Today we’d like to introduce you to Elenee Young.
Hi Elenee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Music has always been a large part of my life. I grew up listening to all the greatest artists of the 70’s/80’s/90’s. A lot of those artists’ creativity was so inspiring and I wanted to emulate the same kind of creativity in my own world. I started by writing poems and short stories that encompassed my every-day interactions and relationships. When I was nine, my poem “A Dog’s Life” was published in a book that circulated in Canadian schools. Having taken piano lessons since the age of three, I started to organically turn my poems into songs with some piano accompaniment and melodies. With my little Yamaha keyboard in my room, hundreds of notebook pages, my bright purple walls, and my budget recording equipment, I recorded my first songs as early as 12.
Having grown up in a home with an alcoholic father, I struggled with anger and childhood trauma that followed me into my teen years. When I was about 14, I started to recognize that the time I spent writing and recording songs was actually a form of respite and stillness for my mind. It was cheap therapy that would become a huge part of my teen and and adult years.
Having met my now-husband at 16, he introduced me to Jesus. I had grown up in a church with my grandparents and I was very involved, but I had never really known Jesus for myself. After the drastic change in my life – coming from drugs and alcohol as a teen and then coming to know Jesus, the content of my music began to drastically change also. The songs started to come from a place of healing instead of a place of hurt.
Now I sing those healing songs and release them to help others on their walk with the Lord. I wouldn’t trade this calling for anything!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There was nothing smooth about my childhood and teen years. A lot of hurts, abuse, addiction, trauma, and disappointment. My identity was so skewed and I needed Jesus to come in and radically change my life, which He did!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Canadian Christian/Gospel artist and songwriter. I love the warmth and encouragement that gospel music brings to all listeners. I was awarded the GMA Songwriter of the Year in 2017 and in 2022, I was Canada Wests’ Spiritual Artist of the Year as well as a GMA Covenant Award Nominee for Pop songs and Canadian songs. I am both Greek and a Metis Citizen with the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan and am proud to bring such cultural diversity to the ever-growing table of Christian/Gospel artists.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I have learnt that people will always let me down. Sadly, I have learnt that the hard way in almost every relationship, which is just part of human nature. I have learnt to put everything I have and know in the hands of God and trust that He has my best interests at heart every time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elenee.ca/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eleneemyoung/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eleneemyoung/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EleneeYoung
Image Credits
Kim Capiral (Narra Studios)
