We were lucky to catch up with ELIAZ recently and have shared our conversation below.

ELIAZ, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I grew up surrounded by music and performing arts. Some of my fondest memories were going with my mom to her band practice and theatre rehearsals as a child. As a family, we’d take road trips blasting music (Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain) as my mom, sister and I drove to meet friends or to just explore our city. Music has always been a comfort and apart of my life. I spent my allowance as a child on CD’s; if I was grounded the punishment was always taking my iPod away, never the TV or my phone.

Music was a symbol of comfort and peace growing up so naturally, my sister and I started singing together from a young age. We’d “perform” in our basement for my mom and eventually as we grew up, we’d play street festivals and farmers markets.

As the years went on, we kept singing together, playing shows, festivals, celebration nights etc. When the time came for college, it felt natural to go learn together and get a more in-depth understanding of music while furthering our career as a duo. Ultimately, our time there made us realize that singing together wasn’t for us anymore so we parted ways.

Now it’s just me, still learning, still growing individually and artistically. The goal has always been and still is to be as much of a “one woman show” as possible. I’ve always been creative and the reaches past music. It bleeds into writing, graphic design, music production, photography and videography. Now mastering these skills has been my focus along with being consistent and showing up for myself and my career daily. Music has always and always will be a constant in my life whether I’m creating it, listening to it, or helping others reach their dreams.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I’m ELIAZ meaning “God helps” in Hebrew and I’m a dark pop singer-songwriter and producer. I was born in Cape Town. South Africa and moved to the US in 2004. I lived in Indiana for 9 years before I came to Nashville in 2012 for school and I’ve been here ever since.

The goal is to create cinematic music for film and tv shows while building a platform on social media bringing people along the journey of creating and learning new skills.

I’ve spent the last couple years, fearful of being seen and have been frankly, lazy avoiding the hard work it takes to build a brand. I now feel ready to be vulnerable and allow people to see the real me and finally create with true authenticity. I think the main thing missing from brands nowadays is seeing the process. All the consumer sees online is the finished product especially in music, learning and improving take a backseat to views and likes. My goal is to show people the ups and downs of creating since I’m still so new and inexperienced in this field. Showing people how much vulnerability and fear is associated with being a creative. The self-doubt and insecurities yet also the overcoming. It’s constant; it has to be to succeed and that’s what I aim to show people. Yes, I feel this way but yet I choose to overcome and do it afraid because at the end of this hurdle is true fulfillment and peace.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Short answer: Perfectionism.

It’d plagued me my whole life. This idea of a perfect brand, perfect image, perfect body, perfect voice, perfect personality. Perfect in all areas; one that everyone likes and no one can find fault or critique with. I’ve put so much pressure on myself that it’s taken the joy out of creation. I have no grace or patience with myself so when I create, it has to be perfect the first time around otherwise it’s not good enough.

Throughout the years, imposter syndrome has been a constant, even answering your questions has taken me awhile because I feel like I’m no interesting enough to interview or I haven’t done enough over the years to warrant answering questions about my music. But now, I find beauty in the wait. I find peace in the struggle and know that all these feelings and huddles are fuel for creation and if I just take the time to be kind to myself, I can create something that I can be proud of.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Authenticity.

I’ve tried to be something I’m not my whole life. Less emotional. Stronger, Softer. Kinder. Quieter.

Where God has made me bold and outspoken, I’ve tried to make myself more palatable to others so they like me more. As I get older, I’ve learnt that people will either like you or they won’t. As cliché as it sounds, people will judge regardless so be yourself and focus on the people that are in your corner.

Wasn’t it Dita Von Teese who said ” you can be the ripest, more juicy peach in the world and there will still be people who don’t like peaches” and that’s something that replays in my head a lot,

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its_eliazz/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsELIAZZ
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_eliazz