Elijah Fox
Photo provided by, Elijah Fox
Meet Elijah Fox
Elijah Fox is the music that plays in your mind when leaning against the window of a train. Infusing elements of jazz, and soul into their songwriting Elijah Fox produces the smoothest of sounds. Their latest album “City in the Sky” is a fantastic collection of piano instrumentals that perfectly captures the essence of NYC. Check it out and get to know the artist in our latest interview.
“MEDICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS” A fill in the blank with Elijah Fox
PATIENT: Doctor, whenever I stand up I get a RUNNY pain in my CAT. Is this serious?
DOCTOR: Sounds as if you have an inflammation of your CLEVELAND. You need an anti-SPACE JAM shot.
PATIENT: Doctor, I'm thinking of having my SUNY OSWEGO removed. Is this a DISORGANIZED operation?
DOCTOR: No, the operation is quite SMALL, providing you have WONDERFUL kidneys.
PATIENT: What are the symptoms of an overactive MICHAEL CERA?
DOCTOR: High SELTZER pressure. Also, severe MEN in the abdomen.
PATIENT: Doctor, is it possible for a 17-year-old man to have a KNEE attack?
DOCTOR: Only if he doesn't watch his MARISKA HARGITAY and eats too much COLDPLAY.
Would You Rather
If you could pick one species of animals besides people to become 15 times their current size which one would you choose? Why?
Eagle because it would be like being a big plane
Some questions with Elijah Fox
How does your experience as a musician in NY compare to your background in North Carolina?
In NYC you see so many people hustling constantly which is really inspiring and I definitely felt pushed to be better at all times living there. I grew up in Durham, NC and started playing piano at 9 and went to my first jam session at 11, when I saw an ad in a local paper and told my mom to take me. I was mentored through the jam session every Friday by Yusuf Salim, who had played with Charlie Parker. Much of what I play on piano now is still shaped from the musicians I grew up playing with in North Carolina and New York has been a continuation and exposed me to a lot of new sounds and inspiration.
How has your classical music education fed your current work?
I went to Oberlin Conservatory for piano performance and learned so much from the teachers there, much of which influences how I play and write now. My grandmother, a classical pianist who lives in Rochester, NY was my first piano teacher and always inspired me to play when I was younger and today.
Do you have a favorite family tradition?
Sometimes recently over quarantine my family would all jam together with my dad on bass, my brother and I switching between keys and drums, and my mom and sister singing.
What was the first song you learned how to play?
Mary had a little lamb
If you could only use 10 words for the rest of your life what would they be?
captain, sargeant, pirate, Bowser, Belzer, Quetzal, thank, you, yes, no
What has been your biggest career milestone to date?
Hearing Elton John read about my song with Nic Hanson "Cheaper than Coffee" on his Beats1Radio and shout me out for being a piano teacher in Brooklyn.
How have you been staying creatively inspired and productive during the pandemic?
I've been trying to collaborate as much as possible, even if remotely and have been taking the time to catch up on stuff I didn't have time for before and going on lots of bike rides.
Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)
I have a piano album "City in the Sky-Piano Works" dropping everywhere 9/9. Each song is about a different place I lived or spent time in NYC. I have also singles with Marie Dahlstrom, Linda Diaz, and Nic Hanson coming out in October.