Eli’s debut EP, I Can Be Whatever You Want Me To Be, is a bold exploration of eclectic sounds and deep emotions. Released via Mammal Sounds Records, this collection showcases Eli’s ability to blend genres seamlessly while maintaining a cohesive narrative throughout. The EP features a mix of alternative-dance, hyper-pop, and electronic influences, with each track standing out as a unique chapter in Eli’s musical journey.
The standout track, “What If/If Only,” featuring Melbourne artist Lucy Lamb, delivers a gritty, hyper-pop energy that’s both raw and captivating. Lamb’s vocals add a haunting layer to the song, which explores the grandiosity and drama of romantic feelings. Eli’s production, inspired by the drum and bass stylings of artists like Vierre Cloud, creates a dynamic soundscape that complements the emotional intensity of the lyrics.
Closing the EP is “I’ll Ask Them To Go,” a track that Eli has been refining since he was 17. It captures the melancholic yet epic essence of Jeff Buckley, whom Eli cites as a significant influence. The song’s evolution over the years mirrors Eli’s growth as an artist, culminating in a track that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
The artist explains in detail –
“When it came to bringing this song to life in a recorded setting, I was initially inspired by so much of the drum and bass chopping you might see on Vierre Cloud’s ‘Moment’.
Once I had the production fleshed-out I made an attempt at recording the vocals but wasn’t very happy with them. My friend Lucy (Lamb) had just come back from Europe, and we had wanted to make a song together for some time, so I scrapped my vocals, told her I had no lyrics for it and asked her to go crazy.
So many of these lyrics were initially written by Lucy, I can’t speculate on what she meant when she wrote some of this. But I know when I was writing to complement what she had already written, I found that for me this was a song about romance. About romanticising and the grandiose nature of what that feels like. The idea of sensitivity and how dramatic it can feel.” ~ Eli
