Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elijah Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Elijah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
The first time that began to earn money as creative was when I opened up for Narkiss at the Bobby Backwoods 2 Concert in Lewisville last year. The connection that I made with Narkiss was at an open mic in South Dallas hosted by Moneyman Rado. Narkiss had walked up to me, introduced himself, and said “Bro you are cold! Aye what’s your IG? I have show coming up that I want you to be apart of. You would get paid from it”.
He said the magical words.
Walking up on that stage was a different type of pressure because some big names within the rap scene in Dallas were there and I was the only R&B act there. I already knew I stood out from the green jacket I wore that night, but I knew that as soon as they heard my music, eyes and ears would be on alert.
Honestly, I killed it. I had fun and I wouldn’t change anything about that night.
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?
For those that don’t know me, my name is PLAE. I used to go by Elijah.J but I’ve decided to undergo a name change due to my lifestyle, core values, and confidence changing within in myself.
I am a recording artist, producer, and photographer. I’ll be exploring myself more as a creative as time goes by. I like to see my life as a movie, and for those watch just press play. You’ll never want to tune out.
With all the changes that have happened in my personal life and business life I can say that I’m proud for keeping my vision in the front of my mind. Also, that I’ve found ways to adjust and evolve through all the curveballs and dark clouds that life can throw at you.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
To take our egos out whenever working with each other. Music has a business infrastructure behind it like to where it is now viewed as product opposed to talent. However, there are some people who see it as personal gain of power or manipulation and inflict ill will towards whomever. That destroys the purity of music and the craft.
It’s a longshot because I’m essentially asking people to change who they are from the inside to better themselves for other people and the sake of their own craft. But a call for change is always good commentary.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Yeah…me. I only have one life to live and my belief is that I better create my reality the way I want to so I can enjoy being apart of this realm for as long as I’m permitted. In the words of Jay-Z, “I rather live enormous than die dormant”. I have a vision that has been and still is comical since I was 16. The first word that you would say about it, unrealistic. Another two could be, overly ambitious. To both critiques I say, watch me do it.
That is what is driving me. I love when the game is on the line and I’m the one that wants to take the shot to end it. I was built for those moments because I acknowledged who I was going to be a long time ago.
I know I can do whatever I want in this world and only God or me can stop it. So until he does, I’m relentless.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyoneplae/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ONLYONEPLAE
Image Credits
Teddy Lotus Photography Eye of Jay Photography Andrew Simon