Artists have various ways of sourcing their sound. It can be intuitive, inspired, or a combination of both. In Eli Fox’s case, his creative instincts spring from a myriad of sources, making for an imaginative approach that reflects foresight, astute observation and a determination to make music that can consistently create an emphatic impression.

“There doesn't seem to be any profound reason or meaning as to why I make music,” Eli muses. “It can make the days seem less dim, or help me gather my thoughts while also allowing me to process those things that are impacting me in the here and now. Writing songs is how I reflect,  and ponder possibilities for the future. When I grapple with overwhelming emotion, or find I have some thoughts to share, I tend to turn to song. It’s almost as if my muse simply comes through naturally, and allows me an outlet for honest expression.”

Indeed, those thoughts have served him well. With two albums and his upbeat and expressive new single, “A Pretty Woman’s Like a Rainbow Trout,” Eli’s demonstrated his ability to nod to past precepts while sharing a sound that’s vital, compelling and flush with melodies that resonate in ways that are both striking and stirring. Songs such as “Cry For Freedom and “Thinkin’ Too Much,” both culled from his 2019 offering Or Something Like That, or “How Ya Doin’ Little Sadie, found on his debut, Tall Tales LP, provide striking examples of the wit and whimsy that’s a consistent mark of his music.

A young man with an ageless soul, Eli embarked on his career while still in his teens. Citing such influences as Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Old Crow Medicine Show and John Hartford, he’s a gifted multi-instrumentalist, adept at guitar, pedal steel, banjo, fiddle and of course, an expressive singing voice that conveys both passion and purpose. Humble to a fault, he draws on a decided reverence for tradition while still tapping into a sound that’s timeless and, in fact, relevant to today’s circumstances and environs.

In the process of conveying his craft, Eli’s become one of East Tennessee’s favorite musical sons, having shared stages with the likes of Darrell Scott, John McCutcheon, Boy Name Banjo, Will Carter, Emily Ann Roberts, and Trisha Jean Brady. He’s also maintained an ongoing presence at any number of festivals and venues of note throughout the country, including the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, the Rhythm N’ Blooms Festival, the stages at Dollywood, the WDVX Blue Plate Special, and a variety of similar settings in and around his native Knoxville Tennessee. His down-home delivery, good-natured attitude and effortlessly engaging approach have garnered him legions of fans who easily relate to both his music and his mantra. In truth, Eli himself sometimes seems awed about the way his songs are sourced.”

“Things can transpire that I might not even be aware of when I’m writing a song, and in time, the full meaning becomes clearer later on,” he reflects. “It’s a mysterious process that draws from my subconscious and somehow brings these hidden thoughts to the surface without me even knowing when or how they appeared.

That creative energy is manifest in other ways as well. A gifted painter, Eli expresses himself as a visual artist whose work boasts to a combination of mirth and mystique. It’s a talent that not only complements his music but adds another dimension to his artistry overall.

The video that accompanies “A Pretty Woman’s Like a Rainbow Trout” offers an ideal example.

By his own admission, Eli tends to tap into his creative energy in an effort to not only make sense of the world around him, but to also gain a fuller understanding of himself and those ideas and emotions that form the nucleus of who he is, as both an artist and an individual. “It gets to the root of my relationships with others, and even why I tend to behave the way I do,” Eli suggests.“I’m just now learning who I am, while also trying to figure out how I’m representing myself to the world. Songs are my way of expression, and they survey a vast array of my inner emotions. I find that making music is an ideal way for me to process my thoughts and make sense of the world around me.”

- Written by Lee Zimmerman, 2021