Hello, My Name Is Elia

IE: Have you been writing new songs?
EE: Oh, yeah. I wrote a ton of new songs. I took some time to let myself heal, and during that I wrote a lot of new songs for the Choir; I started a punk band with [violinist] Ethan [Adelsman]; and I started managing a band from Brooklyn.

IE: Does the accident weigh on them?
EE: Yes, some in a sad way, some in black humor. I haven't brought them to the band yet; that's down the road as everyone keeps getting better.

IE: What's been the lasting emotional effect?
EE: Taking time and figuring out what I want to do with my life -- in and outside the band. What's important, what isn't. I still haven't come up with the answers. Having so much time off, I hadn't had time to just sit and write for a long time. It was nice to have that. I wish I didn't get it the way I did, and I'd never want it [that way] again.

IE: Did you go to a lot of the benefit shows?
EE: I was at all of them except for one. It was an amazing outpouring of love. The Choir's done so many benefit shows -- for awhile, we had to stop because we'd gone broke never doing paying shows. It was so amazing to have that come back our way.

IE: What was the biggest surprise?
EE: We're vegetarians or vegans for the most part, and a grilling group called Man-B-Que -- a bunch of heavy-metal guys who put together artists and meat -- put on a benefit for the Choir. A great bunch of guys. We got to the club, and there was this massive banner there that said, "Vienna Beef Supports The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir!"