Today we’d like to introduce you to Elijah Feldman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up in a Jewish, musical home, with a mother who was a dancer and pianist, I began taking piano and drum lessons as a young child. When I was a teenager, I started performing in plays, musicals, and attended Dekalb School of the Arts as a drama and drums major. I also started smoking pot and getting into trouble around that time, I was about fourteen. After delinquent behavior and multiple trips to rehab and attending several different alternative schools, I eventually got my GED. I was pursuing music the whole time this was happening. I always wanted to be famous, since I was a child.
At 13, I used my bar mitzvah money to buy a mic and recording equipment and made a closet studio. I recorded and put out my first 30 song album called FutureTrippin in 2011. I started performing, recording, and promoting my music at age 17 and am now almost 25. I put out another album, The Innerstate, in 2015 and I began hitting open mics at Apache Cafe and eventually made relationships with promoters and have been able to do over 150 gigs at Apache Cafe, Vinyl, Masquerade, Smith’s Olde Bar, Union EAV, and more. My latest project, The Chronicles, is currently out on all streaming platforms as well as Youtube music videos. I have been dropping weekly singles and have another project “The Great Obession” in the works. Planning to release it this summer 2019. I’ve opened for Chris Webby, Cyhi the Prynce, Kyle Lucas, Tom P, Jackie Chain, Scrilla, KR, and more, and won 1st place at The Bar Exam, Atlanta’s definitive open mic showcase competition at Apache Cafe.
During one of those trips to rehab, I met a girl and became a single father at age 19. My son is now five years old and I have full custody. I am currently juggling school, in the Joel A Katz Music & Entertainment Business Program at KSU, being the marketing intern at City Winery, raising my son Judah, grinding with the music business, and working two jobs as a waiter and a music teacher for The Music Class, a childhood music education program. I have been sober for seven months now and my top priority is sobriety so that I can have clarity and a program to work in all aspects of my life. I am writing, producing, and creating new music on a daily basis and just write about how I feel and my experiences on this journey that is life.
Great, 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?
Definitely not smooth. Single fatherhood, addiction, teenage pregnancy, dropping out of high school and being alone, doing everything myself with music with little help, balancing so many obligations while doing music, and being in and out of sobriety since I started rapping have made it a difficult road.
Elijah Kent – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a recording artist, producer, and performer. I record myself from home and engineer, produce, and write all my own material. I also am open and excited to collaborate with other like-minded creatives.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Opening for Chris Webby at The Masquerade was an amazing experience because it was my biggest show – there were about 300 people there and they were chanting my music and had amazing energy. Also when my son sings my songs, it makes me very proud!
Contact Info:
- Email: elijahkentmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahkentmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elijahkentmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahkentmusic
Image Credit:
Mic Sick, Ian Tumey, Just a Fan Photography, Josh Hoang
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
