Don’t change’ [laughs] but you have to in a way. There’s no way not to. But you still want to keep the part of you that is pure.

And finally, when asked about her dating life and how it will play into her sophomore album, Varner kept it real about the struggles she now faces while trying to get to know the men folk:

For me, dating is like a really different thing. I have to look at everybody and say, ‘Why are you here?’ It’s kind of messed up, but it’s true. I know what it’s like on the other side. I’m literally meeting people that just completely overlooked me and now they think that they’re just meeting me for the first time…My job is to travel the country, so I don’t have a place every day to see whoever I meet, but I think I’m more open [to dating]. I’m starting to feel more secure just as an artist and where I’m at, and now I think, ‘You might have time for a date.’

To get more quotables from the interview, you can read the full cover story over at Vibe Vixen‘s website. And here’s to hoping Varner will have as successful of a year in 2013 as she did this year. You better work!

Source: StyleBlazer.com

From StyleBlazer

We sat down with acclaimed soul songbird, Elle Varner, and she shared her affinity for NYC’s fashion and music scene, and why she’d choose cute combat boots over designer heels any day. Don’t miss her sweet acapella rendition of “Refill” at the end of the clip!

Check out the video on StyleBlazer.com

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Source: Styleblazer.com

From StyleBlazer.com

The stars of Black Hollywood were aligned last night in Los Angeles at the 2012 BET Awards. With Samuel L. Jackson at the helm, the best in the business got to party on one of music’s biggest nights. Kanye West took the stage, D’Angelo returned sounding better than ever, and Cissy Houston delivered an emotional gospel tribute to her fallen star, Whitney Houston. Glam gowns like Bey‘s and Mariah‘s seemed to be the look of the night, but La La Anthony and Monica rocked out in pants just as lovely.

Not only was the show one of the most enjoyable nights in BET Awards history, it was also one of the most stylish.

Check out the style winners on StyleBlazer.com.

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It’s no secret that many singers are songwriters, which explains why the ASCAP awards is one of the most star-studded events in Hollywood. Madame Noire got the chance to attend the festivities this year and had the chance to chat it up with some of our favorite female artists including Elle Varner, Melody Thornton and Marsha Ambrosius.

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The “So Fly” and “Refill” singer sat down with the magazine as its cover girl to talk about her new album, what it was like growing up in a musical family, her proudest moment so far, and more. She pressed her curls and went for ’50s retro chic while batting her uber-long lashes for the shoot. Loving the looks and the color in this spread, and of course, we just love Elle in general.

When asked about her musical upbringing:

“Yes my mother and father were both songwriters. Growing up in a musical family was like going to school before school. Everything I saw was a lesson in itself. I was able to be a fly on the wall. My mom had a lot of friends that were working actresses and musicians and I was just always around, like, taking lessons.”

She also talked about the naysayers who weren’t so sure her voice would take her far, and encouraged her to start off the Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson route by being a songwriter first:

“I’ve always wanted to be a singer since I was a little kid but I went through a phase right after high school where I wasn’t very confident in my ability to be an artist. I had a lot of people especially in college tell me, “Oh, you should be a songwriter first like Neyo. Get your feet in the game as a songwriter.” like, they kind of didn’t want to say, “I don’t know if you have it.” I just took that and I said, “You know what? I’m gonna do it my way.” Ironically I got an artist deal before a publishing deal so…”

And as for her proudest moment, it came when she had the chance to meet…a 10-year-old?:

“Let’s see… My proudest moment in music so far has to be [when] I was interviewed by a 10 year old. She did her school project on me and that was one of the proudest moments actually of my life because I said, “If I’m making a difference for 10 year olds I’m doing something right. I’m very proud of that.”

Great answers, awesome chick. Be on the lookout for her upcoming release, Perfectly, Imperfect, and check out her mixtape, Conversational Lush in the meantime. And check out the rest of her interview with AMMO on their website.

Are you a fan of Elle Varner? Are you feeling the shoot?

Images courtesy of AMMO Magazine.

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Source: singersroom.com

I don’t know about you, but from what I’ve seen of Elle Varner so far, I’m loving her! She’s extremely talented (she can play multiple instruments and has a wonderful voice), and her songwriting is so cute easy to relate to that you can’t help but jam with her. And that’s very true when it comes to her new video for her track, “Refill.”

In the video, she’s part of a summertime cheer squad who comes for a short visit to NYC for a competition. And although her coach says the girls have to stay in on their last night, she runs out and has an adventure…oh, an adventure indeed. She meets a FINE a** dude and their broke behinds go on a joy ride, dine and dash and then have to part in the morning as she sadly leaves NYC. It’s both hilarious and cute at the same time. And can we talk about dude’s LIPS??? I was so distracted the first time I watched this, lol. There was no way I would have left him without him knowing all my information. But you judge for yourself. Check out the fun video below and the dope track and let us know your thoughts. I’m pretty sure this will be your springtime late night jam *smiles*

So is it a pass or play for you?

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Media personality, mommy and wife, Lala Anthony cheesed for the cameras after she made her acting debut on Broadway. Anthony is acting in the play, “Love, Loss and What I Wore” at the Westwide Theater in New York from now until October 30th.

Head over to Necole Bitchie to get the rest of this story and catch up with some of your favorite celebs like Nelly and Ashanti, Solange, and newcomer Elle Varner.

So it’s getting cold outside–that doesn’t mean that your style has to go stagnant in browns, grays and drab black. While these colors are good for business looks and for something classic, a burst of color is always fierce. Someone who is a great example of just how fierce poppy colors can be is R&B singer Elle Varner. She was caught on the set of her new video “Only Wanna Give It to You,” alongside cutie J.Cole who appears on the track (check it out!). This getup, a neon orange blazer (dare I say, cantaloupe colored??? *gasp*), an African-inspired dress with a Kente cloth designed skirt, those bright boots and that clutch all give the outfit a fun, funky personality. We’re also digging the big hair and the accessories.

Are you feeling this look?