ELEL

Formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2013 behind lead singer Ben Elkins, ELEL is an indie pop group that balances world music influences, vibrant arrangements, and a large membership with Elkins' contemplative songwriting. They scored a viral hit in 2014 with their debut single, "40 Watt," and a record deal with Mom + Pop Music. The song appeared on the ELEL EP in 2015 and earned the group an appearance in the 2016 Mike Birbiglia film Don't Think Twice. Sporting an official lineup of Elkins, Tim Cook (guitar), Stefan Forbus (saxophone), Jo Jo Jackson (bass), Alex Mojavarian (drums), Zach Tichenor (keyboards), and Fredrick Weathersby (trumpet), ELEL's first full-length, Geode, arrived in October 2016. Later that year, the band offered up a unique cover of Vince Guaraldi's holiday classic "Christmas Time Is Here." A pair of singles, the infectious "Be Yeah" and the lower-key "Early in the Morning," appeared in 2018. ~ Marcy Donelson