Music is an influential part of our lives. It serves as our outlet and our escape. We use music to express ourselves and to help us tell a story. Music represents the part of our soul that feels and that needs to be felt. It’s in our cars, coffee shops and churches. Everywhere we go, music follows. It’s a universal language.
For Eli Parker, senior business marketing major, music is a way that he expresses himself. He recently released two singles, “This Cold” and “Dear Future.” The process of writing, producing and recording that goes into professional releases such as these is no small task.
“It was a long process. I was really eager to put it out, and I think it was good to wait so we could create the best thing that we could,” said Parker.
No good thing happens in a day. It’s a process. A lot of work, time and money went into getting his two singles produced. Parker started his music career by leading music at his local church, which is where his love for music performance began.
Parker did not take choir in high school, nor does he read music. He learned to play songs by listening to them, taking the song one chord at a time. He has never taken music theory or been classically trained. Acoustic guitar is Parker’s primary instrument, but he’s also capable with a rhythm guitar and the occasional piano.
Landon Todd, a junior digital media major, helped Parker with different music pieces of his song. The two were recording themselves in the music room at Union when Parker decided he was going to take a leap of faith and go for it. He was going to share his voice with the world.
“Eli and I jam together a lot, and it’s really fun to get to write some stuff with him too. He’s a really talented writer and is very authentic with what he writes,” said Todd. “That’s what makes his songs great: that you’re able to connect with them on a deep level.”
Parker has dealt with anxiety his whole life, and music serves as a coping mechanism for him through tough times. Parker did a lot of writing starting January of 2019, not with any sort of plan per se; he just simply desired to create.
“It was a lot of writing that I did not put out. It was just kind of writing to express myself,” said Parker. “[I] didn’t necessarily want to do anything with it other than to have it for a rainy day.”
“This Cold,” which is the first single that Parker released, refers to the dark, self-defeating and destructive place that we can all find ourselves in. It is about loving the struggle even when it’s difficult.
“’Dear Future’ is my favorite, personally,” Parker said. “Dear Future” is a message to whomever he will end up with one day. During the current season, he is learning to love where he is while staying hopeful for what and who is to come.
Parker’s end goal would be to eventually release a more collective work such as an EP or an album. He wants the music he’s creating to contribute to a cohesive narrative.
Parker desires to communicate to his listeners that he understands. He has been where you have been and has experienced pain just like you. Every lyric was written intentionally. He wants to relate to all different kinds of people in different situations. “This Cold” is rather melancholy, whereas “Dear Future” begs for optimism.
“I want my music to be lyrically impactful. It is different for me because I am a believer, and neither one of my songs are necessarily Christian songs,” said Parker. “I want to propose empathy and understanding.”
Parker wants his music to be about whoever is listening to it. He wants to remind people that they are never alone despite their circumstances.
“She is the most talented when it comes to singing,” Parker said about his sister, Madilyn Parker. He hopes to collaborate with her on a couple songs in the future.
“I just try to sound good standing next to them. A lot of this has come from their inspiration,” said Parker when talking about his mother, Amy Parker, and his sister. His family has remained very supportive throughout his creative endeavors.
Due to the traction that his new singles have gained, Parker is encouraged to produce and create more music. It is encouraging for any artist to be applauded for what they have poured their heart into.
“It’s really hard to not let that be the reason that I keep doing it because I know I keep doing it as a way to express myself,” said Parker. “If I put my hope in others’ response, then I feel like I would be let down. I don’t want to do it for plays or downloads.”
Photo by Maggie Exum
