Eli & Fur: A Conversation on Emotional Landscapes, Creative Synergy, and the Magic of Fire Island
Eli & Fur
For more than a decade, Eli & Fur have been shaping a singular sonic world—emotive, hypnotic, and unmistakably their own. Rooted in deep friendship and creative trust, their evolution as artists has been both intentional and organic, moving fluidly from raw, reflective songwriting to immersive live performances that blur the line between DJ set and storytelling ritual.
As they prepare to make their Pines Party debut on Fire Island—a place steeped in queer history and hedonistic magic—Sainte Francis caught up with the London-based duo to talk about the emotional threads running through their work, the grounding power of collaboration, and the dreamlike spaces they’re building with their new concept, Dreams at Dusk.
Sainte Francis:
You’ve had such a powerful evolution as artists: From your earliest releases to your latest live shows, your sound has deepened while staying unmistakably yours. What have you been exploring creatively this year that feels especially meaningful?
Eli & Fur:
This year has really been about leaning into the emotional core of our music, stripping things back a bit to reconnect with the raw feelings that first made us fall in love with producing. There’s a lot of reflection, a lot of honesty. We’ve also been collaborating more, which has brought new textures and perspectives into our world. It’s exciting to keep evolving while staying true to the essence of what makes a track feel like “us.”
Sainte Francis:
Touring can be both exhilarating and demanding, especially when navigating it as women—and, in Eli’s case, as a queer artist. What kinds of support systems or inner resources have helped you stay grounded and keep momentum through the ups and downs?
Eli & Fur:
It’s definitely a journey. We’ve learned to really prioritise our mental health and create little rituals that keep us grounded, whether that’s through our love of food in different cities, running before a show, or just taking a moments to rest and focus on music. Having each other is massive too. We’re lucky to have built not just a creative partnership, but a friendship that’s always been about lifting each other up. And there’s a growing community of artists, especially women and queer artists, who support one another in this space. That’s been incredibly powerful and motivating. I (Eli) have an incredibly supportive wife who often comes with me on the road, her job is touring logistics for other artists so she’s an incredible part of the team, personally a support but also an amazing support on the road.
Sainte Francis:
You two have a very particular kind of intuitive synergy, having worked together for more than a decade. How do you nurture that creative connection, especially when life and touring get hectic?
Eli & Fur:
We always come back to trust. When things get hectic, we know we can rely on each other completely, and that’s rare. We’ve been through so much together that we’ve developed this unspoken rhythm, whether we’re producing in the studio or reacting to a moment on stage. Even if we’re in different time zones or dealing with life outside of music, we find time to check in creatively. Sometimes it’s a voice note with an idea, sometimes it’s just being in the same room and pressing play. That spark is still very much alive.
Sainte Francis:
You’ve spoken before about the connection between music and storytelling. Do certain themes or emotional landscapes tend to return when you’re writing or performing—and if so, why do you think they keep calling you back?
Eli & Fur:
Absolutely. Themes of longing, connection, escape, they always seem to find their way into our music. There’s something about that tension between closeness and distance, between what’s real and what’s imagined, that fascinates us. Maybe it’s the transient nature of touring, or the way music can capture moments that feel suspended in time. We often write from personal experiences, but we try to leave space for listeners to project their own stories into the songs too.
Sainte Francis:
The visual and atmospheric world around your music is always so considered. How much does the setting—whether it’s a club, a forest rave, or a beach at dawn—shape how you approach a performance?
Eli & Fur:
It plays a huge role. We think a lot about the feeling of the space we’re stepping into. A dark, intimate club calls for something deeper and more hypnotic, while an open-air sunset set gives us room to breathe and stretch into more melodic, expansive moments, sometimes more groovy, more housey, we love to read the crowd and try and create moments that feel authentic within that space. We always want the music to reflect the energy of the environment. It’s about creating a full experience - not just for the crowd, but for ourselves too. That synergy with the space makes everything more alive.
Sainte Francis:
There’s a lot of conversation right now about the role of smaller, off-the-beaten-path venues in preserving underground culture. How do you think about navigating between large-scale, commercial gigs and more intimate spaces—and where do you personally feel most at home?
Eli & Fur:
We really love both for different reasons. Big shows can be exhilarating, the production, the crowd energy, the scale of it all, but there’s something irreplaceable about smaller venues. You can feel every breath in the room. There’s more space for risk, for deeper connection. We started out playing those kinds of spaces, and they’ve always felt like home. We try to keep a balance in our schedule so we never lose touch with that side of the scene, because it’s the heart of where this all began.
Sainte Francis:
You’re about to play Pines Party, a beautiful and beloved event rooted in queer joy and community. What are you most looking forward to about playing Fire Island, and how do you want people to feel during your set?
Eli & Fur:
We’re beyond excited for this one. There’s such a special energy around Fire Island, it’s iconic, full of history, and rooted in celebration and liberation. We want our set to feel like a journey, a release, something euphoric, intimate, and free. Our aim is always to create a space where people feel completely themselves, and this feels like the perfect setting for that. We just want everyone to feel joy, connection, and a sense of magic as the night unfolds.
Sainte Francis:
As you look ahead, what’s inspiring you—and what kind of sonic worlds are you dreaming into next?
Eli & Fur:
We’re really focused on our new music, we have new releases coming soon, our inspiration has been sunset into dusk, open roads, collaboration. Our new party concept “Dreams at Dusk” has really opened something for us creatively, and we’re exploring what lives beyond that horizon. Collaborating with artists on the lineup with us, digging into slightly darker production but emotional still. We are both feeling super creative. We’re just following the thread and seeing where it takes us.
Catch Eli & Fur at the DREAMSCAPE: The Beach Party on Saturday, August 2nd, 10pm-6am with Someone From Berlin and Chris Cruse.
