Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-05-04
Photo: Courtesy of the Artist
Following a landmark sweep at the 2026 WAMMIE Awards, independent folk-pop singer-songwriter Eli Lev continues his upward trajectory as his latest album, Past Lives, officially reached #2 on the Folk Alliance International Folk Charts.
Lev took home three honors at the 2026 WAMMIE Awards: Best Folk/Bluegrass Artist, Best Folk/Bluegrass Album, and Best Country/Americana Song. The recognition marks another major moment for the Silver Spring, Maryland-based artist, whose work blends folk, Americana, and singer-songwriter sensibility with a deeply personal sense of cultural memory.
The second installment in his ambitious Three Worlds Project, Past Lives has resonated deeply with listeners and radio programmers alike. By weaving the actual recorded voices of his ancestors into a modern folk-pop tapestry, Lev has created a project that bridges the space between historical memory and contemporary melody.
To celebrate the album’s success and the power of heritage, Lev has released a special community music video for the standout single, “Where We Come From.” The video features submissions from his global fanbase, the Levitators, creating a visual representation of the diverse shoulders we all stand on.
Watch the “Where We Come From” Community Video:
https://youtu.be/xur8G9C8LW0
Past Lives serves as an intimate time capsule. Each track is grounded in audio recordings of Lev’s relatives, including his Bubbe Sarah, Uncle Ben, and Aunt Evelyn. These voices appear in poignant interludes, providing a living heartbeat to the record.
“This album was about bringing my ancestors forward, not just in memory, but in sound and rhythm,” says Lev. “To see it reach #2 on the FAI charts and have the WAMMIE community recognize the work is a testament to the universal power of our shared stories.”
Opening with “Echo,” Past Lives introduces listeners to a world “washed in waves of time,” where heritage flows like a river through generations. Listeners hear Bubbe Sarah recounting her 1892 birth in Poland and Uncle Ben describing farm life and mill work in the American South: real voices, real memories.
On “Where We Come From,” Lev paints a cinematic portrait of migration, labor, and legacy, capturing both his Jewish and Appalachian roots. It’s a modern folk anthem for anyone curious about the shoulders they stand on.
“My Wish Was You” offers a heartfelt, whimsical journey through romantic dreams, road-life fantasies, and the quiet realization that love has already come and gone, leaving behind gratitude, not regret.
Songs like “Who I Was” dissolve the borders of time and identity, as Lev channels a multitude of lives, from heroes and refugees to mill workers and movie stars, declaring, “Who I was back then / Is who I am.”
The album’s emotional centerpiece, “Our Friends,” offers comfort in grief and remembrance, honoring those who have passed not as gone, but as present, guiding spirits. “Those who are no longer seen / Are just as real as you and me,” Lev sings, inviting listeners into an inclusive, ancestral embrace.
Past Lives continues Lev’s Three Worlds Project, a musical trilogy exploring time, identity, and transformation. If Present Journey grounded us in the here and now, Past Lives draws us into the deep roots of the past. The forthcoming third installment, Future Myths, will look toward the future, completing a powerful arc of self-discovery and cultural storytelling.
With Past Lives firmly established as a critical and community success, Lev is now looking toward that final chapter, which will explore the intersection of tradition and tomorrow.
Lev will perform a hometown show at Pearl Street Warehouse in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2026, with a Northeast U.S. tour running from May through October 2026.
About Eli Lev: Eli Lev is a globally minded folk-pop artist based in Silver Spring, Maryland. With a background in education and world travel, he brings storytelling, cultural connection, and heartfelt lyricism into every performance.
