Ludo Dawnay | Features Editor
The music videos, the views for which have garnered over six figures, depict a bubbly character exuding Mika-like enthusiasm. The choruses quote chat up lines and boast of power. But Eli Kaldwell’s faint knocks on the Trinity FM studio door could not be heard for several minutes. His unexpectedly reserved nature, which acquaintances and ex-schoolmates assured me was “not the true Eli”, continued as he nervously questioned the reason for the meeting, “What is this? What is it for?”
The apprehensiveness could be due to some of the negative online reaction to his songs. Many dubbed him the Irish Rebecca Black. The track Rule This City reached the top spot of the cringe subreddit. When asked about this, the Trinity student retorted: “I don’t understand what’s so cringey. I haven’t done anything cringey. I guess that’s just me personally.” He labels his music ‘Pop‘n’B’; influences are Stevie Wonder, the Eurythmics, and Prince. The on-camera persona emerged when talking about his philosophy: “There’s too much bad in the world to dwell on that stuff. I want to make people happy. I love fantasy, the thought of delirious contentment. They say it’s art. Life’s better when you’re smiling.”
” a very lovely derriere”
The internet has allowed him to be listened to internationally. Many of his fans are from the UK and the US. However, a great array of the YouTube comments have been racist or homophobic. Among them are death threats and calls for his suicide. The second-year Drama and Theatre Studies student “kinda just deal[s] with it. It doesn’t affect me for some reason”. The interviewee insists that people have “reacted quite strongly” to his music, which is selling on iTunes. He has been recognised and asked for photos.“I want to write lyrics that people can relate to,” Kaldwell said. Inspiration for Skinny Jeans came from a female friend with “a very lovely derriere”. Behind them is a desire to be accepted (‘Donate money to every cause I see / ‘cause those lost people will remind me of me.’) The songs talk of a future of silencing past haters, popularity and fame.
A film student suggested that more locations than one should be used for the music video of a song called Rule This City (Rule Harcourt has less of a ring to it, I guess.) During the end of that video, there is a seemingly out of place single frame shot of a ginger girl. I had to ask why. Kaldwell smiled, “Ginger girl is the camera girl. Good chick, I’ve known her for a long time. We paused, as we shoot for two hours maximum. I grabbed the camera myself and she was on the phone. People love the tiny little details; even a smile.”
I wanted to question the seriousness of his music, but I felt I had been given the answer. I wanted to ask about the use of autotune, but I felt I already knew.
He has never considered appearing on a talent show (“I want to achieve my goals the old fashion way, like all the greats.”) and writes new music every day on the piano. I wanted to question the seriousness of his music, but I felt I had been given the answer. I wanted to ask about the use of autotune, but I felt I already knew. When the lens focused, Kaldwell relaxed and struck a pose (the hoodie’s from American Apparel, if you’re wondering). The videos may disagree with its audience, but the musician is most comfortable and confident when in front of camera.
Eli Kaldwell’s EP Glitter Hug is out on November 7th.
