Elle Varner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elle Varner
Varner in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Gabrielle Varner
Born	(1989-02-12) February 12, 1989 (age 36) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Years active	2009–present
Labels	E1 MBK RCA J
Associated acts	By All Means Dexter Wansel J. Brown Pop & Oak

Gabrielle Serene Varner (born February 12, 1989), known professionally as Elle Varner, is an American singer and songwriter. She grew up in a musical family and studied music at the famous NYU. In 2009, she signed a record deal with RCA Records.

Varner is best known for her debut album, Perfectly Imperfect, which came out in 2012. The album was a big hit, reaching number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 chart. It included her popular single "Only Wanna Give It to You".

Early Life and Education

Elle Varner was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her background is a mix of Cape Verdean, African American, and Swedish heritage.

Music was always a part of her life. Her parents, Mikelyn Roderick and Jimmy Varner, were both professional songwriters. Her mother was a backup singer for the famous artist Barry White, and her father was a talented musician who worked with groups like Kool & the Gang. Together, her parents were in a group called By All Means.

Growing up, Elle spent a lot of time in music studios. She started playing instruments when she was six years old, beginning with the flute and later learning piano and guitar. She attended special music programs, including the Academy of Music at Alexander Hamilton High School. After high school, she moved back to New York to study at New York University’s Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, a special program for students interested in the music business.

Music Career

2008–2012: Career Beginnings and Perfectly Imperfect

While in high school, Varner was chosen for a special Grammy mentoring program. This gave her the chance to learn from professionals in the music industry. After graduating from NYU in 2008, she signed a record deal with MBK/J-RCA Records in 2009.

Varner performing in Brooklyn, New York, in November 2011.

Her first single, "Only Wanna Give It to You", was released in 2011 and featured the rapper J. Cole. The song became a hit on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Soon after, the RCA Music Group combined several of its labels, and Varner began releasing her music on the main RCA Records label.

To get fans excited for her album, she released a free collection of songs called a mixtape in early 2012, titled Conversational Lush. Her next single, "Refill", also did well on the charts.

Her first album, Perfectly Imperfect, was released on August 7, 2012. It was very successful, selling 33,000 copies in its first week and landing at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Later that year, she also co-wrote the song "Use Me" for the R&B singer Miguel.

2013–Present: Later Music Projects

Varner began working on her second album with famous producers like Pop & Oak and Hit-Boy. She described the new music as a mix of "trap and jazz." She released a song called "Rover" featuring the rapper Wale. However, the planned album, Four Letter Word, was not released, and she eventually parted ways with RCA Records.

In 2019, Varner returned with new music, releasing an EP (a short album) called Ellevation.

Musical Style and Influences

Varner is known for her soulful voice, which has been compared to the British singer Adele. She is a mezzo-soprano, which means her voice is in the middle range for female singers. Her music often blends pop, hip-hop, and soul sounds.

She has said that two of her biggest influences are rapper Kanye West and singer Adele, because she wanted to mix hip-hop with soulful singing. Growing up in Los Angeles, she was also inspired by West Coast rap groups like N.W.A. Other singers she looks up to include Ella Fitzgerald, Mariah Carey, Brandy, and Monica.

Discography

Studio albums

• Perfectly Imperfect (2012)
• Ellevation (2019)

Mixtapes

• Conversational Lush (2012)

Tours

Headlining

• The Ellevation Tour (2020)

Supporting

• Chapter V World Tour (2012)
• NYLA Tour (2019)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

BET Awards