Rochester musician Eli Flynn established himself in the local music scene as a member of Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and through his own collaborative, Eli Flynn and the Everymen. His talents extend beyond the stage and into the classroom, where he works as a music therapist at The Hochstein School.
Inspired by stories of resilience and music as therapy, Flynn released the single “Hands Up,” featuring rapper Felix Free on January 30. Flynn says to accompany the release, “It’s an anti-oppression song, by the people for the people.”
The track is a deft allegory that captures the realities of everyday life in today’s United States while expressing a sense of optimism rooted in hope and belief in a higher power.
Driven by gospel-inflected vocals and a breezy reggae groove, “Hands Up” sounds club contemporary, but is imbued with an awareness of history. Threads of hip-hop, rock guitar and soulful sonics weave through the melodic foundation, resulting in a celebratory, genre-blurring anthem that feels both urgent and inspired.
Felix Free’s rhythmic and agile mid-song rap contrasts the song’s melodic core, providing a refreshing and rapid expression of triumph over adversity and a defining statement of self-worth.
In an era where it’s fashionable to take a side, Flynn uses the simple and beautiful foundation of love and hope as his thematic orientation. While it’s increasingly hard to blend honest and relevant commentary with a creative musical directive, Flynn develops a song that gets stuck in your head and speaks to your heart.
“Hands Up” is a celebratory track founded on relevant social commentary and packaged in a soulful and infectious construct. The result is a vibrant expression of triumph over adversity with hands raised skyward, fomenting a belief in a better tomorrow.
