It's real. My book "When the Sun Hits: The High-Volume History of Shoegaze" is now available for pre-order. Out March 30, 2027 via @stmartinspress.bsky.social Pre-order + more info here: read.macmillan.com/lp/when-the-...
Eli
@elienis.bsky.social
Chasing Sundays. Writing a big book about shoegaze. Podcaster at @endlessscroll.bsky.social. Bylines at Stereogum, Pitchfork, Fader, Billboard, Rolling Stone, etc. Subscribe to Chasing Sundays: elienis.com
Already ordered + tremendously excited for Eli's shoegaze book www.elienis.com/pre-order-my...
Pre-order my book "When the Sun Hits: The High-Volume History of Shoegaze"
Tracing the whole genre from its proto years to the present day. Out March 30, 2027 via St. Martin's Press.
elienis.com
It's real. My book "When the Sun Hits: The High-Volume History of Shoegaze" is now available for pre-order. Out March 30, 2027 via @stmartinspress.bsky.social Pre-order + more info here: read.macmillan.com/lp/when-the-...
www.elienis.com/ear-intervie... essential interview from @elienis.bsky.social - was so happy to read how one of my favorite bands (ear) consists of people trying to be…wait for it…just GOOD PEOPLE 👂🕺🏻
ear are still getting to know one another
A long talk with Jonah Paz and Yaelle Avtan about indulgence, ambiguity, manifesting, and 'Rumspringa.'
elienis.com
@elienis.bsky.social's recent Q&A with High. pushed me to revisit Lilys this week - I guess I was wrong about them because 1994's "Eccsame The Photon Band" is hitting me hard - check em' both out here: www.elienis.com/chasing-frid... & frontierrecords-lilys.bandcamp.com/album/eccsam...
Chasing Fridays: Snõõper, MGNA Crrrta, High. Q&A, more
Live punk, recorded pop, loud rock, emotive electronica, and an interview with some talkative shoegazers.
elienis.com
Wrote about: -Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry's "Hive Mind" unexpectedly winning me over -Ninajirachi's incredible live show, hyperpop in 2026, and where she sits relative to Snow Strippers -Katzin's freak-folk debut 'Buckaroo' -Plus, a Q&A with shoegaze star flyingfish about going emo
Chasing Fridays: Ninajirachi, Knocked Loose, flyingfish Q&A, more
Hyperpop vs. indie sleaze, hardcore vs. hip-hop, shoegaze vs. emo. Or something like that.
elienis.com
SPEED WEEK THURSDAY - GREAT WRITERS PICK GREAT FAST SONGS! www.ienjoymusic.net/speed-week-p...
SPEED WEEK part 4: my fave writers' fave fast songs
Beep beeeeeeep speed week continues at a blistering pace. Today we've got the favorite songs of some of my favorite writers (and one of my favorite graphic designers) about music! All of whom you can ...
ienjoymusic.net
For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -Elevating to xaviersobased in a Dollar General -How Poison Ruïn won me back -katmoji's invigorating "tweemo" -Rekrucify's brutalist hardcore Plus, a CRUCIAL witch house scene report/Q&A with E_Death. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...
Chasing Fridays: xaviersobased, Poison Ruïn, E_Death Q&A, more
Surveying rap's underground, checking in on hardcore, and going deep with a witch house scene report.
elienis.com
Of Note 022 is out! Highlighting work from: @natechinen.bsky.social on Blackstar @elienis.bsky.social with M. Dubice @jonbern.bsky.social's JTE bio @stevenhyden.bsky.social on Pitchfork @ericdharvey.com on Bob Marley @tombreihan.bsky.social on The Greatest @marissarmoss.bsky.social asks a question
Of Note 022: Bowie's Blackstar anniversary, Marisa Dubice interview, Justin Townes Earle biography
Howdy folks! The new year has kicked off with a wealth of great music writing. This month’s selections have put me in a time machine or some kind of liminal,...
buttondown.com
For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -The Femcels' likeably off-putting indie-pop -Clothesline From Hell's subversively clever pop-rock -New ones from Horse Vision, Gollylagging, and bill. Plus, a colorful Q&A with Ben Cook of GUV. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...
