In the 1051 Magazine office we’ve been itching to find a reason to talk about a craftsman of the kind of music we love so much, which is music to dance to.
On his Bandcamp page (yes, in this case we don’t mind mentioning a platform that is fair to artists… in fact, we love doing it…) there is a definition that is perfect: “New York House & Disco evangelist…”. Obviously, we are referring to the great Eli Escobar, and the reason is none other than the release of 3, an album that, as he also explains… “I took a couple of weeks off from DJing once this third wave arrived and made some more beats. Part 3 of my Covid series in New York”.
It’s part three of a (so far) trilogy that begins in November 2020 with There Are Ghosts Everywhere In New York City, continues in February 2021 with Lullabies For A Sleeping City and culminates this January with 3. It’s three albums packed with silky, elegant beats, walking down paths of lush sounds and different styles.
If there is one word that defines Eli Escobar, it is authentic. And if there is one more word to add, it would be humble and musical archaeologist. The first is easy to explain, and you only have to know a little about his life… his family has artistic roots, and he began to tinker with vinyls and turntables at the beginning of the nineties, with clear Hip Hop influences. In 1997 he decided to become a professional DJ, and in his native New York he began to make a name for himself in the clubs and venues of the city. Since then, he has been an essential figure of the New York nightlife.
Humble because in this business we are sick and tired of seeing people who don’t even have 10% of the art that Escobar has in his hands and brain selling themselves as if they were the next big thing in electronic music and clubbing. And archaeologist because his music and his sessions transpire an enormous, a vast musical culture and that is not acquired by searching in a browser or listening to an app that brainwashes you based on logarithms. That’s decades of searching and listening to music; and to confirm this you only need to take a look at their social networks.
Since his first releases in 2008, his releases have been released by labels such as Classic Music, Defected, Plant or on his own label, Night People, and as a producer and remixer, he has been requested by leading figures of all musical styles.
3 is made up of 15 tracks, none of which are more than three minutes long and are a true marvel, on a par with masterpieces in this style such as The In Sound From Way Out! by the Beastie Boys. An excellent example of the mastery of Eli Escobar, who apart from making us sweat on the dancefloor, can handle different artistic registers in an extraordinary way.
3 is now available here
