His name was unfamiliar to me until quite recently when I came across his music. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California but is from Newton, Massachusetts. Twenty years after he sang his first song, Eliot has started his own independent record label called POP Records and has produced his debut album:Down Along This Road. All the songs are original and are written by Eliot. He recorded his first demo at age nineteen entitled Freeman Eliot, while attending U Mass Amherst. Eliot later went on to Berklee College of Music, graduating in three years with a Bachelor of Arts in Songwriting. While at Berklee, Eliot kept busy by performing at many Boston-area music venues, singing in the Berklee Reverance Gospel Ensemble, and singing at the State House for a Fenway Community Health Center Benefit.

DD: Are you surprised that many people have never heard of you or your music?
EP: No I am not. My first CD did well in certain areas, like college radio airplay and MP3 airplay; however I realize that I am still unknown to many people.

DD: So what do you call your genre? Are you in the same group as Tracy Chapman?
EP: Acoustic pop. I have been compared often to Tracy. I don't see the resemblance but of course I'm honored!

DD: You are working on a soon-to-be-released album, what is it entitled?
EP: It's called "You've Got Love" and I am real excited about it.

DD: When is it expected to be released?
EP: It is expected out at the beginning of the year - January 2003.

DD: What can fans expect from this new album?
EP: I have grown so much from my first album; musically and personally. People will hear a more mature Eliot, both in voice and in lyrics as well. I am more honest and direct in my writing. I'm real proud of this project and I think people will enjoy it even more than the first.

DD: One of the singles was featured in a movie? How did that happen?
EP: Actually I have been fortunate to have a few songs find their way into movies. The first song "I'm Gonna Leave You" was in the movie "Flushed", which was written by a very talented woman I went to high school with. I heard she wrote and directed the movie, so by a long shot I found her and asked if she would listen to my CD. She obliged and totally wanted to include my song, so I'm a real lucky camper. Actually the other 2 songs in movies are similar, rather lucky stories as well. The movie "Rubbernecking" is about getting stuck in traffic. One day, the writer/director was doing a search online about roads, traffic, etc. My first CD was entitled "Down Along This Road", and the rest is history!

DD: Which artist has influenced you the most?
EP: I really enjoy singer/songwriters in a variety of genres. Some of favorites include: Mary Chapin Carpenter, Paul Simon, Elton John, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Terrence Trent D'Arby, Brian McKnight, George Michael and Eric Benet.

DD: Is there a message that you try to impart through your music?
EP: I try to be honest and be myself. I have found that is the best way for me to get any message across. Overall, I'm all about love and peace in this world. And I like to give voices to people, characters and things that you wouldn't normally here from. A voice to the voice-less if you will.

DD: Do you have any upcoming events?
EP: I will be performing soon as part of a gay singer/songwriter series at the Library Coffeehouse in Long Beach, CA, as well as performances coming up in various clubs throughout Los Angeles and a few pride events as well.

DD: How can people buy your music if they are interested?
EP: They can buy my CD through http://www.amazon.com Just do a search on my name "Eliot Popkin"

DD: What are your plans for the foreseeable future?
EP: Record my next album, get a few songs cut by other artists, go on a national tour, get picked up by a major label and win a Grammy for Best New Artist 2004. How's that sound? :)

DD: And you have a charity in memory of your mom-Tell us about that.
EP: Yes, my mom Ellie passed on in 1987 from breast cancer. My brother and I set up The Ellie Fund in her memory. The Ellie Fund is a non-profit breast cancer organization with a mission to fight breast cancer and ease the effects on patients and their families. We have raised money for college scholarships, various research programs and educational centers. It's a real pleasure for me to be a part of such a wonderful organization. For more information, people can visit http://www.elliefund.org

http://www.mp3.com/eliotpopkin
"Love doesn't run
Love doesn't hide
Love doesn't fear
Love just tries"