LOS ANGELES, CA- Eleni Drake might still be a name whispered rather than shouted across the Atlantic, but with the release of her new single “A Wonder Day,” the British-Greek artist makes a tender, resonant case for bigger stages and wider acclaim. Released via MNRK, “A Wonder Day” finds Drake at her most luminous — a bittersweet, featherlight meditation on friendship and gratitude wrapped in a soundscape that feels like a faded photograph come to life.
I first stumbled upon Eleni Drake at SXSW in 2024, catching her set during an afternoon showcase that left me immediately intrigued by her “mellow rock and soulful vocals”. Her live performance had a hushed, hypnotic quality, pulling the audience into her world without ever needing to shout. That same intimate magic bleeds through every note of “A Wonder Day.”
Produced alongside Frank Colucci (whose work with Ashnikko and Ethel Cain speaks volumes about his versatility), “A Wonder Day” drifts by on a gentle current of delicate guitar, lap steel, violin, trumpet, and banjo. It’s a soft, easy listen — soothing and pleasant in a way that feels familiar, even if it doesn’t immediately distinguish itself from the pack. But just when it risks blending too neatly into the background, Drake offers a simple, striking lyric: “I wanna have a wonder day with you.”
That line hit me in a way the melody alone didn’t. It’s simple, open-hearted, and disarmingly sweet — the kind of sentiment you tuck away for the right moment. I’ll be honest: if the stars ever align, I might just borrow that lyric myself someday.
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