Welcome into Saints Channel Studios. It's Elenyi. We've got Seli, we've got Desi, and Ari--three sisters. And I want to start there. How is that, performing and singing together as sisters? Maybe you, Seli--you're the oldest. You get to speak for the family. We love it. It comes with its challenges, but there's something special about creating something together. I don't know if that's the same for all sisters, but especially for us, it's just really fun. Like we can sing as soloists, but having all three of us back together finally has been so different and so amazing. Now she said--Desi, she said "back together finally." So what's that all about? So, we actually had a lot of times where one of us was missing as we were kind of singing together. Like kidnapped, or what are we talking about? No, no, no. So we each served a mission--so a Church service for our Church. And so you leave for a year and a half, and you go to somewhere away from home. We each actually went to South America. So it was just like we overlapped. Seli went first, then I was gone for a year and a half, then Ari was gone for a year and a half. Oh, wow. And now we're back together. And it's been like four and a half years. So this is a group four and a half years in the making, and then some. Yeah. Yes. So let me ask you, as you left, you kind of set the example. And then was it the expectation that you would follow suit, or how did that go? It's more just like since vocally we're so different--I'm low, she hits the high stuff, and she can do both--I think it just really pushed us to learn different things. So I don't know--I think we're pretty equal, but vocally it helped us learn a lot more. And then you come along, and you're like, "Hey, you guys are home now, but I'm out. Forget it." I mean, I went out while Desi was actually still out, so we were there together for a little bit, which was super nice. So then the reuniting. What was the homecoming like? Seli, do you want to talk about that, when finally everyone's back in the same house? Well, finally everybody comes back, and it's coronavirus time--quarantine. So, I'm actually married, so I live in a different house. And so I didn't see them for about two weeks--we had to quarantine. And then we finally got to be all together, and it's just been really fun creating music ever since. And so you got to be together. Did they move in with you and your husband? Is that how that worked. No, no. We just were fully quarantined, so we knew we didn't have the virus. And so we would just switch off. Sometimes they'd come to my house. Sometimes I head to our family house. Cool. What was music like in your family growing up? Is that where it started? I mean, we've always just loved singing Disney songs and stuff like that. We'd always sing "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and stuff like that. And then I don't know, just one day we were on a road trip, and our parents were like, "Hey, they're actually not that bad. Maybe let's get them into lessons." And so that's how we started actually singing. I like the name Elenyi, but I have no idea if it means something. I know that I've worked it over and over and over again to make sure I'm saying it correctly, but what's the meaning behind it? So when we were younger, we used to just call ourselves Shine. But then we realized that was a little kiddish. So our dad knows a bunch of different languages, and he knew that in Greek elenyi is kind of similar--it means "a ray of sunlight." And so he was just like, "What about Elenyi?" And we were like, "That's really cool. No one's going to know that means, but it's really cool." And it's kind of the secret message. Yeah, we just really wanted to sing positive music as a group, and so we wanted that message of light. But Elenyi helped us make it more modern, but still has that same meaning to us. And yeah, it's weird enough that's it's the first thing that pops up when you type it in. Yeah. You get all the SEO that you want, right? Google searches--it's you guys that comes up. So, talking about being hope and inspirational, why is that the focus of the group? I think just our whole lives we just had this desire within us to just help people and be a light. You look out, and I feel like every day the world is just getting harder and harder. There's so many struggles. And so if we can make just a little difference by lighting the world with one or a couple songs, each song will make a difference. So we think as imperfect as we are, we can try our very best. Music can make a big difference on your mood. So when you're listening to music that isn't that great or has some words that you don't feel comfortable with, it just changes your mood. And definitely songs that have light in them--there are lots of singers out there that have lots of light when they sing. We've always loved that. So we always wanted to be like that--looked up to those singers. You guys each having the opportunity to serve missions--Church missions, service missions, as you helped other people--let's talk a little bit about that. That's obviously a time where you can bring light into people's lives. You guys each did it, so you're each going to be put on the spot. But the order you go in doesn't matter. But maybe share an inspiring story from your time serving. Start with the first one. It's more fresh. Wow, I mean there are so many experiences. I think just seeing so many people just broken and having hard times, I remember that--there's just so many experiences. But I remember