"Eli, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter who traces her inspiration to American Idol, is that best friend distilled in a pop bonbon: Her new single "Glitter" is as breezy and familiar as a radio hit remembered from childhood. Over a slow-jam groove and twinkly, late-'90s-flavored production, Eli draws on her Jordin Sparks-esque powers and gently instructs you to get some standards: "You should be his baby, not his babysitter.""
""Glitter" wears its homages on its sleeve, with promo artwork that's crushing hard on Mariah Carey. On her 2025 debut, Stage Girl, Eli showcased her effortless knack for evoking 2000s pop alongside cheeky storytelling about life as a small-town trans girl dreaming of stardom and love. On "Glitter"'s spoken-word bridge, she's the romcom sidekick calling to console you: "He doesn't even have a job/I mean we don't have jobs either but, like/He's horrible." Oh God, is it 2025 or 2008?"
Eli is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter inspired by American Idol. Her single "Glitter" is breezy and familiar, evoking late-'90s and early-2000s pop through twinkly production and a slow-jam groove. Vocally she channels Jordin Sparks-style power while delivering cheeky, romcom-ready lines that urge self-respect: "You should be his baby, not his babysitter." Promotional imagery nods to Mariah Carey. Her 2025 debut, Stage Girl, highlighted knack for evoking 2000s pop and told stories about life as a small-town trans girl chasing stardom and romance. The song's spoken-word bridge frames her as a consoling sidekick with comedic bluntness.
Read at Pitchfork
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]