E L A I N E R O I G
SINGER // SONGWRITER
Born to Cuban parents in New Jersey, USA, I spent most of my childhood days dreaming of being a singer. I started singing with my dad at the age of 2, ballet dancing at age 4, then playing piano at age 7.
My father Joaquin was an avid collector of Broadway musical LPs and a lover of all styles of music in general, so no doubt that this early exposure to such a wide variety of music definitely influenced my singing and songwriting style.
Both my aunt and uncle on my father's side are singers and musicians, and my grandfather's first cousin was the renowned Cuban musician and composer Gonzalo Roig, who founded the Havana Symphonic Orchestra in 1922 and penned one of the most internationally known Latino ballads of the last century, "Quiereme Mucho". I suppose it makes perfect sense why I have such a love for music and singing - it's in my blood!
Growing up I spent a lot of time singing at home and at family parties, but I was always a bit shy about performing in public. Nevertheless, I began writing poetry and songs at the age of 16, composing music on a little Casio keyboard I bought for myself in High School, and I joined a friend's garage "alternative rock" band - Obreon Daemon - as one of their backing singers.
However, I was soon promoted to singing my first solo song when my fellow band members realised I had more in me than just singing in the background, which led to other song projects and collaborations during the ensuing years with various producers - one of them the late internationally known DJ Erick Morillo - and several other dance single collaboration projects.
I am currently based in London where I produce and perform my own original material, and I also work as a professional voiceover artist narrating documentaries, doing voices for video games and major motion pictures, and singing commercial jingles, (I sang the jingle for Mr Sheen, one of the UK's major household cleaning brands).
I would best describe my writing style as being honest and heartfelt. I most often write from personal experience, but sometimes after I have written songs that I think are just made up scenarios or about other people, I end up discovering (sometimes years later) that I can resonate with them personally.
My vocal style is soulful, melodious and colored by the many types of musical genres I grew up listening to. I always hear so many different styles in my songs that I just call myself a pop singer to make life simple!
Singing and songwriting has always just been such a natural thing for me to do and I'm just so happy that I can do this. I consider it to be an amazing gift and a huge blessing, and I plan to carry on doing it with joy and happiness for as long as I'm able!
I hope you enjoy my creations. Lots of love, Elaine