that there was just this one lady, and we had met her, and she was just so depressed. And I think she had never really felt any real joy in her life. And when we just started talking to her about Christ and about how her life can change by just being more positive and letting that light in, it was just amazing. Because it was literally like a light had consumed her, just completely. And she changed her persona, and everything was just amazing to see someone change completely all by the gospel. All right, putting you on the spot then, Desi. Well, kind of like Ari said. The whole point of a mission is to be able to help people feel that love that we do have from our Heavenly Father and from Jesus Christ. And so I think just, I don't know--kind of more personal. I think it's something that--I think sometimes I'm very closed off to my emotions, and I don't like people to see that. And sometimes you think you are alone in things that you go through in life. And for me--I went to Chile--and it was really cool to meet lots of different people, and that they actually feel the same way that I do, and that all of us can connect on that same level, that we do have someone who loves us, and that we do have value, we have purpose, and we do have an identity. And so I think it was really cool for me to be able to find more of my identity while helping other people find theirs. And I think that's something very beautiful that connects us all as humans. Because we're different, but we all come from the same God. Yeah. All right then, Seli. It's to you. I went to Brazil, so [IN PORTUGUESE] hi to all the Brazilians. I had to say that. But I honestly think that one of the biggest things I found on my mission is that God is always there, even in the little things. And I mean, we had moments. Serving in Brazil, it's a walking mission, so you're just walking everywhere. And I really learned that God--He loves every single one of his children. Your goal as a missionary is to go and have people come closer to Christ, but sometimes I felt really strongly that I was supposed to go to a person and just be kind to them and try and bring them to the gospel, and they just wouldn't want anything to do with it. But God still wanted me to leave and say God loves you. He wanted that message to His children, even those that didn't want to come unto Him at that time. He wanted them to feel his love, even if it was just going to be in that moment where I was there with my companion, or with other people around me--that He wanted to send that message through whoever could do it. And so I think that's something we definitely want to do through our music--is just be genuine, but whenever we hear that little voice in our head saying, "Hey, make sure you sing with more love," or "Hey, say that God loves you," that we really want to be those messengers whenever God wants to send that message to someone, that they can just feel His love in that moment. Sometimes there are dark times, though, right? Can we all agree with that? Maybe it's just me, but how do you guys find yourself lifting yourself up from those dark times? They're inevitable for everyone. Sometimes a song can help, but other times it takes more than a song. Mm-hmm. We have actually--because we're really close, and we actually talk a lot, we get really deep--we're very sensitive people. So we've actually been talking a lot about how everything in life is a choice, and I think we forget that power that we have to choose for ourselves how we can actually feel. And obviously things guide it, but I think that for me, I've found that just looking at the things around me and being grateful for them helps me to be able to choose more like I'm really happy because I have all this stuff around me, like my sisters, and I've got you, Richie. Oh, stop. Yeah. Well, even when it's hard to make that choice, or you're trying to make that choice, and you're just not making it--you can't get yourself to get up and do the things you need to do in the day--it's just, I mean, family is a huge thing. I mean for us, especially. Especially as singers, sometimes it's hard to separate the business aspect and being sisters part. We have to remind ourselves like, hey, we need to be sisters. Because that connection as a sister or as a family member, you just lift. And you didn't even know. It's just since birth you've been with that person, and you just know how to lift them up. And those are the people I love to rely on--is my family. I think it's pretty cool, too, where you guys are sisters you probably, in some cases, don't even have to say anything. You can just tell that the other person is off. Ari, maybe a little bit about that. Have you ever-- I mean, yeah. It's been kind of crazy, too, because since we were all gone for a bit, we had to kind of re-get to know each other in a couple of ways. But it's been super interesting just since I've been back that we've been really able to be open and vulnerable with each other, and just be like, "Hey, this is the way I react to things." Or maybe try and be a little bit more patient, or things like that. So it's just super helpful to know that I can just trust them, and they'll trust me, and just communicating. But I think it's just been super helpful. So when we talk about inspiration, sometimes songwriters will talk about a divinely inspired song. Have you guys ever had an opportunity where you're writing and you come away from something, and you're like, "Boy, that was not me that wrote that." Who wants to talk about that