Eli August has been a working musician for around a decade now and has seen much success as both a solo artist and with his band “The Abandoned Buildings.” His dark Americana and deeply personal sounds have seen him play coffee shops and Steampunk events alike but with the release of “The Victorian Dead,” Eli started flexing his artistic muscle beyond music…  Eli created soap.

Ashley L. Rogers: So Eli, many of us know you as a musician but what led you to start creating soap?

Eli August:  I’ve never really been good at making things with my hands other than music and cooking.  I wanted to try a craft and I have always been a big fan of handmade lye soaps, so it just seemed to fit.

ALR: What goes into the creation of Soap?

Eli: Lye, Water, Base Oils, Essential Oils, and the patience to endure people who make Fight Club jokes.

ALR: Is there anything you wish you knew before you made your first bar of soap?

Eli: Not really.  I feel I did a healthy amount of research about it before I made my first batch.

ALR: How would you say soapcrafting has influenced your music?

Eli:  I would say that its been the other way around.  The main scents that I sell are based off of people from “The Victorian Dead” album I released last year.  So, in a sense, the music inspired the soap:

ALR: So would it be safe to say that you feel what defines Steampunk Music is less a sound and more of it’s approach and attitude towards craftsmanship?

Eli:  I would say that craftsmanship is a wonderful way to put it.  You have to put all of yourself into what you do, no matter what you do.  There’s a lot of bullshit out there and I believe people can see through it, or they won’t be fooled by it for long.  If you’re just rehashing music that’s already been made or writing songs that don’t have some real meat on the bone so to speak, then what are you doing?  You’re selling me a repackaged and slightly altered version of an already existing product.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate a tune that’s sole purpose is to get your booty a shakin’.  All things have their place.

And I will answer the obvious question… NO Eli is not Tyler Durden.  Eli August and The Abandoned Buildings are however putting out a full band album, if you would like to be a part of the process check out their Indiegogo Here.  To hear the full band sound; listen to the song “Kind,” Here.  Eli and the band are hard at work in the studio but their next appearance with be at Roxy and Dukes in NJ!

We leave you with video of Eli August and the Abandoned Buildings playing at Steampunk World’s Fair:

About Ashley Lauren Rogers

Ashley Rogers, or commonly known in the Steampunk community as Lucretia Dearfour, earned a Bachelor's of English Literature and Theatre at Fitchburg State College, was invited to the summer playwriting intensive at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, has directed multiple plays, written plays performed in New York City, MA, and as far as WI. Ashley is a freelance hair stylist and one of the organizers of the Steampunk Industrial Revolution. Currently Ashley is the founder and organizer of The Copper Claw. Ashley has written articles for Beyond Victoriana and Steampunk Magazine Online, has been on camera talent and a blogger for Nerd Caliber, maintains a weekly metal review and is the creator of "Ashley Rogers Does Something Awesome," on Dogtoon Media, and has been featured on TLC’s “Bling It On,” in the Frenchy and The Punk Music video for "House of Cards," and Sundance Channel's "Young Broke and Beautiful."

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