A Chat with Eyal Erlich (04.10.25)
Eyal Erlich stands as a rare case in today’s indie rock scene – one that bridges the timeless spirit found in legendary rock stars of the 70s with the raw honesty of personal experience. Since stepping onto the stage, he has carved out a reputation as a singer-songwriter who writes with an unflinching eye towards love, loss and the fragile beauty of being human. We speak with Erlich about his performances, music, and much more.
OSR: Your Live EP captures the raw energy of your performances. How do you approach translating the intimacy of a live show into a recorded track?
Erlich: Thanks so much. We’re currently working on my debut album, and we’ve recorded all the tracks live. So that style of live recording, like they used to do in the old days, will keep that raw intimacy of the music even after we add more instruments, vocal harmonies, etc. The basis for each will still lean on and stem from 4 guys playing music live.
OSR: With four singles on the Live EP, ‘All in All’, ‘Jenny’, ‘Already In’, and ‘I Wish I Knew’, what guided your decision to feature these specific songs live first?
Erlich: Well, I wanted to highlight a piece from our live show, as it would be easier to take in than all the songs at once. I felt that these four went pretty well on stage, and lyrically and musically they have a lot the listener could connect with. Judging by the results and feedback, I’m happy with the decision.
OSR: Your music is described as soulful and versatile. Do you feel a different emotional connection performing these songs live versus recording them in the studio?
Erlich: Yeah, for sure. Performing for a live audience is like getting on the field in front of a crowd and scoring a goal. You can hear, you can see, you can feel them with you each step of the way. There is a dialogue, there’s an interaction, there’s sweat, there are lights, things go wrong, and all that can push you into so many ways of expression you may not have gone to if you were just alone in your room. It’s energy feeding off of energy. It can be a beautiful, raw and intimate connection.
The studio is much more of a sterile environment, more like a scientific lab. You come out of there with a product, something done live, and then put in a bottle to be sent to people who may never see you live at all. And you have to try and capture some of that unique stage energy to send to them. It’s a totally different ball game and challenge.
OSR: Your lyrics are often called ‘insightfully relatable’. How much of your personal experiences shape the stories in these live tracks?
Erlich: I mean, they’re all from my personal experiences. Whether I write it exactly the way they felt to me, or I make a few changes, they all capture my state going through those events. And I try to let a lot of my unconscious mind do the talking, I feel it can take me places that I wouldn’t get to otherwise. I really hope they resonate with my audience. That’s sort of my goal, also to be heard, but I really want to know that listening to me gave you a chance to hear something in you.
OSR: Fans notice a wide range of imaginative ideas in your music. Did performing live allow you to explore or experiment with these ideas in ways that studio recordings don’t?
Erlich: Yeah, the whole process was a bit old-school. I toured a lot, doing hundreds of performances solo and with the band, and really let the music marinate and develop organically. Slowly enhancing my connection to the music, the lyrics, deepening my connection with the band, and feeling more comfortable with the arrangements that arose through all the interactions with the audience and between the band. Going straight to the studio would have produced a very different result, I suppose.
OSR: With plans to tour extensively, including internationally, how do you see the Live EP preparing audiences, new and old, for your full-length album?
Erlich: We do intend to keep the same live vibes in the album, of course, with some changes and a deepening and layering of the sound. But that four-man band in its core will remain to be that pumping heart behind the music. So, it will be sort of what you see is what you get, meaning if you saw the live performances, then totally expect to get that feel. Except, of course, getting it live everything feels closer, and I do hope to meet different audiences from many different places, and connect with them in the unique way we find to be.
OSR: Looking forward to 2025-26 and your debut album, do you see the Live EP as a bridge between your online singles and the next chapter of your music career?
Erlich: Well, they’ve definitely helped us get through to many listeners worldwide, which was really the point. That we would have something for people to hear, a preview or a coming soon bit, that we could tease people with before the full polished album would come out.
OSR: Each of the four songs has its own personality. Could you share one behind-the-scenes story or moment from performing each of them live?
Erlich: I can share just that lyrically, they all have special meaning to me, and if you enjoyed the music and are interested to understand each song’s personality, I would recommend diving into the lyrics further. I do mention a bit during the live shows about what the songs are about, but I generally prefer everyone kind of gets the meaning they need to get from the song, rather than my meanings.
Many thanks to Eyal Erlich for speaking with us. Find out more about Eyal Erlich on his Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