experience? Well, I'm just going to say honestly that's kind of how we feel with every song that we do. But one of the coolest experiences was actually one of our most well-known songs, which is "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" mixed with "Hie to Kolob." And we actually got to do that with our really good friend Sarah Young. And she's really good at the piano, and it was just like--I don't know. She's good at the piano, we're good at singing, but we didn't--we're not like that good, so obviously, we know it wasn't from us. It happened super quickly, too. I don't know if you want to talk a little bit more about that, because-- Yeah. We really love those songs. Ari--it was Ari's choice. She's like, "These are my favorite hymns. I'm going to mix them." And that wasn't a thing that was really done--was mixing hymns are even doing covers of hymns and putting them on YouTube. So we were like, "OK, let's go for it." And so we were trying really hard on it, and things were flowing but that last bit where we mix "Come Thou Fount" and "If You Could Hie to Kolob." And we mixed them together. We just really wanted to mix it, but we couldn't figure it out. So we stayed up super late one night, and we just kept trying and trying and trying. And then all the sudden we just came up with it. And we just knew it wasn't us because we'd been trying for hours. And it wasn't like, "Oh, we finally figured it out." It was like someone helped us. And even with Sarah playing the piano, it just all came together. We went separately and came together, and just how God could take people from different households, and even in the same family, and just connect us all so that this song could turn out way more than we ever could have made it. I don't know if it's coincidence or not, but we have the three of you, and we also have Sarah here as well. Do you think we can maybe get you guys to perform that number for us? Let's do it. For sure. [MUSIC PLAYING - "COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING / IF YOU COULD HIE TO KOLOB"] (SINGING) Come Thou Fount of every blessing tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I've come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.

If you could hie to Kolob In the twinkling of an eye, and then continue onward with that same speed to fly, do you think that you could ever, through all eternity, find out the generation where Gods began to be? Or see the grand beginning, where space did not extend? Or view the last creation, where Gods and matter end? Methinks the Spirit whispers, "No man has found 'pure space,' nor seen the outside curtains, where nothing has a place. If you could hie to Kolob In the twinkling of an eye [INTERPOSING VOICES] O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let Thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, oh, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.

Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.

Absolutely beautiful, ladies. The thing that I love about that is hearing it as you guys sing--kind of symbolic maybe of how your guys' lives have been for a few years, right? Like one came and then the other left and stopped singing and then came in and kept singing. Do you guys--do you ever just stop and think, "Wow, is this real life? Like, is this really where we're at in life?" A lot. Yeah, I feel like sometimes I'm like, "Wait are we really just singing together and able to help so many people and help ourselves and grow our relationship?" It's just--I think it's such a big blessing that, I mean, maybe sometimes we've taken it for granted. But when you really recognize it, it's just--it's such a great blessing in our lives. Sometimes it can be a lot of pressure, though, because it's like all three of us, and we need three of us. It can't--I mean, we've talked--like we can't just have one split off and be a soloist like other bands. It has to be us three because that's where it's the most special. And so we always make sure we remember the reason why we're doing it when we make other life decisions, and just making sure that this is a priority to us. Well, Seli, you started it because you got married, and then it's like they're going, "Wait a minute, she's going to be gone." How do you guys balance that? I don't know how we do, but we do it. Just honestly, I think it does help the fact that we are really close, and we do try to spend lots of time together anyways. And so we just really try hard to travel back and forth and do stuff together, or through calls even. Just anything we can. Monday through Friday we're together somehow, random times of the day every day, but we're together. Do you ever--are there ever--what's the word I'm looking for?