Ella Jay Basco: In Honor of Her Culture
⤏ IN CONVERSATION WITH COLLEEN BAISA
⤏ PHOTOS BY GRACE PICKERING
⤏ HAIR BY RENA CALHOUN | STYLING BY BELLA MARABLE | MAKE-UP BY KATRINA KLEIN
Ella Jay Basco is powerful and knows it. A native to the Bay Area, she is a multi-talented rising star who gained our attention with a main role in the DC Universe and is a self-assured voice within the AAPI community, speaking on representation in media, beauty norms, and against the uptick of hate directed at the community and our elders. With all this responsibility and an ever-shining spotlight, Ella chooses to continuously uplift others and celebrates her Korean/Filipino heritage by dropping absolute bops with empowering lyrical hooks and colorful music vids that make you want dance around…like the bad b*tch she knows you are, too.
COLLEEN BAISA: For a warm-up round, I have to ask: what’s your sun, moon, and rising [zodiac sign]?
ELLA JAY BASCO: Oh my god. I don’t 100% know this. Well, I know I’m a Virgo, but I don’t know more than that!
CB: Do you really identify as a Virgo?
EJB: I think I do. But I know from my Primitive Animal test that I’m a salamander.
CB: Oh, really? What are the major characteristics of a salamander? I want to look this up!
EJB: They’re just very outgoing and tenacious.
CB: That’s great, that’s perfect! Another warmup question: did you get any new quarantine hobbies or skills?
EJB: I always say that I do baking, but another hobby that I picked up in quarantine is jewelry making. I like making rings and stuff, which is really fun.
CB: That is cool! Are you gonna sell any?
EJB: [Laughs] I give them to my friends as gifts!
CB: That’s so sweet. And what is your favorite show that you like to watch in your downtime?
EJB: I’m obsessed with a lot of shows right now! Probably Schitt’s Creek, it's very lighthearted and super funny. Or Young Sheldon. My sister and I love watching that one.
CB: I love Schitt’s Creek as well! Let’s talk about the music video for GOLD. I’m Filipino and the imagery in the intro really resonated with me on a personal level. Do you wanna speak a little on the inspiration you drew from? Or the general message of challenging any societal beauty norms?
EJB: The director, Leslie Alejandro, is an amazing, strong, powerful Pinay. We spoke about all of the Eurocentric beauty standards that a lot of Asian communities uphold. Desiring to have your skin whiter, your hair straighter, things like that. So we wanted to create a scene that spoke upon those ideas, but with a 50s commercial aesthetic, and with a girl not feeling fully comfortable with what she was selling.
“… for my personal style, I’ll take a combat boot over a heeL"
CB: As soon as all the color and production kicks in, it is such a joy to watch. What drew you to the 50s aesthetic or that look of a commercial?
EJB: I’ve always wanted to explore some sort of period piece, and I’ve always thought that I Love Lucy vibe was really cool. Plus the whole transatlantic/mid-Atlantic aesthetic is really interesting to me.
CB: A lot of the outfits you wore in the video — as well as on the red carpet — have a lot of nods to both Korean and Filipino fashion. I think that’s awesome. How would you describe your sense of personal style?
EJB: I would say my style is definitely a mix of many many things. But I really do love honoring my culture through my clothing. So throughout the whole Birds of Prey press tour, I wore a lot of Asian-designed clothing, which is really cool. And for my personal style, I’ll take a combat boot over a heel, so I guess that can say a lot about what I like. Billie Eilish and her style inspires me a lot, just that tomboy-ish vibe.
CB: Tough, but elegant and fun.
EJB: Yes, of course!
CB: How are some other ways that you like to celebrate your heritage beyond style?
EJB: Beyond style, I just love eating the food. [Laughs] My mom is Korean and she makes really good Korean food. And my dad is Filipino, and he makes great Filipino food. So we just love having parties! Every Christmas I believe we order a lechon.
CB: Yes!
EJB: That’s a traditional thing we do. And my grandma loves teaching me how to make lumpia. So just small things like that.
CB: Lechon is so good! And lumpia is tough! It’s very labor-intensive. What are other ways you like to express yourself creatively beyond acting or music?
EJB: I love creativity in general. And of course music and acting are my favorite things to do, but besides that I love writing and drawing. I love painting as well. I’m in an art class at school that really helps me express my feelings in a different way than writing a song or performing.
CB: What are other things that you enjoy writing about in your music?
EJB: I think writing from experience is definitely something that is really important when I write songs. And I just love writing through what’s been going on in my life. My songs are kind of time capsules of what has been going in my life — teen angst, liking someone, feminism, those sorts of things. So yeah, I think my songs just go case by case. But I really love writing about what I’ve learnt from different experiences.
“Beyond style, I just love eating food.”
