Eli Lev is a folk pop artist based in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA who has just come to our attention thanks to the second instalment in his Three Worlds Project, Past Lives.

By Graeme Smith

The EP follows his debut Present Journey and fascinatingly includes the voices of his ancestors woven through the songs.

Echo opens things with an intriguing mix of a spoken word sample and delicate folk pop which draws us into the EP. When Lev’s vocals come in, they are breathy and captivating, with a soft emotiveness as they unpack a time capsule of a story. The instrumental builds with ghostly and percussive textures, subtly building until they explode into full, cinematic life.

Where We Come From combines plucked folksy guitar with a strong current of nostalgia. Its chorus proves a triumphant highlight.

My Wish Was You feels more contemporary, telling a wistful tale of modern love. Who I Was is confessional with its lyrics and stirring in its piano-led instrumental. Our Friends ends things with some soft warmth. There’s an undercurrent of melancholy about it, but also a brightness that stays with you long after its last note is played.

Eli Lev’s Three Worlds Project, is a musical trilogy exploring time, identity, and transformation. Starting in the here and now with Present Journey, Past Lives sees him journey into his roots. The third instalment, Future Myth, will look at what might come.

Past Lives is a unique collection that thoroughly deserves your time. It’s put Eli Lev on our radar, and I strongly suspect he’ll stay there. I can’t wait to hear how his trilogy pans out.

The EP is set for release 8 October 2025, after which Eli Lev will be embarking on a Northeast USA tour.