A Chat with Eleri (25.10.23)
Blending elements of pop and rock in a country vibe, singer-songwriter Eleri has her own brand of music that is entirely inimitable. We speak with the US-based musician about her new album The Carnival, binge-watching TV shows, future plans and more!
OSR: What made you decide to pursue a career in music?
Eleri: I’d always loved music growing up and started writing songs as a teenager to sort out the confusing feelings that come with growing up. It was just a hobby back then until I went to the University of North Carolina, USA to study Theatre and while I was there I absolutely fell in love with country music and telling stories through songs. When I graduated I knew I wanted to make music and dove first into writing my first EP Ticket To The Sky.
OSR: What inspires you to create music?
Eleri: I’m inspired by lots of things, my songs have always tended to be autobiographical and deep but through co-writing and collaborating I’ve learned that there is a song to be found in every situation, and even the tiniest moments in our lives can be so relatable to others through music. I find inspiration everywhere now, my life, conversations with others, words and phrases I find in books, etc.
OSR: You recently released your album The Carnival. What can you tell us about it?
Eleri: The concept behind The Carnival is a reflection of the diverse and ever-changing nature of life itself. Much like a carnival, life is a whirlwind of experiences, emotions, and surprises. With this album, I wanted to capture the essence of this journey for me through life and music. Each song on the album represents a different part of this emotional rollercoaster, whether it’s falling in love, the passion for new beginnings, fighting for what you believe in, finding new hope and celebrating independence.
OSR: What do you hope people take from The Carnival?
Eleri: The Carnival is a musical journey that I hope listeners will find both relatable and transformative. It’s a reflection of the ups and downs of life, presented in a way that’s both captivating and emotionally resonant. I hope people can find themselves in each song at a different part of their own journey through life.
OSR: What is your creative process?
Eleri: I’m always on the lookout for songwriting inspiration, and I’m constantly writing down little notes or recording melodic hooks on my phone when I’m out and about. I do a lot of co-writing these days and I always try to bring along a concept or idea to start.
I always planned for The Carnival to be a collaborative project, drawing on the joys of co-writing over Zoom sessions during the pandemic. I worked with favourite songwriters like Nina Sundstrom, Rachel Walker Mason, Vanessa Murray, and Katie Buckland, along with producers Kaity Rae and Tim Prottey Jones. My collaboration with Millie Blooms and Dan Fry happened organically when we worked on a song together for fun, leading to them producing the entire record.
OSR: A couple of random questions: if you had any superpower, what would it be?
Eleri: I’d love to be able to fly, it would definitely help me beat the traffic!
OSR: If you could binge-watch any TV show, what would it be and why that one?
Eleri: Well I’ve been binge-watching Gilmore Girls recently for the first time, it’s so addictive! Other shows I love are Nashville, Stranger Things and Ghost Whisperer.
OSR: What do you think makes you unique as an artist?
Eleri: It’s a really tough question this, something that gets asked a lot and it’s difficult to pin down. But what I think makes me unique is me, my background, heritage, travels and experiences. All of that goes into my songwriting, which I’m thankful that other people and my fans connect with.
OSR: Do you have any plans for the future?
Eleri: I do indeed! I’m currently making plans to go back to Nashville next year for writing and networking. I’m also looking at booking a UK tour for next year to celebrate the album.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Eleri: I hope you enjoy listening to the album, immersing yourself in the carnival and finding yourself in my music.
Many thanks to Eleri for speaking with us! Find out more about Eleri on her Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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