Chasing Fridays: The Femcels, Clothesline From Hell, GUV Q&A, more
Are two crazy girls from London indie-pop's new vanguard? Is indie-rock still great? Does Madchester's spirit live on? Lemme tell ya.
elienis.com
For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -The Femcels' likeably off-putting indie-pop -Clothesline From Hell's subversively clever pop-rock -New ones from Horse Vision, Gollylagging, and bill. Plus, a colorful Q&A with Ben Cook of GUV. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...
Chasing Fridays: The Femcels, Clothesline From Hell, GUV Q&A, more
Are two crazy girls from London indie-pop's new vanguard? Is indie-rock still great? Does Madchester's spirit live on? Lemme tell ya.
elienis.com
Pittsburgh deserves worker-centered journalism. PAPER is raising funds to research, support and build out exactly that. I've joined several meetings and can say there is enthusiasm, community support and now grassroots money behind it. Learn more and contribute here: ourpapernow.org
PAPER | Pittsburgh Alliance for People-Empowered Reporting
ourpapernow.org
For the first time, Otto Benson (fka Memo Boy and OTTO) opened up about how his astronomically popular teenage bedroom project became the Pepe the Frog of indie music. A wild story about TikTok, trauma, starting over, and seeking offline connection. www.elienis.com/otto-benson-...
Otto Benson talks Memo Boy, TikTok trauma, and healing by singing to strangers
"This machine kind of plucked my music, without my knowing, and used it to create these weird pockets that I feel feed on depressed youth."
elienis.com
Can't put a price on peace, but I did put a score on the new and final Megadeth album over at @pitchfork.com. Genuinely had a blast interrogating the Mustaine mindset. pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
Megadeth: Megadeth
Read Eli Enis’ review of the album.
pitchfork.com
For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote: -Trend reports on internet-native emo (via Sweet Boy) and brutal death metal's presence in hardcore (via Fatal Realm) -Reviews of Zachshots' twee and Maria Somerville's remix EP Plus, a Q&A with screamo-core stars Holder. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...
Chasing Fridays: Sweet Boy, Fatal Realm, Holder Q&A, more
On internet-native emo, brutal death metal infiltrating hardcore, and good bands with dumb names.
elienis.com
On the topic of good websites that cost $5/month... Every week, I review music no one else is writing about, dig into genre/scene undercurrents with a degree of detail that's nearly unrivaled, and ask artists questions no one else is asking them. Your $5 goes a long way: www.elienis.com/subscribe/
Subscribe to Chasing Sundays
Real music criticism, essays, and interviews.
elienis.com
I had a long talk with Marisa Dabice about Mannequin Pussy's next album, their AI video controversy, burning out on tour, speaking up about the genocide, 10 years of 'Romantic,' the band's early years, and much more. Chasing Sundays subscribers can read it all. www.elienis.com/marisa-dabic...
Marisa Dabice on Mannequin Pussy's next album, AI backlash, burning out, and speaking up
"It was a sad realization, but I think it’s unfortunately true in this industry: at the end of the day, no one's looking out for you except for you."
elienis.com
I had a long talk with Marisa Dabice about Mannequin Pussy's next album, their AI video controversy, burning out on tour, speaking up about the genocide, 10 years of 'Romantic,' the band's early years, and much more. Chasing Sundays subscribers can read it all. www.elienis.com/marisa-dabic...
Marisa Dabice on Mannequin Pussy's next album, AI backlash, burning out, and speaking up
"It was a sad realization, but I think it’s unfortunately true in this industry: at the end of the day, no one's looking out for you except for you."
elienis.com
It's Friday. I wrote about -Slayr's rage-rap revamp -Sin Against Sin's murderous second demo -Ratboys being an exception to my alt-country burnout -Sword2's dogshit emo-rap -And more hardcore, electro-rap, & slow-gaze Plus, an interview with Trauma Ray. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...
Chasing Fridays: Slayr, Sin Against Sin, Trauma Ray Q&A, more
Rage-rap, Ratboys, Rate Your Music-core, and more.
elienis.com
I made another 100-song playlist of new-to-me music and blogged 10 highlights by Jane Remover, Big Thief, Dexter in the Newsagent, Shlohmo, Olivia O., and some others that no one's ever written about. Read the blurbs and browse the full playlist on Chasing Sundays. www.elienis.com/100-song-pla...