CB: I love that idea of time capsules because with each year — especially the last one — a lot is going to be different than the year before. Do you have an EP coming out? Is that something in the works for you?
EJB: I definitely have things in the works, but technically I’m not supposed to say anything! But there’s definitely more music coming from me.
CB: That’s exciting! Well, after being a part of such a huge franchise in the DC Universe, what are some of the fictional characters that really inspired you? And [who are] your personal heroes in real life?
EJB: Fictional characters like Mulan played a big part in my life and in discovering who I want to be because she broke a bunch of gender stereotypes. And even in the DC world, Harley Quinn! She shows that you don’t necessarily have to be 100% perfect to be a good person or to be a hero in general. And I think in real life I would definitely say … gosh, there’s so many people to think about as inspirations! But I always love saying that my parents are a really big inspiration for who I am just because they nurtured me to be a really independent and kind person. They’re always making sure that we’re kind and respectful.
CB: I feel like at least every other day my mom is still texting me saying, “Be nice and be kind to people.”
EJB: [Laughs] Yeah!
CB: And I’m like, “That’s so Filipina matriarch of you,” and I really take that to heart. What kind of roles are you going to consider for the future? Are you going to be shooting anything?
EJB: I don’t know how much I can say, but I have plenty of things that I would love to share. I’ve been really excited to branch out into different characters. So, yeah, I should say there’s definitely more coming from me and I wish I could say more.
CB: I’m sure! We’re all very excited. As a young creative, what are some things you’d like to share with other young folks who want to pursue a similar path?
EJB: I think younger people in general get told a lot that we’re not capable of something, or we aren’t worthy of something, because we are younger. I think that is completely wrong. Don’t let people mistreat you just because you are younger. And of course respect your elders and respect the people around you. But at the same time, I think it’s really important that we stand our ground and speak our truth.
“Harley Quinn… shows that you don’t necessarily have to be 100% perfect to be a good person or to be a hero.”
CB: Amen to that! I think that covers a lot of the core, but I do have some lightning round questions for you. What’s your favorite Korean snack?
EJB: I really love seaweed chips. They’re just like regular potato chips, but with seaweed flavoring.
CB: What’s your favorite Filipino snack?
EJB: Probably these lychee Jellos that are in little cups. Filipino moms always have them in a really big jug. And you just slurp it. It’s like, Filipino Jello, I love them.
CB: I love those, too. With the little cube in the middle of the actual lychee! So tasty!
EJB: So good!
CB: Do you have a favorite boba flavor?
EJB: That’s a hard one! I’m very indecisive with boba and honestly it just depends on the day. But I love a classic milk tea — you know, 50% sugar, light ice, extra boba.
CB: Yes! 50% sugar! I’m a taro girl myself.
EJB: Nice!
CB: So the next one is: what’s your favorite school subject right now?
EJB: I would say history because I love learning about ancestry. But right now I would probably say film. I really love film and my film class.
CB: What are some movies that are really resonating with you lately?
EJB: Lately? Gosh, that’s a hard one too. Minari is a really good one. Lady Bird is a favorite of mine. It’s on Netflix and I rewatch it religiously. And probably the new documentary about Billie Eilish, I really appreciate that one.
CB: I haven’t watched it yet, but I will say I’ve seen Lady Bird like four times since it’s hit streaming. Do you have a book recommendation?
EJB: I really love a series called Matched. It’s a sci-fi romance series. And I also love Trevor Noah’s book Born a Crime. That one’s really good.
CB: Awesome! Great picks. What’s your favorite accessory? When you’re about to walk out the door — besides a mask — what’s your favorite thing to throw on?
EJB: My favorite accessory is probably bracelets. I always have random bracelets that I wear. And sometimes they can be very sentimental, which I like. Like this one was my great grandma’s. It has sunflowers on it.
CB: Oh, that’s beautiful! That’s so nice! Okay, and then lastly, are you more of a beach person or a mountain person?
EJB: Beach person! All the way!
CB: 100% beach? [Laughs]
EJB: Yeah [Laughs], I think it’s especially because I’ve been living in LA my whole life. But I’d much rather deal with sand in my shoes than wet snow.
⤏ COLLEEN BAISA (SHE/HER) IS A FILIPINX-AMERICAN CREATIVE PRODUCER AND WRITER, BORN AND LIVING IN LOS ANGELES. SHE IS CURRENTLY AN EDITOR FOR SLUMBER MAG, A PUBLICATION THAT HIGHLIGHTS AND FEATURES FEMALE/NON-BINARY MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS. SHE WAS ALSO THE MANAGING EDITOR OF SAD GIRLS GUIDE, A POP CULTURE AND ADVICE BLOG THAT SHARED UNWARRANTED VERY IM/PRACTICAL LIFE LESSONS.