Today we’d like to introduce you to ElezD .
Hi ElezD, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story starts in late 2010, at a Christmas family reunion. My cousin was a dj and brought his equipment to play tunes for the family. I was immediately inspired to learn. I spent that entire week learning from him. After that week, I went straight to guitar center to buy a dj controller. I learned how to mix and record myself. That pushed me to start a mix series which was receiving hundreds of downloads per week.
For a 16 year old kid, that was HUGE! A few months later an online radio show contacted me and offered me a weekly residency. I immediately said yes and started to gain an international online fanbase. A few months after being a regular on the radio show, local promoters like Scream & Heroes started booking me for shows. After my first booking I made my first $100 from dj’ing. I remember coming home with money and my mom questioned where that money came from. She didn’t believe me when I told her I was paid to DJ, so much that she made me call the promoter and have him tell her what happened.
Fast forward 2 years later to my last year of high school, I had saved some money from consistent bookings to buy a car and ended up buying studio equipment because my mom told me she would rather have me “invest into something I love instead of spending on a liability.” I have to say, that was the best advice I received as a young adult. It opened a plethora of doors and possibilities for me. I was pushed to express my creative side and really hone into something I enjoy doing.
I spend the summer of 2012 learning how to produce music. I released my first track ever and it received so much support that local producers like Ookay formerly know as Leisure, and YDG previously known as MikeeyKrook. Mikeey (YDG) & I made a song together and it was supported by one of the biggest DJs in the world at the time, Deniz Koyu. The track was featured on his radio show via SiriusXM. Shortly after releasing that track, a new club named Somewhere Loud had opened up in San Diego and I was offered a formal residency with them. I had the opportunity to play for 700+ people every single weekend. It was a dream come true for my 18 year old self. I was surrounded with a bunch of local producers and DJ’s which was amazing to share a space with so many like minded people. Unfortunately the club was closed by the city in 2016 and I was forced to look for bookings elsewhere.
I had the opportunity to play in Amsterdam during ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) in 2018. That event alone changed my life and the direction of my career forever. I was extremely inspired to be the best producer I can be and I took a few years off of bookings to become a full time producer.
Now in 2021, I have all the tools and ammunition in my arsenal to be able to achieve my ultimate goals as a full time artist. I recently achieved a #1 spot on the Beatport Techno Charts. Receiving that #1 spot has inspired me to achieve more success and take this dream of mine to the next level. I pride myself in being a taste maker. My job as an artist is to keep the party going but also introducing crowds to new sounds. I am now able to play hours on end of my original music and that is something I am really proud of.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. It has been full of struggles. The skill of producing music that actually sounds “decent” has taken be over 8 years to achieve. My biggest struggle has been believing in myself and living up to my own expectations. I struggle with doubt and depression. My mind plays tricks on me and sometimes I feel like giving up, but then I remember why I do what I do and how long I’ve been doing it. It’s definitely not easy to be a self made, self taught producer. I don’t have any formal education when it comes to music production or engineering, I just have countless hours of hands on experience, trial & error, failure and doubt. My most recent struggle has been living up to my own expectations.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a full time music producer/dj. I specialize in the Electronic Music realm, specifically Techno. I am most proud of my work ethic and my recent achievement of receiving a #1 spot on the Beatport top 100. What sets me apart from others is that I am relentless, hard working, driven and all of my music is original. I don’t use pre-made samples or loops. I write all of my music and I ONLY play my music. I can play over 2 hours of original music and have a crowd happy and dancing the entire time.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see the Electronic Music industry as an ever-expanding organism. I believe that electronic music is still in its baby stages as far as the American demographic goes. In 5-10 years it will be a fusion with artificial intelligence and VR. This pandemic really shifted the paradigm as far as how people consume this kind of music. Even though House & Techno were born in the United States, I truly believe it is barely in the first stages of life here in the states. I feel as people are falling in love with underground sounds and straying away from pop culture (which is a good thing).
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elezd_music
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elezdmusic
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/elezd_music
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0l-CmZD2VA6RyJDGrtS__Q
- SoundCloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/elezdmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Xpib3x6hG0oVM35TXnoJj
Image Credits
@worldclasssyy
@yeeartieknow
@xmaxinealo
