ELDR is a project created by London-based artist Marina Elderton, who has won several awards during her time in the industry. Deer Skin is an amazing piece of work, showing her talents off in style to the world. It’s a pop song but it’s rather different to the stuff you’d normally expect to hear in the charts – why not give it a go if you like what you read here?!

By Jane Howkins

You recently released a new single titled Deer Skin. What can you tell us about the song?

Hi York Calling, thanks for having me! Yes Deer Skin came out last month. Sonically, it’s a hybrid of organic and electronic textures, with a melancholic pop leaning. It was produced with my Norwegian counterpart Knut Jonas Sellevold and features harp played by an amazing Berlin based musician called Andy Aquarius. Lyrically, it draws on quite a personal and vulnerable time in my life. It paints the story of a psychologically coercive relationship, with an allegory of a deer being hunted throughout the track.

How has the reception to Deer Skin been so far, and where can it be purchased?

It’s had an amazing response so far with some beautifully written reviews. I’m genuinely so grateful to all the music writers, DJ’s and friends who have embraced the track, because it can be challenging for independent artists to get their music out there. The track can be purchased on my Bandcamp page- eldrofficial.ban….com/. 

You can also get it as a free download with any of my bespoke ELDR Editions merch- which includes a limited edition glass slide featuring original 16mm footage from my Spinning Tops video, a hand painted oyster shell ring holder taken from the Black Pearl video shoot, and a whole array of occult themed stuff here: eldrofficial.ban…merch. 

Every listen/ share and act of support really does make a difference.

Do you have any more singles planned for release soon?

Yes! My next single will be coming out in September- it’s in a similar sonic vein to Deer Skin and is representative of a new sound for me as a whole moving forward. We’re just finishing VFX for the video now. I’m excited to share it.

Are there any plans to release an album or EP anytime soon?

I’ve released a couple of EPs, so I am focusing on developing my debut album now. I’ve got all the demos in place, so the next job is refining it all and building a bit of a team around the project to help take things to the next level.

Your music has a unique indie-pop sound. What/who are you most influenced by? What have you been listening to recently?

I’m inspired by so many different strands and styles, that’s probably why my music can be described as crossing genres. Originally I was really influenced by dark singer songwriters like Cat Power and Kurt Cobain – I always cite the Nirvana unplugged album as a seminal influence for me. But more recently I’ve been listening to quite playful alt pop stuff like Cate Le Bon and Domenique Dumont. I remember going to a film talk by Walter Merch once, who commented that the best films capture both our mammalian and reptilian sides. I think it’s the same for music – the songs that galvanise you both physically and emotionally are the best- the ones that make you think and feel, while also hypnotising your body!

You’re based in London. What is the local music scene like in your part of the world?

There’s always a lot of great stuff happening in East London. I launched my last EP at a really special place called Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston, and debuted my VR headset experience at Strongroom in Shoreditch (there’s an interactive desktop version available to try on my website: www.eldrofficial…rlvr). 

I know from a few people who run small music venues that it’s a struggle to keep the doors open sometimes, particularly during and after the pandemic when habits changed. The government should definitely push to support smaller venues more, because they’re the life blood for emerging talent.

Why did you decide to produce your music under the ELDR moniker, rather than under your own name?

I compose film soundtracks under my own name (Marina Elderton – www.marinaeldert…com/), so I wanted to create a separate vehicle for my artist project. I think musicians can be likened to modern day healers and storytellers in many ways, so ‘ELDR’ (pronounced ‘elder’) felt like it encompassed that idea nicely, while being derivative of my last name. ELDR is also where I can create imaginative cinematic worlds of my own. Working in the film industry, I’m lucky to know some really talented cinematographers. I’ve worked with amazing DP’s like Luciana Riso, Diana Olifirova and Miles Ridgeway, and most of my visual work has been produced with my director partner Philip James McGoldrick under our production company EMC Productions (www.emcproductio….uk/).

Do you have anything else exciting coming up over the next few months?

I’m composing the soundtrack for a new documentary for Irish TV at the moment, and I also just finished another doc about women fighters in Syria. The next episode of my DIY reality show ELDR:TV is also in the works! For anyone who really wants to get to know me, ELDR:TV is a kind of fly on the wall series showing life behind the scenes as a musician and mother: youtube.com/play…6DAumu

Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?

Not currently while I work on new material and breastfeed my newborn son, but I’m hoping to play again live around the next single coming out.

Any last words for the fans?

Do something that makes you feel truly alive today! Hug someone you love, and tell them you love them. None of this lasts forever.