It’s been six years since indie singer-songwriter Eli Smart first released his debut track, “Come On, Come on, Come On,” in 2018, and what a journey it’s been for this talented musician. In his first interview with 1883 Magazine back in 2021, Smart discussed coining his own genre, ‘Aloha Soul,’ and moving thousands of miles from his home in Kaua’i, Hawaii, to Liverpool to study at LIPA. [Be sure to check out the full interview here.] Since then, the songwriter has continued to go from strength to strength, earning high-profile support slots alongside past 1883 cover star Declan McKenna, Miles Kane, and others, while also selling out his own headline gigs.
Now based in London, Smart has finally shared his highly anticipated debut album, No Summer—a gorgeous body of work filled with lush vocals, psychedelic-soul influences, and sun-kissed production. The record easily transports listeners back to sunnier days, no matter the current weather, with its tropical instrumentals and grooving, funk-laden hooks.
To celebrate the release of No Summer, Eli Smart sat down with 1883 Magazine to provide a track-by-track breakdown of the new record, revealing the hidden stories behind the music.
“Last Hurrah Echo“
This tune sets the scene for No Summer. It’s a half joking story about still trying to “make it” in music in a post apocalyptic world by trying to bribe DJs with Panettone while looking for a pretty spot to watch “the end of the world”
“Moka“
I made this song with two of my best mates, it’s literally just us having a good time while musing on funny experiences we’ve had since living in London
“Jackie“
This tune is the reminder to not take things too seriously. Sometimes in life you feel like everything is just talking “at” each other without stopping to listen to what anything is actually trying to say. This song is also just another example excuse for a fun guitar solo too.
“Fiesta 99.9FM“
This is a love song meant to soundtrack a particular stretch of highway on the east side of my home on Kaua’i. The road goes right along the coast and you can taste the salty air with the windows down.
“Another Sundown“
It’s an ode to another special place back home. There’s a lookout close to my house which faces the north east side of the island. It’s a magical little zone. I first started writing this song there. The tones and textures of this tune, for me, capture another shade of life back home. A deeper beauty within the stormy darker days. My favorite days. An underwater pulse is at the core groove of this tune, it was a total joy and sonic adventure to follow it and see this tune all the way to the surface.
“Pretty Words“
I wrote this song when I was in high school with a good friend of mine. I love the simplicity and space in this song. Sometimes no words are more meaningful than pretty words.
“No Destination“
Pre-date nerves.
“How Come?“
I wrote this song when I was in high school. I love it when songs evolve and take on different forms as life goes on. This tune at this point kind of feels like a familiar piece of driftwood that I tossed into the ocean, forgot about, and has now somehow made it’s way back to me all sanded down and a bit more sun baked. I feel a similar way too ha.
It’s also always quite ironic when something you wrote when you were younger almost makes more sense in the present, it’s funny to realize what changes and what stays exactly the same.
“Pick Me Up“
Another tune that came from two of my best mates and I having a good time. It’s a soundtrack to early days of getting to know someone special.
“Highschool Steady”
I wrote this as soon as I got back home to Kaua’i from Liverpool at the start of covid. It was so trippy to be back in my old room after having gone away to uni, with covid having brought everything to an abrupt close, my life before felt like a dream. This song helped me make sense of being home and seeing life through my new lens.
“Slow Dance“
This song just feels like it’s own little weird world, it was so fun exploring and getting to know it.
“No Summer“
I feel like the pace, tone, textures and atmosphere of this song embody the feeling of No Summer. Although the words No Summer are never mentioned, for some reason this song was the sonic cornerstone that helped put the whole album into place as a cohesive collection of tunes.
It wasn’t until after finishing and naming this song did I get the idea of what tunes to add to this record and how to frame it in my mind.
“Petrichor Daydream“
Petrichor is the name for the nostalgic scent of the rain when it hits the hot asphalt. This tune is an ode to all the images that that scent conjures up.
“Overdrive“
A driving song, for when life is bittersweet.
Eli Smart’s debut album No Summer is out now.
Follow Eli Smart @smarticuss
Intro Cameron Poole
