In the Chair – He likes Flowers & People, He’s Eli Greeneyes.
In the Chair is a regular feature on Eventalaide, highlighting artists from across Australia and occasionally overseas. Everyone gets the same questions. It is just meant to be a bit of fun so please treat it as such.
Questions by Geoff Jenke
With a voice that could melt butter on a winter’s day, irresistible authenticity and a knack for genres that simultaneously nod to the past, present and future with an effortless balance, Eli Greeneyes has been continuously turning heads via his alternative sonic wares centered around messages of identity and power, alongside a gamut of oscillating influences. Originally starting life in a small bedroom in Melbourne in 2020, Eli Greeneyes’ ultimate creative identity emerged from a desire to deftly offset angst and passion, going on to work with Australian hip hop icon Drapht on his album Shadows and Shinings, and also finding himself named as one of the ‘Top 25 Acts Around the Country To Watch’ by TheMusic.com.au back in 2021.
Name: Eli Greeneyes
In less than 50 words describe your music and yourself.
A dorky and reasonably unique individual trying to learn about themselves and the human condition through the diverse forms of art that are available to him. Honest, Raw, borderline neurotic, equally open and silly.
What was the first record you bought with your own money and where from?
With my money I don’t remember. The first 2 records I got given to me by my mother were Let Go by Avril Lavigne and Justified by Justin Timberlake.
80’s or 90’s Music:
I don’t know how to answer that. I have favourite records in both eras. They were so different and I think too complex to compare.
What music are you currently listening to?
Dijon, Molly Payton, Steve Lacy, Nina Simone, Prince
The Best live artist/band you’ve seen:
Prince, it was the Piano and A Microphone Tour at the Perth Arena. It was absolutely insane to me to see somebody hold the attention of an audience of that size for that long with just 1 instrument and their voice. The most talent I’ve seen at one time. The stories, the musical tangents, the costumes, it was the most incredible show I’ve ever seen to date.
Your “In the mood for love” song:
A Sunday kind of love by Etta James.
Your favourite Saturday night party record?
I wouldn’t pick a whole record. I’d make a killer playlist. Probably with all the classics like Alanis Morrisette, The Killers, ABBA, Tears for Fears etc.
Your favourite Sunday morning chill out record?
Either Aretha Now-Aretha Franklin, Pastel blues or Silk and Soul-Nina Simone.
Which song do you wish you had written?
That’s so hard to answer for me. I think either Nothing Compares To You or Hurt by Nine Inch Nails.
Roger Daltry once said “Rock N Roll has no future”. Do you agree with him?
I’m not really sure what he means exactly and I’d have to hear the context that the statement was delivered in. It seems like a very absolutist statement at first glance which I’m not that into. In my opinion things go on and evolve in their own way. Just because a genre of music isn’t representing what the label once meant, doesn’t mean it can’t change and mean something else for a new group of people. It may be that he is associating “Rock and Roll” with his youth and what it did for him at that time. For me, I think things should evolve. Its natural.
Vinyl, CD or Streaming?
Either Vinyl or streaming. Streaming is great for how easy and accessible everything can be but the sound quality is pretty shit. For quality and a tangible/more wholesome and real experience I would pick Vinyl. I need to get my record player fixed now that I’m saying that.
If you could record or play live with any artist (dead or alive), who would it be?
I would love to write and record with Adele. I love her!! I’d probably just let her sing though because derrrrr. I would love to just be a fly on the wall for the making of Purple Rain, I wouldn’t say shit I’d just watch, take it all in and learn.
What is the most useless talent you have? Pulling obscene faces in photos.
Your finest recorded moment? My interpretive dance. It’s on my Instagram ahahha.
Who is your musical hero and what one question would you ask them?
I have a few like Prince, Trent Reznor, Adele, Aretha Franklin, Kurt Cobain. So that’s very hard. I think I’d ask them all the same question. Once you became famous did you make any close friends that weren’t famous? I always think about shit like that.
Dying, peacefully on your death bed, what song would you like to hear?
Spirit voice of the Enchanted waters. Listen here. Probably the most beautiful piece of music I’ve heard in a very long time. https://open.spotify.com/track/3oErcUSy7PdB5nI2YoW3xm?si=c68b1e3c91934254
Stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take three albums. What would they be?
Aretha Now-Aretha Franklin, Purple Rain-Prince and The Bends by Radiohead.
If you drove an ice cream van, what music would you play?
Anything but the creepy theme tune they currently have.
Best show you have ever played in your career: The next one
Neil Young or Paul McCartney?
Paul and only because he wrote “Yesterday” that’s enough of a reason.
Who is the nicest person in Rock n Roll at the moment?
I really don’t know I haven’t met many people. I need to meet people to answer that. Post Malone is pretty Rock n Roll and he seems like a pretty decent and nice person.
What do you hope the next 12 months holds for you?
More opportunities to discover myself and learn about other people. Not happiness but contentment with who I am and where I’m heading. Making art. More skateboarding, painting, cooking, camping. All the things that allow me to feel free.
A bouquet of alternative pop and powerful emotives, the brand-new single Flowers from Perth artist Eli Greeneyes, is out now. Eli Greeneyes self-titled debut EP is also out now. Also accompanied by a feel-good performance music video, Flowers is a pristine and polished delight, an introspective song, bursting with fresh pop textures.
A glistening elaboration of Eli Greeneyes’ increasingly genre fluid trademark sound, Flowers has previously been a track witnessed and beloved at live shows, with the new tune itself also drawing broad inspiration from the likes of Prince, Aretha Franklin, Adele and The 1975.
Written, produced and mixed entirely by Eli Greeneyes, Flowers is a raw, warm and soulful blast, equally confessional and empowered, while also showcasing a real-life experience
Eli Greeneyes explains, “I was given flowers in a relationship which at first I felt really weird about. It seemed like there was an underlying meaning, but I pushed it aside as me being problematically masculine. So, I enjoyed the beautiful gesture only to later find out there was an underlying meaning. The person I was with bought me flowers because they thought I would mirror their actions and spoil them more.”
Having previously released a string of conceptual music videos earlier in his career, the accompanying music video for Flowers instead showcases Eli Greeneyes and his band entirely immersed in their creative element, performing and giving in to the effervescent track with fittingly cheerful surroundings for good measure. “Ben Matei (who directed Flowers), and I decided we’d done a lot of concept videos and hadn’t made a fun performance video with my band. It is essentially just that, a performance video in a cool space with my band; Madi Hanley on drums, Lachie Hanley on guitar, and me just throwing shapes and having a good time, I guess!”.
Flowers and Eli Greeneyes self-titled EP OUT NOW.
Video Clip for Flowershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRisgKGdSAw
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