In this week’s 10 Questions we get to know eloihxx, a hip hop artist, songwriter and producer from South Africa.
Their song ‘Tell Em Say‘ is currently featured on the NAS Spotify playlists
You can follow eloihxx on Instagram
1. Tell us a little about where you are from.
eloihxx is from a small town called (Khuma) in Stilfontein, South Africa. A place where you are only relevant if you’re famous or rich. So everyday it’s a hussle to make ends meet, thus besides music he also owns and runs a fast food business.
Also the host, Sound Engineer plus Editor for his own podcast called “Live and Direct Network”. Which is a platform meant to make the people aware of current affairs around the world.
2. What inspired eloihxx to start playing and making music?
As early as Primary School I was always interested in being a song writer and a musician, because majority of the then famous hit songs were primarily in vernacular languages and I wanted to make English language music popular.
So when I got to high school I started hearing songs from local artists, and I was fascinated by their abilities to make music on their own. This led me to finding a recording studio so that I could finally make English speaking music. And kind of educate them about the importance of wordplay and metaphors to describe normal life.
So when I got to High school I started hearing songs from local artists, and I was fascinated by their abilities to make music on their own.
3. Who are eloihxx’s biggest musical influences?
I grew up mainly on G-Funk era of hip hop, by then the scene was run by Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg and mostly California artists. But as I grew I drew closer to the southern era of rap, which was heavily run by the Cash Money crew, with Lil Wayne being the biggest influence.
By the time I started making music, I was now a full time Underground head. And was trying to be like Vinnie Paz and the AOTP crew.
My current music style is New York Boom Bap and Atlanta Trap Rap. I focus mainly on melodic rhymes and cadences. I reflect a lot on my personal life and experiences as a kid who grew up in a dangerous ghetto.
4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?
To be honest, from where I am from it’s rare to find musicians who make an honest living out of music as a career. So I am trying to prove a point that following your dreams and being consistent can actually turn a hobby into a career that can take care of my needs and my family’s needs. Without having to need a day job, you’ll obviously hate later.
5. Tell us about your creative process.
Everything starts with a chord progression, or if lucky it starts with a very good sample. I make the beats first on FL Studios, ideas for the lyrics usually come while the beat is being made.
At that point I usually stop making the beat and now focus on the lyrics and flow. Once they’re composed I would record the song on the unfinished beat.
The beat is then finished using elements from the vocals and flow. New sounds and silences are then added to accommodate the lyrics and voice.
The rough version of the song, is then played to a couple of friends and close associates to see the reaction before the final mix is released.
6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?
Rolls Royce Break Lights by StoveGodCook$. When the song starts he says a quote “joy comes in the morning, but the plug come late night…i just wanna be successful”. I love this song because this artist once had potential to have a thriving career but due to his environment he got arrested and couldn’t work. But as soon as he was released he dropped this song, and it motivated him to be who I know today. And that shows me that there’s more to life than what today offers.
I love this song because this artist once had potential to have a thriving career but due to his environment he got arrested and couldn’t work.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
Making a lot of good songs without a clear path of where you want to go, will burn you out and waste a lot of good material. It’s important to know the business side of music and not just the art.
8. What is your proudest accomplishment?
Buying my Studio Equipment. I got my first job as a student biotechnologist and I literally used all my money in buying the beat equipment money can buy. And after a year of buying, I had the confidence to quit my job and focus on my art without needing other people to help me make songs.
I got my first job as a student biotechnologist and I literally used all my money in buying the beat equipment money can buy.
9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?
Recently i was listening to a song by “Jay Katana” a South African Hip Hop artist. And in his chorus he sang “you’ve never made money from your art… so keep quiet”. I kinda felt embarrassed because I am a big music critic and yet I’ve never made a cent from my music yet am loud when talking about other people’s music quality and taste.
That made me want more from life , and consider why am even making art if I still need a day job (which is my current fast food shop).
10. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
Lowest point was realizing the sad truth that my closest friends and family members didn’t really like my music. They only say that to my face to just seem nice, but they never stream, share, not comment on the music itself.
Highest point was last year June 16, when I released my mixtape “more or less” and I was able to address everything and how it made me feel. This was pure joy, because finally my closest people started having their own favourite songs from my own catalogue, which was made to dismiss them. But it did the opposite.
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