Eli Lands NME's The Cover, Curates "The Goddess Of Grieving" Playlist
American pop artist Eli is the cover subject of NME's The Cover for the issue dated Monday, October 5, 2026. The profile was written by Bailey Slater, with photography by Emma Drew Berson. To accompany the feature, Eli curated an exclusive playlist titled "The Goddess Of Grieving", released simultaneously on Spotify and Apple Music. The Cover is NME's recurring weekly spotlight on emerging artists, producing 50 in-depth interviews and exclusive shoots per year.
What's on "The Goddess Of Grieving"
According to NME, the playlist leans melancholic overall, spanning contemporary pop alongside jazz and soul classics. Confirmed artists include:
- Charli XCX (recent work)
- Ariana Grande (recent work)
- Phoebe Bridgers (recent work)
- Aretha Franklin (classic track)
- Alice Coltrane (classic track)
Eli after Stage Girl
Eli released her debut album Stage Girl in 2025, earning critical attention for its theatrical, Y2K-leaning pop sound. "Marianne" works through the scars of a past relationship, while "Somebody I'm Not" directly addresses gender dysphoria and performance as experienced by a trans woman. Her supporters already include Troye Sivan, Doechii and Zara Larsson.
Rethinking fame
Speaking to NME via Zoom in September, Eli said she once viewed breaking through — landing ad deals, winning the approval of someone she liked — as a way out of capitalism and labor itself. She described once imagining that becoming a figure like Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez would let her come out publicly, give her wealth away to others, and keep for herself a house, a partner and a dog.
"There's bigger fish to fry," she said of her current mindset, adding that recent swings in her mental and physical state have pushed her to write prolifically. The full interview is published on NME's website.