--trials in between you guys as you're trying to make that, and maybe there's sometimes a busier time or the difficulty between you guys? I mean, it wouldn't be life if it wasn't a little rocky and stuff. I think there's definitely hard times where it's, I don't know, it's hard to coordinate times or coordinate different things. But I think just that's where we all put in our effort and sacrifice a little bit more here, a little bit more there, and just try to really work together. Yeah. I also think a little bit earlier what you were saying--we really have to be aware of each other's feelings too, because I think our insecurities can come out. And so just noticing that and being able to help each other. Because I think that that in itself is an obstacle, just because sometimes in our heads we're just thinking, "Wow, I do not sound good on this. Seli should sing that." I think it's just really good to always be motivating each other, and that's kind of what helps us continue. How do you guys make those decisions when it comes to a song? If you've written it, whoever writes it gets to sing the lead, or how do you work it out? Well, we were talking about this a little earlier. We were trying to remember, and we remember when we were first younger and we were trying to get into the singing and the music industry, we'd come across a lot of mentors or lots of advisors that would tell us certain things, and the funny thing is we didn't really follow any of them. Like they would say, I mean, you need to have one person that's the lead singer, and it's never going to work all three of you. And I mean, we have an amazing vocal coach that has helped us so much in helping our voices all be at the same potential. And almost from a young age, we decided that we don't want just one person singing high, one person singing melody, one person singing low. We want us all to be able to do it because there's such a different feeling when Desi sings high or when Ari sings low and vice versa. And so we always just switch it around. Sometimes we'll try and each sing it once. Then we'll be like, nah, Desi sounded best there. I liked your emotion. Things like that, yeah. Or sometimes it's like, OK, we're going to push one of us to sing a little bit higher, do things that we're not as comfortable with, just so that we can grow as well. Yeah, not always just be comfortable. It's fun that way, too. You guys talked a little earlier about with the coronavirus, with the COVID-19, with the pandemic--whatever we want to call it--how there was some mandated time apart. Additionally, you guys each served those service missions and were a time apart. Talk about how you deal with being alone. Oh, man. I think just everyone feels alone at some point in their lives, or lots of times. I think what's really helped me is just knowing that even when we're not there physically, or anything like that, we're always there for each other. I know I can always rely on them. And more than anything, I'm never actually alone because I always have God, too. And so I think that He's just really our rock, and we're just the little rocks around Him, too, to just build each other up and be that help. Because there are days that you do feel alone, or you just--it's hard. But it's really nice to have not only God but people that can help you. Yeah. As cliche as it sounds, it really is something where it's like the little things, like the sun just on your face, and you're like, "That's God right there, helping me." And actually, I don't know if this happens to you guys, but when we are apart, I feel like you guys are still with me, because I constantly look back to old memories, and I just start cracking up out of nowhere. I think we're just always together, and so you just always reflect back to something funny or weird we did the day before. I remember when Seli went on her mission, it was so hard for me. I had Desi, and we're all best friends, but I had to fall asleep every single night to our "Come Thou Fount / If You Could Hie to Kolob." I was like, that's weird I listen to ourselves. But not to listen to myself--it was for them, and I just felt connected to them again. I think it's hard being alone, like going back to that concept is--we really, like we rely so much on each other. We love each other, but we did have to go through a period of time learning to rely on ourselves. Just by ourselves, like us and God. But I think sometimes when you're not used to that relationship--just you and God--you don't know what to do. You don't know that He's there. You don't know how to recognize Him. And so those service missions we did helped a lot, but also just going different paths in our lives--different colleges, different schools, being married. We're going to keep finding moments where we're going to be alone and not together. And I think that the cool thing is even though we've all experienced who want to be when we're alone, we come together, and it's in harmony. And we find that we complement each other with the people that we want to become. We don't just want to be this group forever. We are three independent people that just want to grow closer to God and find our purpose that He has for us. I love within those confines that you guys have also written original music and that the three of you have created something, right? Not to say that a mash-up or combination of songs isn't that thing, but this is--you create individual songs and melodies and harmonies that come from just the three within you. Talk about the songwriting experience. Well, the funny thing is when we were younger, we just didn't know how to write songs. We just--we struggled a lot. Desi was a little more natural with it, but Ari and I struggled a lot. We all struggled. We could never write an original song, so we just kept doing covers after covers. But after we had that time apart, it strengthened us. And we can actually come together, and it starts to flow. And it's actually a really cool creative process. A lot of times we like to listen to instrumentals we like, and we'll get inspiration from that. Or just decide we want this kind of mood, or things like that. And then the lyrics kind of follow, and it all kind of falls in place. Yeah. I think that it also helps to have friends who are also really good at music, and somehow you just get