There are people you meet where you immediately feel how deeply they sense the world – thoughtful, reflective, and emotional. These are the people I’m instinctively drawn to, the ones who make life feel a little more human. Eli Fola is one of them. When you talk to him, you notice that emotions aren’t a weakness for him but something he welcomes, something he transforms into sound, rhythm, and art.
His new EP Back To The Basics carries exactly that energy: an intentional return to roots, shaped by the the heartbeat of house, the warmth of Afro-influences, and a subtle layer of emotional clarity that gives the tracks their depth. “I’ve always believed the world is a global village – there’s real power in exchanging cultural experiences.”
Born in Lagos and now based in New York, Eli moves fluidly between identities – Nigerian, American, saxophonist, DJ, producer, sound artist. His project Yoruba Tech Soul merges these worlds into a hybrid of electronic music, live performance, percussion, improvisation, and cultural expression.
For our conversation, we talked about returning to inner stillness, the meaning of vulnerability, trusting random encounters, and how music becomes a place where identity and emotion can coexist without explanation. Below is the full interview – a look into an artist who creates from intuition, heritage, and a strong sense of purpose.
Photography by Dondre Green
Styling by Al Malonga
You released your new EP Back To The Basics. Did you actually go out and properly celebrate it as well, or how did you spend the evening of your release?
Funny enough, I was going to stay home and relax, but my manager said, “Eli, you deserve a glass of wine, go celebrate.” The past couple of months have been amazing, from performing on the EDCSEA Cruise in Belize to Voodoo Village Belgium and making my HÖR Berlin debut.
Back To The Basics – The record is an intentional return to your roots, musically, spiritually, and emotionally. Can you describe what it meant to you personally to go back to your roots?
Staying true to my roots and culture is extremely important to me. “Back To The Basics” is my way of reconnecting with the essence of who I am musically, spiritually, and emotionally. I’ve always believed the world is a global village, and that there’s real power in exchanging cultural experiences. Returning to my roots grounds me, and it inspires the authenticity and intention behind the music I create.
And what was the key moment when you thought: yes, this theme, this reflection, is something I want to explore in my next tracks?
The key moment came during a period of stillness earlier this year. Touring had been intense, and when I finally slowed down, I felt a strong pull to reconnect with the core of my sound. That clarity made me realize that returning to my roots wasn’t just a theme — it was the direction I needed to explore in my next tracks.
The EP opens with its title track, co-produced with rising Berlin-based South African DJ and producer Theodor Luv, whom you met by chance in a club in Berlin. I love those random encounters in life where one thing unexpectedly leads to another. Did you two just start chatting at the bar by coincidence, or how did the conversation start?
He came up to me at Berghain during Desiree’s opening set for Honey Dijon. He recognized me from Instagram through mutual friends and was already following my work. I told him I was only in Berlin for a few days before heading back to New York, and he suggested we meet the next day to make music at his studio. We pulled up the following day, and the magic unfolded naturally.
“When the noise gets overwhelming, I return to the reason I started: love for the music.”
How would you describe the collaboration in a few words? The time you spent together in the studio, or the creative and personal energy that existed between you?
It was effortless, organic, and full of creative synergy. We connected immediately, both personally and musically.
Your music also touches on themes like vulnerability, reflection, and strength. What would you say is your biggest strength? And how do you handle situations where you feel too vulnerable?
I think my greatest strength is my resilience. No matter what I go through, I always find a way to transform the experience into something meaningful. When I feel vulnerable, I try to embrace it instead of hiding it. Vulnerability reminds me that I’m human, and it often leads to some of my most authentic creative moments.
You also created Yoruba Tech Soul live-hybrid shows — can you explain again what makes them different from a regular DJ set?
Yoruba Tech Soul stands apart from a regular DJ set because it merges live performance, Yoruba percussion, and electronic sound design. I play saxophone, trigger drum patterns, and improvise over the music, creating a ritual-like atmosphere. It’s not just about playing records — it’s about creating a sonic journey in the moment.
How long have you actually been living in NYC, why did you choose this city in particular, and can you imagine it being your home forever?
I’ve been living in New York for the past 17 years. I originally moved from Lagos, Nigeria, when my parents had the opportunity to relocate, and the city quickly became home for me. I love New York — its energy, its diversity, its creative pulse. The more I travel, the more I appreciate the beauty of other cities, but there’s still no place that feels quite like New York. It’s always going to be a core part of who I am.
“Vulnerability reminds me that I’m human, and it often leads to my most authentic creative moments.”
I love your quotes from one of your Instagram posts where you talk about “Some thoughts I have navigating the electronic music industry: ‘When the noise gets overwhelming, I return to the reason I started: Love for the Music.’” How did your love for music begin? Was your path already pointing in this direction as a child?
Yes, my love for music started very early. I remember my parents taking me to church, and all I could focus on was the choir and the band — the voices, the instruments, the energy. That’s where the spark began. I started getting involved in the church and taught myself how to play multiple instruments, beginning with the drums, then piano, and eventually finding my way to the saxophone, which became my primary instrument. Looking back, it’s clear that my path was already forming in those moments, long before I understood what it meant to be an artist.
And how do you recharge your batteries — how do you find that inner calm again when the “noise” gets too loud?
I recharge by creating space for stillness. When the noise gets too loud, I disconnect, meditate, and spend time alone to realign myself. It’s in those quiet moments that I find clarity again and reconnect with my purpose.
You’re also a saxophonist, and it’s really cool to see you perform live with it in your sets — the energy is incredible, it really pulls you into the rhythm. Since when have you been playing the saxophone, and how did you end up moving into electronic music in the first place?
I’ve been playing the saxophone since I was about 14 years old, back when I was a young teenager in Lagos, Nigeria. The instrument became a huge part of my identity early on. When I eventually moved to New York, I discovered electronic music and immediately fell in love with artists like Osunlade, Jeff Mills, Octave One, and KINK. I was also inspired by performers who were integrating live elements into their DJ sets. That’s when everything clicked for me — the idea of merging my saxophone with electronic music felt natural. It allowed me to create something that felt both innovative and deeply connected to my roots.
Another quote is: “In an industry built on illusion, staying true is the real power.” How hard is it to really stay true, and how do you manage it?
Staying true can be challenging because the industry constantly pushes you to fit into trends or expectations. What keeps me grounded is remembering why I started in the first place. I stay connected to my culture, my purpose, and the sound that feels authentic to me. When you operate from that place, the illusion becomes easier to see through.
And last but not least: The most important thing in life is…
The most important thing in life is staying aligned with your purpose. When you know why you’re here and what you’re meant to pour into the world, everything else falls into place.
Follow Eli Fola for more:
www.facebook.com/EliFolaofficial
www.instagram.com/eli.fola
