After making a name for himself with a string of impressive covers, 18-year-old singer-songwriter Eli Derby has shared the video for his debut single “Gaslight,” premiering above.
The Maryland-raised artist, who got his start in music by drumming and performing in a church choir, is set to release his first project through LVRN and Interscope Records later this year. Blending R&B with hip-hop production sensibilities, “Gaslight” is a promising introduction from the multi-talented musician. Its slick, Carlon Ramong-directed video sees Derby walking his date home before she fades away, Infinity War style.
Derby also showed up on LVRN’s Christmas album Home for the Holidays last year, appearing alongside the likes of Summer Walker and 6lack.
“My musical inspirations are boundless, I can listen to Prince and Michael Jackson in the same sitting as the Beatles and Tyler, the Creator,” Eli told Complex on the occasion of his new release. “What they have in common is the ability to evoke emotion, and that’s what I try to do with my own music. For ‘Gaslight’ it was about making sure the person listening felt okay not knowing what to call their ‘situation.’ And that sometimes uncertainty can be exactly what you need in the moment.”
He also shared a reflective clip about his journey as a musician in the lead-up to the video and single. “I’ve been doing covers religiously every week since [2016],” the motivational IG post begins:
Catch the premiere of Eli Derby’s “Gaslight” visual up top.
