The Not Tonight Songfacts says that Elle Varner was born of two published songwriters, her mother, singer Mikelyn Roderick was a backup vocalist for Barry White and her father Jimmy Varner is a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, who has collaborated with Kool & the Gang and Will Downing. Elle spent most of her childhood sleeping on studio couches, running around green rooms, and watching her parents struggle to make a name in the industry.