Today we’d like to introduce you to Elijah Gonzales.
Elijah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Elijah Gonzales, also known as GONE. I am a 19-year-old artist stretching the bounds of my own creativity.
My musical journey began when I was 14 years old in my 8th-grade science class of all places. I started reproducing well-known R&B and Hip Hop songs for fun on a free beat-making website. At the start of my freshman year of high school, I found this hobby as a new passion, making lofi-type beats and releasing them on streaming services. Then, I would like to say either my sophomore or junior year of high school, when I was 16 or 17 years old, I gained the confidence to finally place my own voice on these beats that I produce.
Leading up to today, I still produce, write, and perform my songs with even more confidence and value. This past year, living in San Diego and attending SDSU has brought so many opportunities to finally perform these pieces live and connect with amazing artists and creatives. My last few eps that I have released, ‘lessthanthree’ & ‘444’, received unexpected love and attention from the community, and it marks only the beginning of my musical journey with new music coming sooner than expected.
You can follow my journey on Apple Music & Spotify, as well as Instagram @iitsgonee.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My musical journey has not always been a smooth road. Of course, there’s always moments of creative or writer’s block that happens to cloud my mind when trying to create music. Another larger struggle that I was met with this past year was a lack of inspiration and motivation to continue creating music. However, a newfound passion and mindset when looking at the creation of my art sparked a new light. This huge obstacle in my music career evolved into this new era of my journey, and I am super excited to share this new stage of my musicality to the world. This upcoming project is like nothing that I have ever touched the public ear.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a music artist. I have many musical inspirations that influence my creative process, but I take pride in making my music personal and true to me and my experiences, thoughts, and ideas. I find even more joy when hearing someone relating or appreciating the art that I put out.
In this part of my journey, I am curating and polishing my style and sound. It is even harder for me to specify a certain genre that I fall under. Whether it comes to a certain beat or instrument in a song, or even the visuals connected to the music, I enjoy applying my touch to the creative direction and its rollout. It isn’t a GONE piece without any significant or personal touches.
I am excited to announce here that my upcoming project will be the genesis of this new, profound sound, the accumulation of my personality and experiences as my life changes in recent times.
My newest single ‘QUALITY TIME’ is the first installment of songs from my upcoming project, and it’s out now. This single alone is one of my most personal songs, and I am super excited to share this to everyone willing to listen.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The best advice that I have for those starting out is to study your inspirations and locate in your heart and mind what is most important to you. In the end, make art for you. Those who your art is meant for will naturally and inevitably gravitate towards it. That is what makes art what it is. To sacrifice individuality is to destroy the true personality and relatability. Create art in the way you want, and it will create something out of you that you would never expect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/iitsgonee
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iitsgonee/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iitsgonee
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4BEBfwPl2bC6X_fbaz0amQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/iitsgonee
Image Credits
@gabe_gnzls
@anjeelat
@praadaboo
@nikko.cordero_
