We were lucky to catch up with Eezzy Hendrix recently and have shared our conversation below.
Eezzy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I’ve always been around music, and had silly phases of wanting to be a singer and rapper when I was younger, but nothing serious. I’ll never forget, I was in high school, and I was bored during spring break. I scrolled on Facebook and saw a friend, who was a drummer that was in my grade, say he was on FL Studio playing around for the night. I said “what’s that?” and did my research to see it was a music production software. I ended up downloading it and spent that whole week off making some of the worst beats ever. Upon returning to school, I left the program alone to gain dust on my computer. While I thought it was just a thing to cure boredom, little did I know that it sparked something in me. I ENJOYED myself. A lot. It was horrible music I was making, but nonetheless I had fun learning and being creative in my truest, authentic self. Fast forward a year, as I am sitting in my calculus class, I’m staring at the whiteboard and thinking that this career path into math and science is not meant for me. It was not necesarily hard, but even at the age of 17, I was searching for value in my life. I went back to that week I was enjoying my time with FL Studio, and thought I could really pursue a path in music and I think I will be happy with that. So from then, I put in the work to learn music and theory. I put in the work to learn different DAWs. I gave myself the patience and grace to fail and fail while I figured it out. Over a decade later, I think it paid off with where I’m at now, skill-wise and spiritually.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a music producer, mix engineer, composer, fashion designer, Black business owner, and entrepreneur. I got into music production by being a student of the game. I always gravitated towards instrumentals and the beats of songs more than the lyrics. I liked to sing melodies more than repeat lyrics. As I got older, when I learned about the role of the producer, people such as Kanye West, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Lex Luger, and DJ Premier really shaped my love for beats and the art of production. Later as I learned the art and the game, people such as Metro Boomin, Tyler, The Creator, The Alchemist, Hit-Boy, Calvin Harris, and Pyrex Whippa helped me see different canvases I am able to paint with my vision. I am not an emulation of any of these people, I describe my musical style as my own and unique. The production of Eezzy Hendrix is versatile, with me working on beats for artists in rap and R&B, to having my hand in big pop records, to having compositional credits to short films and documentaries. As more and more people have given me their trust creatively with their projects, it has given me more confidence to pursue my own ventures creatively, and to trust myself more. That is where we see Eezzy Hendrix making his own album, and even stemming that to the birth of Creative Fvcking Genius, a clothing brand that has been on the drawing board since 2014, but saw the light of day 6 years later. I am the proof that when I am trusted creatively and to be myself, the results will speak for itself.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Listen, its hard work. Really hard. This year alone I’ve wanted to quit more than I ever had previously. As I’m getting older, it feels life is passing me by while I’m at work, mostly on my own, to attempt to make multiple things work. Sometimes I feel envy towards people who work their jobs and come home to just chill, watch TV, hang with friends, and work on their hobbies. Jay-Z said best: “9 to 5 is how you survive, I ain’t tryna survive, I’m tryna live it to the limit and love it alive.” Being a creative is the road less traveled because of the lonely nights, the months to years being broke, the sacrifices, the friends you want to support you who wont because they dont understand, the restless nights spent trying to figure out how to even break even. It’s not always fun. But when it pays off, even in the small wins, its the most rewarding shit in the world.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Contrary to what most people believe, I’m not in it for fame. I’m in it for money of course, people are lying when they say money isn’t a factor. But my driving factor is to give something to the world that will last beyond my years. A long time ago, I realized working a lot of regular jobs is just advancing the vision of somebody else. You’re a part of the wheel. I want to be the whole damn wheel. I want something to have my name on it and last forever. I want people to know when Eezzy Hendrix had his hand in something, it’s a good ass product. Whether that be music, clothing, media, you name it. I want comfort and security of course, but I am building for respect and legacy.
Contact Info:
- Website: eezzyhendrix.com
- Instagram: eezzyhendrix
Image Credits
Eezzy Hendrix, TeaCakeX, SnapBox Self Photo Studio