We recently connected with Lexi T and have shared our conversation below.

Lexi, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

In 2014, I hosted my first show in Atlanta on Peters Street at a record store called I AM Music, which was located right next door to what would later become Kandi Burress’ restaurant, Old Lady Gang. I had recently moved from DC to Atlanta to pursue my music career full-time. Being new to the city, I didn’t know many people there. However, I had started a girl group and we had been practicing diligently for our performance. Despite not having a fan base yet, we decided to organize our own show to introduce ourselves to the world.

Before moving to Atlanta, I had primarily worked in Sales and Marketing, so I utilized those skills. I contacted I AM Music store to inquire about the cost of hosting a private event. Having attended an event there a few weeks prior, I knew the venue had a charming stage and atmosphere, making it perfect for our first show. The owner agreed to rent the venue to us at a great rate.

To find a DJ, I posted an ad on Craigslist offering $25 per hour. I also posted in the talent section of Craigslist in Atlanta, Washington DC, Texas, and New York, searching for artists to perform. We received a fantastic response and ended up booking seven other artists for the show. We instructed each artist to bring at least five fans, and we charged $10 for entry at the venue. Additionally, we provided drinks and encouraged donations. This event marked the beginning of earning money for my craft.

Lexi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

“I started out singing in the church where my mom would do lots of solos, and she would practice at home. I would sit under her and mimic all her riffs and runs. I used to perform in every school talent show and never missed a performance. By the age of 13, I started writing songs. Recognizing my dedication to my craft, my mom enrolled me in artist development with Jane Harley, the daughter of Hal Jackson and owner of Kemet Productions at Howard University’s Black Burn Center.

While under her training, I received vocal training and learned about the music business from professionals and a few celebrities. I had the opportunity to travel to different cities like LA and New York, performing at historical places like the Apollo and the Cotton Club, all before the age of 16. From there, I traveled and did shows with BET and Coca Cola. When I was traveling with BET, I was in a duo group named City Rose, but the duo didn’t last for more than 2 years. Shortly after the group broke up, I moved to Atlanta to pursue my dreams professionally.

In Atlanta, I started an international girl group, and we were actually really good. We were being looked at by labels, throwing our own shows, and even doing artist boot camp. We had a meeting one night with one of our developers who brought in a scout to see us practice. She wanted to take us to China on a tour. At that time, I found out one of my group members’ visa was about to expire, and she could not leave the states. Our group broke up shortly after that news came out. I decided to just bet on me and become a solo artist.

I stayed in artist development in Atlanta for another year with Dominique Mitchell, who had trained some of the best like Left Eye, Aaliyah, Britney Spears, and a whole lot of other amazing talent. I would post my development process on Instagram, and my following started to grow. I started getting paid shows, club appearances, music features, and radio play in my hometown, Washington DC.

One night when I was out in DC, I got in a terrible accident. While crossing the street, I was hit by a car. This ultimately led me to put my career on hold for a year. While healing and trying to deal with the fact that things would never be the same after the accident, I still wanted to be in the music industry in some type of way. I was always great at business, and my husband was great at art. I wanted to combine our skills, so we created B.A.E. (Business Art & Entertainment LLC). We threw open mics and events for small businesses, visual artists, and performing artists. Later, we would also create a national tour called the DMV Takeover Tour and offer artist development and music marketing. We are now taking our vision to the next level and jumping two feet into TV production.”

Feel free to copy and use this message as needed!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Part of my mission is to establish a secure and supportive environment for independent female artists to explore their musical aspirations and gain valuable insights into the music industry. This is particularly important in a male-dominated industry where the majority of producers, videographers, and studio engineers are men. By providing a platform for these artists to travel with their music and offering opportunities to learn and grow, I aim to empower and uplift female artists who are pursuing their dreams.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, our company faced the challenge of finding a way to continue providing employment opportunities for our visual artists. Prior to the pandemic, we would typically book our artists to teach in-person art classes. However, with the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, all in-person activities came to a halt. In response, we brainstormed and devised a solution: hosting our art classes virtually.

We adapted to the circumstances by creating individual art kits that we sent out to our clients. All our classes were then conducted through online platforms like Zoom. This initiative not only allowed us to keep our artists working, but it also provided a valuable opportunity to explore the realm of virtual art instruction. As a result, we have now expanded our offerings to include both in-person and virtual art classes, catering to a wider audience and adapting to the changing landscape brought about by the pandemic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/iamlexit?fbclid=PAAabnhG1Zd9LQNliQ-XSgKBMiBLbgFCE4PD8rABaU2PTTD-JI9TtnR19ynGI_aem_Acy4BLcKXobiEFAFgptv6PqwCNAaunOHJTt4OOLyBqp1qWvTLfTynosf3whsOiaZx7M
• Instagram: Iamlexi
• Twitter: Iamlexit
• Youtube: UC4TvCVBULOR_PTwmHT9kbkg
• Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0CwZeGT3XEn3CadnuCr2Cu?si=RXLl9mrSRWOGKwVW8AL–g

Image Credits
Lexi T.