Some country artists avoid listening to current country radio because they don’t want to be inadvertently or subconsciously influenced by other people’s music, but at the same time, how can you remain relevant if you’re not paying attention to what’s happening in the format. That’s the tricky balance that the Eli Young Band tries to strike. Lead singer Mike Eli says, “I think sometimes we go back and forth on wanting to be either influenced by what mainstream is doing or trying to find new inspiration, I think, in older music or say, music that a different generation is listening to.”
EYB always wants to make music that is original and unique to them, and Mike says, “As songwriters. I think we’re constantly absorbing what’s happening around us in a good way or a bad way, but especially listening to mainstream country, I think it’s important to understand where the industry is and where the listeners are and what they’re listening to. So, we go back and forth. I think that sometimes we get tired and we just want to turn music off, generally.”
By balancing their exposure to other current country music, Eli Young Band is able to stay informed, but also be inspired by other things, and it allows them to create their own version of country music, like their latest single, “Break It In,” which is currently climbing the charts.
Eli Young Band – being influenced by other music :37
Mike Eli – “I think sometimes we go back and forth on wanting to be either influenced by what mainstream is doing or trying to find new inspiration, I think in older music or say, music that a different generation is listening to. As songwriters. I think we’re constantly absorbing what’s happening around us in a good way or a bad way, but especially listening to mainstream country, I think it’s important to understand where the industry is and where the listeners are and what they’re listening to. So, we go back and forth. I think that sometimes we get tired and we just want to turn music off, generally. I think sometimes you have to, to stay inspired.”