Review: Are You Done by Eli Dan
By Vince Leigh (Pseudo Echo, John Farnham, Tina Arena)
Eli Dan’s debut single, Treading Water, was a finalist in the 2019 International Song Competition. The emerging Australian music artist followed that up with Just Another Love Song, which attracted a lot of attention, including ads on ABC National Stingray, In[1]Store Playlist Coles Radio, In-Store DAB and KIIS – Feature. Still Frames, her last single released earlier this year, was a musical portrait of self-discovery and self-reflection and utilised a streamlined foundation framing a lyric that delved deep.
Eli’s new track, Are You Done, explores similar thematic territory but with a broader sonic palette, featuring big hooks, an intense vocal performance and sophisticated production. Eli Dan’s style has often been described as a cross between Sara Bareilles and Vera Blue. Still, on this latest release, those comparisons seem to fall away, with Are You Done previewing a more individual delivery. Written by Elisha Apurado and Danny Hacket, Are You Done makes the most of a universal experience, creating a track with emotional fervour and urbane sensibilities.
Although the new release is stylistic consistently with Eli Dan’s previous tracks, Are You Done features more robust dynamic elements and a powerful chorus, a melodically rich series of sections that, when heard as a whole, bridge the gap between indie and commercial pop without sacrificing any of the individual characteristics of Eli’s approach.
As Eli says about Are You Done, ‘It’s a cheeky take on the complications we face in relationships, especially when it comes to miscommunication. With an upbeat vibe, this song puts a fun spin on what others might consider a serious topic. This song was birthed from the simple phrase of asking someone if they’re done. As writers, we quickly realised how this question was often asked in so many varying situations. It might be used when asking someone if they’re done with their rant, if they’re done with completing a test, or maybe if someone is done with a certain relationship. We found these different interpretations very interesting and formed the basis of this song.’
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