Splendour at Byron: rapper Elliphant never forgets her roots

The Swede’s taste of success does not have her aiming for perfection.

Ellinor Olovsdottir lists her occupation on her Facebook page as waitress. It’s not true any more, but it’s a little reminder for the Swedish singer and rapper of where her career was just a couple of years ago.

Now known as Elliphant, the 30-year-old from Stockholm has come a long way in a short time, including to Australia, where she makes her festival debut at Splendour in the Grass near Byron Bay today.

Her arrival, just prior to the ­release of her second album, Living Life Golden, in September, marks another significant step in her climb up the music ladder for someone who quit school at 15 and spent her adolescence travelling.

“I see myself as a very lucky person,” the singer said in Kings-cliffe, NSW, yesterday, her base just north of the Splendour site at North Byron Parklands near ­Yelgun.

Elliphant had no ambitions to be a musician as a teenager. She quit school at 15 and cites her early passions as “lots of art, being a super-hippie and witchcraft”.

“I could have studied but I didn’t,” she said. “I just continued to get wasted my whole life. I’m honest. I put myself out there. I want to try and represent someone who is not trying to be perfect.”

Now the music industry and a broadening international fan base is under her spell.

Elliphant’s career took off after the release of her debut single Tekkno Scene in 2013. The video for follow-up song, Down on Life, has had more than one million views on YouTube.

She moved to Los Angeles after signing to the record label of American producer Dr Luke last year. Elliphant toured with US star Charli XCX last year and has recorded with Skrillex.

Now she is hopeful that her new album will further raise her profile and bring her back to Australia. However, she is aware that she has a lot to learn.

“When it comes to my art I’m very simple,” she said. “The coolest thing about me being here is that I’m nothing. That’s what makes Elliphant the most interesting project in the world right now. I’m not going in to record an album pretending I’m Bjork. I’m still learning. I’m just happy when something cool comes out.”

Today is the second day of the three-day Splendour festival. Joining Elliphant on the bill are local acts Flight Facilities, Boy & Bear and Pond, alongside overseas attractions the Wombats, the Dandy Warhols and Azealia Banks. Headlining the day are English indie favourites Florence and the Machine, who offered a taste of what’s to come with an ­invitation-only performance at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney yesterday.

Among the highlights at Splendour on a rather soggy opening day were Mark Ronson, Ryan Adams, Johnny Marr and Of Monsters and Men.