IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this EP

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

At home, Out in nature

Does this EP haunt the silence?

Impossible to forget

Goosebumps scale

Maximum goosebumps

Our thoughts

We’ve come across a lot of records trying to sound personal. But this one doesn’t try. It is.

Eli Lev spent years recording the voices of his relatives. Not to make a concept album, not for clout, and not for clicks. But only to keep their memories alive. At some point, those stories found their way into his music. That’s how the 5-track EP "Past Lives", out October 8th, was born.

Before we even get to the music, it’s worth knowing where Eli Lev comes from (not just geographically, but musically and personally). He grew up in a house filled with the sounds of Simon and Garfunkel and John Denver, for example. He played in a pop rock band in high school, then wrote goofy songs during his travels. But the real turning point came on a solo trip to Sayulita, Mexico, when he camped alone on a quiet beach with just his guitar. At some point, surrounded by wind, trees, and waves, he felt like the elements themselves were singing along. That’s when something inside him said "if this makes you happy, keep doing it. It will help people". And so he did. He’s been making music independently ever since!

This EP is the second chapter of a trilogy, and is not only a few samples thrown in randomly to add some emotional weight. These voices are part of the fabric of the record! His Bubbe Sarah, born in 1892, speaks about growing up in Poland. Uncle Ben talks about life in the American South. Aunt Evelyn shows up too, with stories that feel almost too insane to be real. But they are. And once you hear them, the songs really hit you differently! They carry something deeper, more grounded, and definitely more honest.

We’ve heard plenty of tracks that use a voicemail as an intro or drop in a quote from a grandparent. It’s usually touching for a few seconds. But here, it goes much further. Eli didn’t use his family as decoration. He built the whole thing around them, and the result is a record that feels like it’s holding something sacred. You don’t just listen. You are literally witnessing something.

The release schedule fits the spirit of the album. One song every three weeks. Just enough time to sit with each track, to actually let it grow on you. And when the full record drops on October 8, it’ll already feel like you’ve lived with it for a while. Like it’s been part of your own history. By the way, Eli will celebrate the release with a special hometown concert on October 3 in Kensington, Maryland, before heading out for a Northeast tour.

And then there’s the music itself. Because yes, the concept is strong. Yes, the voices of his ancestors make it unforgettable. But if the songs weren’t good, none of this would land. Thankfully, they are more than good. The melodies are instantly memorable without ever feeling predictable. The kind of tunes you find yourself humming without realizing. Songs that stick because they’re well written, not because they were engineered to go viral. They were wonderfully mastered by Scott Hull and his talent shows.

Take “Echo”, the first single. The only one available so far, while we wait for the rest of the EP to roll out. It opens with Bubbe Sarah and a soft guitar line, before slowly unfolding into a two-part structure. Around 2:30, the drums kick in, giving the track a whole new pulse. There’s electric guitar, a gorgeous violin bridge, and a final chorus with backing vocals that bring everything together. It’s simple, yes, but it works. And it surprises you in all the right ways.

“Where We Come From” leans more into folk territory and you'll be able to discover it on July 16th. There’s a gentle build, and then (just before the three-minute mark) it lifts. Vocals open up, holding nothing back, and suddenly the track turns into an indie-folk anthem. It ends on a quote from Uncle Ben, closing the loop beautifully.

Right in the middle of the EP, “My Wish Was You” strips everything down. No sampled voices here. But only Eli, his guitar, and one of the most stunning love songs we've heard in a long time. His vocal range climbs sky-high without ever sounding forced, and the closeness of the delivery makes it feel like he’s singing just for you. It’s tender, a little sad, and quietly devastating in the best way. To be discovered on August 6th.

“Who I Was” brings the piano to the front. It starts softly, but like many tracks on this EP, it builds. Around 2:42, the intensity grows as Eli lists everything this character once was. It turns into a tribute. Not only to one person, but to all the lives that shaped him. It’s emotional without being heavy, and the final climax gave us goosebumps. Available on August 27th.

Then comes “Our Friends”, the closing track. There’s something so precise about the way the acoustic guitar and violin dance together here. The vocals are perfectly delivered, never too much, always right on point. And then that final moment, where we hear a quiet exchange between Eli’s father and his grandmother. Her joy, her pride, her voice... it’s the kind of ending that stays with you long after the music stops.

The entire EP is beautifully structured. The stereo work is smart but never flashy. The quotes are placed exactly where they need to be. The songs breathe, and none of them feel rushed, and we really appreciate to take the time to listen to them, exactly like the artist took the time to make them. In a world of short attention spans, this record takes its time, and it definitely makes you want to do the same.

Come October 8, we can’t wait for everyone to hear the full picture. Because "Past Lives" will not be another album you stream. It will be one you sit with. Again and again.

And if you want more, we'll have to wait for a bit, as the third chapter of the trilogy, called "Future Myths", will be released later.

Reach out to Eli Lev

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