100-song playlist: Big Thief, Jane Remover, dexter in the newsagent, more
Plus: torqued shoegaze, icy electro-pop, slugging hardcore, swagged-out rap, frigid slowcore, etc.
elienis.com
My first for @dropsitenews.com: after a grueling three-year strike, workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette returned to work in victory. This week, the 240-year-old paper’s wealthy owners decided to shut it down. open.substack.com/pub/dropsite...
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to Shutter After Workers Held Longest Strike in the History of U.S. Newspapers
Block Communications just closed its Pulitzer Prize–winning newspaper, but its workers hope to keep local journalism alive, with their strike paper in hand and support from residents and officials
open.substack.com
Chasing Fridays is back. Wrote about: -Seeing 15 bands at Syracuse's NYD hardcore matinee -Home Front's protest synth-punk -Getting Dream Fatigued -Bellcave's elegant dream-pop Plus, a Q&A with Sign Crushes Motorist's cloud-rap alter ego Carson Clay. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...
Chasing Fridays: Syracuse hardcore madness, Home Front, Carson Clay Q&A, more
Reporting from the frontlines of a NYD hardcore matinee. Also: good punk, bad rock, nice dream-pop, and interviewing Sign Crushes Motorist's cloud-rap alter ego.
elienis.com
Gonna try to be on this site a lot more in 2026, but I also recently made a Chasing Sundays Instagram where I'm promoting my work, posting what I'm listening to, and documenting other run-ins with music (physical media, live shows, etc.). Give it a follow if IG is your thing.
For my last piece of 2025, I had a long, personal convo with Karly Hartzman. We talked about the next Wednesday album, the band's early years, how she's handling their growing popularity, her evolving music taste, regrets/successes, and much more. www.elienis.com/karly-hartzm...
Karly Hartzman on Wednesday getting heavier, 'Yep Definitely' years, biggest regrets, more
"I don't want to get more singer-songwritery. I want to curate a space for people to go nuts at a show."
elienis.com
I already liked this band, but I like them even more now that I know their leader's favorite bands are Swirlies and Unwound
Eli@elienis.bsky.social · 9mo agoFor my last piece of 2025, I had a long, personal convo with Karly Hartzman. We talked about the next Wednesday album, the band's early years, how she's handling their growing popularity, her evolving music taste, regrets/successes, and much more. www.elienis.com/karly-hartzm...
This was a really great conversation to read. Very intrigued by the possibility of a Wednesday hardcore record.
Eli@elienis.bsky.social · 9mo agoFor my last piece of 2025, I had a long, personal convo with Karly Hartzman. We talked about the next Wednesday album, the band's early years, how she's handling their growing popularity, her evolving music taste, regrets/successes, and much more. www.elienis.com/karly-hartzm...
Eli’s newsletter is good and I learn about a lot of new music from it. Including iirc my best song of the year www.welcometohellworld.com/the-best-50i...
The best 50ish songs of 2025
Music is so good
welcometohellworld.com
Eli@elienis.bsky.social · 9mo agoFor my last piece of 2025, I had a long, personal convo with Karly Hartzman. We talked about the next Wednesday album, the band's early years, how she's handling their growing popularity, her evolving music taste, regrets/successes, and much more. www.elienis.com/karly-hartzm...
For my last piece of 2025, I had a long, personal convo with Karly Hartzman. We talked about the next Wednesday album, the band's early years, how she's handling their growing popularity, her evolving music taste, regrets/successes, and much more. www.elienis.com/karly-hartzm...
Karly Hartzman on Wednesday getting heavier, 'Yep Definitely' years, biggest regrets, more
"I don't want to get more singer-songwritery. I want to curate a space for people to go nuts at a show."
elienis.com
I had a very compelling conversation with Ned Russin about Glitterer, the practicality of independence, "hustler culture" poisoning punk, the weirdness around Title Fight's legacy, money, careerism, individualism, optimism, and much more.
Ned Russin talks Glitterer, Title Fight, individualism, ripoff hardcore fests, more
"I think if I thought about myself the way that people talk to me sometimes, I'd be insufferable."
elienis.com