Syracuse’s growing music scene continues to attract new artists, including Maryland-based folk singer Eli Lev, who will perform at the Pink Rock Culture Co-Op on Oct. 22.
Lev, a Maryland-born indie-folk artist, shared his excitement for the upcoming show, saying, “I’ve heard wonderful things from artists who have performed there, so it should be a really nice experience.”
Lev has been writing since he was 12 or 13, playing in bands throughout middle school and high school. In 2017, he took a leap and began making music full-time after working as a middle school teacher. In Arizona, he taught on the Navajo Nation, where he found himself very inspired by the culture, people, and landscapes, which directly influenced his music.
“So my first music project is called ‘Four Directions,’” Lev explained. “I learned, you know, the sun rises in the east, goes to the south, and then west and the north. Each direction has a sacred mountain, a color, a story, an animal, and a stone. So I thought that was a really amazing idea. And when I started being like, ‘Okay, well, how am I going to do this music thing?’”
Lev’s work follows a countdown: Four Directions, Three Worlds, Two Friends, and One Road. These reflect place, time, community, and connection, then our path. Each of these is its own project that brings Lev’s worldview into music, with a finite goal of retirement once the project is completed. Three Worlds is partially complete, with one of its three parts still in progress. Two Friends and One Road are also forthcoming.
Past Lives is his most recent release. He describes it as “bringing the voices of my ancestors to life.”
He used cassette tape interviews of his family members to create three characters: Bubbe Sarah (from his dad’s side), Uncle Ben, and Aunt Evelyn (from his mom’s side). This way, he was able to bring both his lineages together. “It kind of brings our past and our ancestors and honors them, because I feel like we need it right now. We need some guidance, and we need some help and some love,” he said.
You can see Eli Lev’s performance at the Pink Rock Culture Co-Op on Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m., or find his music under Eli Lev on all streaming platforms.
