Eli Brunelle has a new album coming out, entitled April. It has a cool jazz sound and soul spirit. You can check it out live at the album release party on April 30 at The Green Room. Or see a quick peek in the video below.
Please tell us about yourself and how you got started with music.
I’ve been musical my entire life. I became a vocalist in the Minnesota Boychoir at age 6. I also sang classical and opera music while taking piano lessons (I was a terrible, undisciplined student). Once COVID hit, music became more serious for me. I taught myself to play the drums, guitar, and bass, and restarted piano lessons- this time with a genuine desire to learn. My self-taught musical background was initially rock-focused, but as time passed, I found I had a passion for jazz and soul music. Studying jazz taught me a lot about music theory and helped me to shape more interesting ideas around song structure and technique. It was around this time that I started writing my own songs. One of the first songs I wrote was called “Anesthesia,” which eventually became “All Night Long.”
Listening to the songs you have on Spotify, it seems as if there’s a chill vibe that has really set in on latest songs the Love On Your Mind and All Night Long, will the upcoming album continue that mode? Or will it be a blend of very slow and smooth and the more upbeat tempo of Cherry?
The upcoming album April, is more of a blend. Some songs are certainly more uptempo, even aggressive. But there’s a good mix between that and a smoother, softer sound. To me, too much of the same idea can create stagnation, but a blend like this creates a better album overall. As a creative, I want to continuously challenge myself to evolve and make better, more interesting ideas that excite and entertain the listeners. I think creating lots of variety is essential, especially in a time like now, where albums are undervalued and disincentivized.
How did you decide to do a video for All Night Long – and what to do for the video? (I love anything that shows off Minneapolis!)
I knew that I wanted All Night Long to have a music video, and I wanted all the Twin Cities musicians who worked on the album to be featured in the video. David Bryant, the videographer, and I discussed our options and eventually landed on Minneapolis as a backdrop. There are just so many cool places here. The city fits the song perfectly and holds sentimental value for me as a born and raised Minnesotan. It takes a lot of people to create a song, from the writer to the musicians to the producers to the engineers. Shooting with everyone who worked on the album brought us together again to do something fun, and I think the video benefits from the fun we had together through the entire process of creating this record. (Fun fact, the guy in the “I am Kenough” sweatshirt is my dad.)
You attended the Berklee College of Music‘s Aspire program. What did you bring back to the Twin Cities from your time there?
I learned so much about musicianship during my time at Berklee. I think an essential lesson any musician can learn is the importance of authenticity and leaning into your own ideas and expression, while also learning from others. Being at Berklee also taught me many important lessons about being a young adult: personal responsibility, accountability, interpersonal relationships, and the importance of making your bed (a direct message from Victor Wooten to me). Being the kind of person that you like being around opens so many doors.
Please tell us about the upcoming album release show.
The album release is on April 28th, with the release show set for Wednesday, April 30th, at the Green Room in Minneapolis. Some of my favorite musicians in the local music scene are on the bill. DJ Lemony has been a good friend for years, and his Vinyl DJ sets are amazing; it’s rare now to see a live DJ using vinyl. HINDSIGHT is a collective of friends from Eau Claire with a very clever, jazz-inspired sound. Lasalle is another good friend who writes some of the catchiest pop songs I’ve ever heard. 0308 is a new fusion ensemble, and this is their debut show. The group is headed by David Smith, a prolific local producer and keyboardist. For my set specifically, expect lots of guest appearances and fun surprises.
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