inspired by them. Or even just being more connected and in tune with your own emotions I feel like really helps. Because we talk about how we feel like impostors, because we don't know anything about music-- We don't know music theory or any of that. --so it's like, how do we have the right to create a song? But just the fact that we're humans and we have those feelings and we know other people can connect to them too, and somehow it helps us, and it can help them--I think that's something that helps us to be able to connect personally and create a song together. Ari, you want to weigh in on it? Yeah. I mean, I think that something I really like to, just so everyone knows, is when we get together and we do our harmonies or things, lots of times they are not good. It's like you go through this period, and me especially--I'll just say it--I am probably the worst one at harmonies right now, but I'm working on it. But it's like sometimes we get together, and I'll just be like, huh. It does it does work. So it's like, I don't know. I think it's just like life: it's not going to be perfect. You have to work through it and practice and things like that. But that's what I like, is that, I don't know. It doesn't have to be perfect for it to turn out good. I think out of the weakest things, that's where God can make the greatest strengths. So I'm hoping, because the three of you are in the studio and we have Cayson on the guitar, that you guys will be willing to do one of those original numbers? Yes. So you were talking earlier about how there's moments where we were alone during corona and stuff. And while we were alone, I remember that I was like, "OK, you know what? I'm going to write a song." Because I tried so hard my whole life, and it just was never coming. And I remember I just knelt down, and I remembered that scripture that says, "If ye ask, believing ye can receive, you will." So I was like, "OK. I'm just going to have a lot of faith right now," and I was like, "Heavenly Father, please. I just really want to write a song that can help people through, like, these times." And it came to my mind, one of my favorite chapters in the scriptures--2 Nephi 4. And I just read through that, and I was like, "Man, I'm not the best with words, but these words are great." So I was like, "Let's use these." And I just--I don't know how, but I came up with a song in like an hour. And I was like, "I guess that's when you know it was not me because I would have never done it on my own." But I wrote a song, and it's called "Awake My Soul." And my sisters help me sing it, so we can sing that for you guys. Great. [MUSIC - "AWAKE MY SOUL"] (SINGING) I write the things of my soul, so easily beset by my flesh and my sins. My heart is sorrowing, I'm encompassed. Why am I so weak? Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. He'll make me whole, the rock of my salvation. Rejoice, O heart of mine. [VOCALIZING] He has filled me with His love, confounded all my enemies, and led me through the dark. He gave His life for me. I'll always be in debt to Him, I'll praise Him on my knees. I give my life to Him, yes every broken piece. Take and mold my heart. Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. He'll make me whole, the rock of my salvation. Rejoice, O heart of mine. Rejoice, rejoice.

I know who I've trusted, and forever I'll be His.

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Oh, make me whole, the rock of my salvation. Rejoice, O heart of mine.

Awake, my soul! Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. He'll make me whole. The rock of my salvation. Rejoice, O heart of mine.

Rejoice, O heart of mine.

That's pretty amazing. Yeah, she did good.

I love not only the song, which is gorgeous, but being able to know sort of the backstory behind it. To know that it's a comfort for feeling alone. And I love--you guys probably do this for a technical thing, but I love that you guys are so carefully watching each other as you sing. To me, obviously, there's the musical part of it, right? That you're making sure that you're getting the exits and entrances correct. But there's also sort of symbolic--something symbolic to me about, you know, "I've got your back, sis, no matter what." And I noticed that, too, before you guys each started singing, that you kind of comfort with the hand on the back, knowing that you guys have each other. It's a beautiful thing that you have, being able to be sisters and being able to perform and create this. What do Mom and Dad think about the whole situation? They love it. Yeah, they like it. They've been there since the beginning pushing us and always helping us. I mean, since the very beginning, one of the most amazing stories of us is we really could have not turned out to be great singers, but my parents are firm believers in developing the talents that God has given you. And so when they first heard us singing, even a little well, they were like, "Let's put them into singing lessons." And so we started. But we are so nervous to go alone that we went together. And that's how the group started. And every single day after that, my mom waking up at 5:00 with us, making sure we're doing our warm ups, making sure we're practicing. Every performance--everything. They're just always there for us. The music industry is a lot of fun. I want to get to the fun stuff in a minute, but what's the hardest thing that you guys have experienced, either alone or together, as you've been trying to make a go of everything? That's a good question.

