Today we’d like to introduce you to Eli Yenskii.
Hi Eli, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Staten Island, NY. My biological mother and I relocated to Atlanta while I was fairly young. There, I was raised by my God-mother, Barbara Washington & her family. Her dream for me was probably to be in somebody’s university studying English like she did; but that wasn’t God’s plan for my life, or mine. I spent a great deal of my childhood attending different theater summer camps & in my teen years, I even joined a well-known musical theater company; The Youth Ensemble of Atlanta (YEA).
I was always naturally drawn to anything artistic and musical, but I would say that I started actively writing & creating music around the age of five. I was brought up in the Methodist Church, and some of my fondest memories from that time would be going to choir rehearsals with my God-mother. I immediately became fascinated with the pianist. I even started bringing my own toy piano to the rehearsals, banging on it during practices, JUST like the pianist! I know that most young children often imitate what they see the adults doing, but this was deeper than that. I really had something. I knew it, and everyone else did too!
Around age 16, I linked with Kenya (Felz) Tolbert, current studio manager at Tricky Stewart’s Triangle Sounds Studios. She basically took me under her wing and became my engineer & a really good friend. Around that time, I was also doing extra work in the film industry & came in contact with some other amazing people; like Monique Danielle and CJ Jeter. We were EXTREMELY talented and all had our own dreams and aspirations, which somehow all aligned. So we decided to build a team! Shortly after, I released my first EP “3/8”. And that’s when I jumped heavily into performing around the Atlanta area
One of my 1st performances was Takeoff: ATL. Takeoff opened doors for opportunities like Bonfire ATL, SoulFoodATL, Guy Code ATL kickback, ATL Indie Market, and ATL Unplugged. etc…..
I’m currently working on a bunch of new music, & I’ve been getting into some acting as well. I hope to be able to travel and perform even more in other states A lot of really huge things are happening for me in my life and career and I’m just blessed to be able to do what I love with the people I love. Stay tuned!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth is definitely not the term I would use, but I’ve always believed that nothing worth having in this life comes easy. So it was always expected that there would be challenges that I would have to face. Everything we want, comes with a certain level of sacrifice. I understand that.
I would say losing my God-mother in the recent years has definitely been one of the biggest challenges for me. She was truly one of the driving forces behind a lot of the things I did, and one of the biggest supporters in my journey through the entertainment industry & in life in general. Unfortunately, her death came at a pivotal moment in my life and career. Up until that point she had always been one of the very few people in my life that I felt I could trust fully & we ALL know how shady and corrupt the industry can be; so that was a really tough time for me. Losing her led to me feeling like I had to navigate a lot of this by myself.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an independent singer/songwriter, producer, located in Atlanta GA
Everything you see and hear comes 100% from self. I produce the beats, I do the vocal production and writing, I choreograph my live shows, and do my own creative direction. NO management. NO assistants, VERY little outside funding; it all comes from me! Of course I have an amazingly talented mixing/mastering engineer but other than that, I pretty much wear ALL the hats. That’s a rare find, especially in today’s industry.
I’m most proud of my ability to connect with people. Often, you see a lot of artists getting into the industry to feed selfish purposes & agendas, but MY biggest goal has always been to liberate and inspire others through whatever it is that God is calling me to do. At times, that could be through my entertainment career, giving to others in need, or even partaking in public service acts. I just want to help & inspire people. That’s one thing that has stayed constant about me through my journey, & I’m EXTREMELY proud of that!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The vast majority of a lot of the lessons I’ve learned along the way have been extremely helpful. It’s actually really hard picking a “most important” one, but If I had to pick JUST one it would probably be to always trust yourself & divine timing. This life can be extremely conflicting, confusing, and it can seem hard to navigate alone; but just trust yourself. When you know, you know!
Contact Info:
- Email: bookyenskii@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.yenskii/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YenskiiOfficial/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/EliYenskii
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SoEliFresh
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/eli-yenskii
Image Credits:
Bonfire ATL
