'Whatever It Takes', the new video from Latin American rock star Elan, is a piss-take on the music industry.
Elan, the most successful independent Latin American singer, had the longest charting song of the year with 'This Fool's Life' on Mexico City based Latin music network Telehit.For 'Whatever It Takes', the third single and video from her critically acclaimed 'London Express' album, Elan along with brother and producer Jan Carlo DeFan, bass guitarist Carlos Padilla and drummer Michel 'Cheech' Bitar DeFan, go on a journey to the dark side, a meeting with a record executive (played by Bono impersonator Pavel Sfera.
In a video that is art imitating real life, the record exec tries to change the image of Elan and replace her band with more Hollywood looking models.
"The funniest part about making this video was the eerie similarity to some actual moments I've had, Elan explains to Undercover News. "Recently I have received a lot of calls from friends that are either signed to majors or in the process of getting a "record deal"... you'd be surprised how many of us are involved in a constant struggle to try to make the "suits" understand that we just want to make our music. But I think people are starting to get it".
In inspiration for the video was simple, she only had to draw from her past experiences. "The idea for the video came about by looking at our past," she explains. "It's not nuclear science, it's just realizing you've got the answers right in front of you. When we sat down to talk about it we all started laughing as we remembered what it was like to be sitting in that chair, in that big old office staring at what could be our future. Good thing we always think twice about things like these".
For Elan fans, this will be your one and only chance to see her dressed like a bimbo pop star. "It's not everyday you get to see me in a "Britney" outfit, feast your eyes on what I hope you never have to see again," she says.
However, she is happy to draw on the experience and share it with her fans. "We had been waiting for an opportunity like this for years," she says. "To watch this video, you first have to understand what it's like to be asked to change who you are".
Elan's 'Whatever It Takes' is now streaming on Undercover.