I think one thing, not on us, but kind of more things we deal with, is that because we don't know musical background, sometimes we'll get shoved around a little bit when we're at performances or things, or people don't know what we're doing. That's like the only thing--is because we're such like, kind of more timid, or more--I don't know--just people that won't really stand up for--because we don't really know what's going on in the first place. But that sometimes we find ourselves not speaking up as much, and that's something that we've really had to push ourselves with--is when something isn't the way we like it or up to our standards, we really have to speak up and make sure that they know that this is how we do it and how we like it. I think something, too, is just--I don't know--with all the good comments that people say, there's also lots of bad comments. Yeah, don't read the comments. I mean, sometimes I think it's good to just laugh about it. Sometimes I'm like, "You're right. I did sound really bad on that part. But you know, it's OK." It's learning to laugh at our mistakes, I guess. What about for you, Desi? Something in there that's harder for you? I think digging deep within yourself and knowing that you need to put more of a part in. Because I think sometimes maybe we need to believe in ourselves more and come up with ideas and share them more with each other, or when we work with other people. I don't know. That's just the first thing that popped into my head. There's a lot that's kind of hard sometimes, but I think it ends up being a good experience either way. It's hard so much, because the songs--you guys have created them, those original pieces--there is a piece of you within that song. And so you sort of offer it up and go, "Please, love this child that we have created." And when people are like, "Oh, that baby's ugly," or whatever the thing may be, you go, "Whoa, no way. You don't understand. You're not feeling the same thing that I'm feeling." And it's hard to continue to be vulnerable when there will be people that will be like that. What's your favorite parts? Ah, so many. We'll go reverse. You start. I love the middle of the song. The first part of the song you're just so nervous, at least me. I mean, people think, "Oh, do you get nervous?" We get super nervous. So the first part's a little shaky, and then in the middle of the song, you just like feel calm. And you feel like, I got this, and we can do this. That's just the best feeling--is when the nervous part transitions to the calm, and you just feel in your element, and you feel like--I don't know--the song's going to be what it wants to be in that moment. Kind of going off of that, I think that I really like just the fact that we've gotten to the point where--I mean, we're perfectionists--but I think just knowing I really felt that, and I meant what I was singing. And just feeling that connection with each other and with God. I think that's my favorite part overall. I love those answers. Mine--so many good parts. I think something I love is when you just have this idea in your head, and it's just like, I have no idea how people are going to understand what I'm thinking. But they somehow do. And we just come up with something, I don't know, even better, like with Sarah or Cayson or anyone we work with--when it just works, and it clicks, and it's like, "Wow. It turned out better than it was in my head." That's my favorite moment. Now I'm hoping, because I know that you guys--when you did those service missions--that you served in different countries and were able to learn different languages. Two Spanish, one Portuguese. Can we blend? Even though I won't understand a single word, I'm wondering if you guys would be willing to do a little bit of music in those languages for me to try and figure out. We can try. Let's hear it. Which one do you know in Portuguese? "I Stand All Amazed." I think I can do that one or "Lord, I Would Follow Thee." Do "I Stand All Amazed." You can do the first part in Portuguese, and we'll come in in Spanish. Let's see if I can remember the Portuguese part. [MUSIC - "I STAND ALL AMAZED"] (SINGING IN PORTUGUESE) (SINGING IN SPANISH) Not perfect, but-- That was great. Put you on the spot, and you guys delivered. That was amazing. All right, it's Elenyi. It is Seli and Desi and Ari. Thank you so much for being here as part of Saints Channel Studio. Yeah, thank you. Thank you, Richie.