Elle PF Delivered us an Ultimatum

Indie Do-It-Yourself band Elle PF delivers an "Ultimatum" With a vanguardist Experimental rock and electronic edge, a song that -emotionally- looks back to move forward, drawing strength from the past to freely speed headlong into the future.

Elle PF is formed by Jenessa LaSota on Bass and Vocal harmonies, John Acarregui on Drums, Singer/songwriter Ranelle LaBiche and the mysterious "Doc" on the Ax. Though the band formed in Minneapolis, the outfit since moved to L.A. and has made it their home base for their amazingly fluid sound, one that incorporates classical training with an affinity for alt-rock and expansive electronic elements. Their debut came in 2018 with the 12-track album "She Wrote it", an introspective piece on melancholy and ennui on both the social, political, and personal realms.

Photos by Amanda Adam

The band is led by LaBiche as a singer, songwriter, and producer. She began her music career by playing piano and violin from a tender young age, moving on to punk music as her rebellious teens kicked in. Nowadays, Ranelle puts her musical training alongside her degree in psychology to good use as a board-certified therapist in mental health treatment centers L.A.

"Ultimatum" is a smooth, floaty alt-rock ballad that dips into cinematic accents to give off a stark sense of melancholy wrapped in a blanket of cool aloofness, a detached-but-not-really piece that tells more about the faces we put on when admitting to inner sadness and struggles, as well putting one’s foot down when certain uncompromisable boundaries are being pushed .

The music video for "Ultimatum" was directed by local L.A. indie artist, Jimmy Whispers. The music video follows Ranelle on a motorcycle journey through the California landscape and roads, emphasizing the themes and perspectives both in her lyrics and in the broader scope of Elle PF's work so far. Freedom, moving on, longing, exploration, the journey of discovery, all of those elements coalesce into the ideal visual companion piece for this fantastic song. The motorcycle journey comes to a head on a very Hollywoodesque goth-punk impromptu concert under one of L.A.'s many iconic overpasses.

This music video was very clearly inspired (and takes full advantage of) by LaBiche's own affection for motorcycles. Ranelle spends much of her downtime riding her Honda shadow across Cali, and she's joined multiple riding groups and collectives such as Queers on Gears, Women SoCal Riders, and The Litas.

For Elle PF. "Ultimatum" comes as the first single in their upcoming 2nd album "I Woke Up Today Laughing." and it comes as a wake-up call: Become a fan now so that you can be considered an old-school fan later!

MEET THE AUTHOR

Samuel Aponte is Venezuelan-born raised and based. 

I joined Rival Magazine after a few years of doing PR work for independent musicians of all stripes; understanding their struggles to be heard in a sea of constant  ADHD noise and paywalled access to platforms, I now bring a willingness to always appreciate and encourage the effort and creativity that artists put into their work . Can also find some of my writings on LADYGUNN and We Found New Music.