Listen: Eloise Keating – “Be My Ghost (The Green Light)”

Portsmouth’s Eloise Keating brings us her first proper production, “Be My Ghost (The Green Light),” an impressive ballad inspired by The Great Gatsby.

A string of solo YouTube performances left no doubt about Keating’s voice (incredible) or songwriting ability (advanced). But this latest cut showcases her ability to take the bare bones of an idea and transform them into a song. “I only started teaching myself how to use production software last summer,” says Keating, but it certainly doesn’t show.

“Be My Ghost” is a lush arrangement full of surprising, well-placed elements. Strings are used in bits and spurts, heightening the drama. A single guitar note repeatedly falls off into the abyss. Steel drums are mixed throughout, an unusual and welcome touch, and Keating’s own voice backs her in multitudes during the haunting chorus.

It’s a strong debut that showcases the young songwriter’s vocal and musical ability, as well as her burgeoning understanding of true composition. When asked what she wanted people to know about the track, Keating said “This is what I want my music to sound like in the future”. If the results are anywhere near this good, well, that makes two of us.

Keating will be playing a number of local gigs in the Hampshire area in the coming months, the first of many being at Petersfield Beer Festival on 1 March.