IN CONVERSATION WITH ELI BROWN
Interview by Samo Šajn
From Bristol to the stages of the world’s biggest festivals, Eli Brown has carved out a name as one of techno’s most fearless innovators. Known for his hard-hitting sound and genre-blurring collaborations, he continues to push boundaries with every release. Fresh off his explosive Coachella debut and dropping his latest single Drip during Miami Music Week, Eli is showing no signs of slowing down in 2025.
You’ve been in the industry for over two decades, yet your breakthrough happened in 2016. What inspired this reinvention, and how has your journey shaped the artist you are today?
I wouldn’t say my breakthrough came in 2016 as I had a fairly successful career under a number of different aliases prior to this – 2016 was the year that I started the Eli Brown project. My musical journey without a doubt has shaped me into the artist I am today – for better or for worse, sometimes it’s hard to tell!
Your latest track, Drip, is a collaboration with Eliza Legzdina. What drew you to working with her, and how did you merge your styles to create this track?
I first heard Eliza on a track she did with Sara Landry, and immediately loved her vibe. She is a great vocalist and I knew I wanted to work with her. She has a real attitude that I think complements my work well, so it felt really natural having her vocals in the track. I really enjoy rap and I feel that it has a raw energy that goes hand in hand with that sort of unrelenting energy of techno – when the two are together, it creates something quite unique that I haven’t seen a lot of artists playing around with yet. With all of my records, I’m always trying to find something that stands out when I play it – it’s typically a vocal or a synth line. I want to make music that has something that you can’t get out of your head when you get home from a party. Eliza really nailed it with this one – the Drip lyric is something I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone make reference to in a techno record, and it really stuck with me!
You’ve described Drip as capturing the rebellious energy of the underground. What emotions or reactions do you hope listeners take away from it?
I want them to feel the energy – raw and unrelenting.
As the first techno artist to perform at Rockefeller Center, how did it feel to bring underground sounds to such an iconic, mainstream venue?
It was such an epic night – it seriously felt like playing in Gotham City. It felt amazing to go all night, into the early hours of the morning surrounded by the towering buildings of New York City around me as I played – I kept saying “They’re never going to let a techno act back in here – first and last!”
With your imprint Arcane and apparel brand 92 Thing, you’re expanding beyond music. How do these ventures fit into your artistic vision?
I think that both Arcane and 92 Thing really encapsulate the spirit of Eli Brown – rebellious, refusing to conform to the standards, and putting my all into what I’m interested in, even if that’s not what’s “in” at the moment. For my label, Arcane, I initially started it to support my own productions – my music didn’t always fit so neatly into one specific genre which made it a bit tough to get signed to one of the larger labels. I also wanted to support other artists who were like-minded to me in that way — I wanted the label to reflect everything I believe in in making music. It feels that Arcane really just took my artistic style and vision one step further – it’s not just Eli Brown anymore, it’s artists who I believe in – as I’ve become a bit more established over the last few years I’ve received some really incredible music. If I’m hammering the tunes in my set, I’m all in. 92 Thing has quite a similar feel for me – in everything I create, I try to set myself apart from industry standards, pushing the limit and breaking some boundaries along the way. The traditional merch thing was a bit boring to me, if I’m being honest, and I wanted to create something that really embodied Eli Brown. I’ve always been intrigued by fashion so I figured now is a better time than ever to give it a go. 92 Thing takes me way back to a time before there even was Eli Brown – my career was literally born in 1992 in Bristol, where the underground scene’s rebellion and resistance remains at the core of everything I do, so I wanted that to come through in my clothing line.
You have a huge year ahead, including your debut at Coachella. What can fans expect from your set, and how are you preparing for this milestone moment?
I’m ready for Coachella – I’m ready to show people who Eli Brown is, and what I’m all about. I’m going to go all in, there’s no holding back – I hope they’re ready.
Techno has seen a major resurgence in the mainstream. Where do you see the genre evolving in the next few years, and how do you see yourself shaping that evolution?
I think it's going to continue to grow – techno is the music of the future, and Eli Brown is the future of techno.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, can you give us a hint about what’s next for you—whether in the studio, on tour, or beyond?
I can’t give too much away…but I can advise everyone to buckle up because things are about to get wavey.
