Rough Trade Recommends: ĠENN + ELI + Juju

About

**Rough Trade Recommends presents: ĠENN + ELI + Juju** Rough Trade's monthly new music showcase returns with some of the best up-and-coming acts in the alternative scene. **ĠENN** Formed on the island of Malta, Brighton-based / Anglo-Maltese outfit ĠENN is: Janelle Borg – guitars (she/her), Sofia Rosa Cooper – drums (she/they), Leona Farrugia – Vocals (she/they), and Leanne Zammit – bass (she/her). ĠENN is a self-described sisterhood founded on instinctive trust, their bold move to the UK mirrored by their 2023 debut album ‘unum’ (a Latin word for oneness and unity). The album gained particular praise from BBC 6Music & KEXP for its ambitious negotiation of the band’s diverse roots – with a track-list that journeys through experimental rock, post-punk and Mediterranean folk. The collaborative video for single ‘The Sister Of’ also achieved a UK Music Video Award nomination for its cinematography. "Complex, ambitious... with the chaotic energy of an informal jam" PITCHFORK It’s little surprise that this has led to diverse invitations onto an international stage, appearing at renowned showcase festivals such as Eurosonic (NL) and The Great Escape (UK), alongside tours with Sub Pop Noise Rock heavyweights METZ, burgeoning post-punkers Deadletter and global art collective Pussy Riot. **ELI** There’s an undeniable surge of authenticity that ensnares you with ELI — an alternative artist whose music blends pop, RnB and electronic influences into a sound that feels both nostalgic and new. Heartfelt and rebelliously vulnerable lyrics are projected by a powerful yet tender voice that soars over a gigantic wall of pop production. His music recalls the raw power of Medium Build withthe experimental edge of Caroline Polachek. Taking cues from his parents’ diverse record collection — spanning from Prince and Whitney Houston through to Radiohead — ELI crafts songs that balance intimacy with a drive to break his own victim mentality. Early singles Dummy, 15 + Alive and Imagination introduced his emotionally charged style, while Rough and Slow earned BBC Radio 1 support from Jess Iszatt. His recent Mahogany Session struck a chord with queer audiences and beyond, racking up over 150k views in its first month and paving the way for his first UK headline shows. **Juju** Juju is a gothic rock force, merging thunderous guitars, heavy synths, and a cinematic imagination drawn from fantasy and fiction. Originally from the south coast of Dorset Juju has settled on Bristol as her current home. Offstage, Juju is thoughtful and introspective. Onstage, she transforms into a magnetic presence — intense, powerful, and unapologetically dark. Her performances channel the raw grit of PJ Harvey, the mystique of Kate Bush, and the fire of Florence + The Machine. Recent shows include opening for St. Vincent in her hometown of Bournemouth at the 02 Academy, PVRIS at KOKO London and most recently YONAKA at the Lower Third in London. Juju is now finishing production on her 7-track EP, STUCK IN FANTASY. ‘A bold grunge-pop record, STUCK IN FANTASY ventures into vivid imagined worlds, where Juju slips between personas and blurs the line between storytelling and self. It's thick with driving guitars, heavy synth textures, and cinematic live drums — visceral, vivid, and built for both introspection and widescreen moments.’