We were lucky to catch up with Ekela Dixon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ekela , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My parents let me create. I loved music young and my parents made sure I was in the best music programs in my city. Because of that I had experiences that most people could only dream of like singing backup for Elton John, winning a Grammy at 12, and singing for Michael Jackson.
Ekela , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Well my name is EKELA and I’m an artist career developer and manager, I’m the CEO of a mindie (major label-backed indie) label and I am a singer, songwriter & producer. I’ve been in the music industry since I was 17, I was signed to an indie label and my experience was traumatic at best. That inspired me to go into artist development. I started my company The Voice Box with the intention of helping new singers sing better. I realized that lack of confidence, experience, community, direction and support was an even bigger issue. So I started offering bootcamps and consults – we even have an in house artist therapist.
The industry is the kind of place that will eat you alive if you let it. I teach my singers how to not end up being prey.
I’m most proud of my artist Iniko. They really took everything I taught Them and amplified it. They represent everything I believe and teach artists to be, and they trust me and my expertise when it comes to every career decision they have to make.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
We have to start being an artist with The same respect that we treat being a doctor or a lawyer.
We have to treat creativity like an asset. We have to pay creative’s fairly. We have to create spaces for creatives to grow.
Have you ever had to pivot?
My pivot came after I lost My vocal cord in 2018. When that happened and I couldnt Record music I started To really focus on the artists I was Developing. There was a fire in me. It was like I was Saying “maybe you can’t hear me, but you will hear them!”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ekela.pendetta