Elliot plays the double bass in a jazz band called the Gadgets. The band includes a percussionist (Laticia), a saxophone player (Jeff), a pianist (Sadie), and a singer (Enrico). The band has just secured a recording contract with Spinach Records, which means that they will work in a recording studio to produce an album. From there, it all depends on how many people buy their album, and of course, whether listeners like them or not!

Interviewer: When did you start playing the double bass?

Elliot: Ten years ago.

Why did you choose to study music rather than another kind of performance art, such as drama?

I grew up in a musical household. Dad plays the trumpet, Mom sings, and my two sisters play guitar. It was a question of what instrument I would learn, rather than whether I would learn one or not. Because of that upbringing, I feel like I’m really myself when I’m playing–I’m not pretending to be anybody else.

Do you like being in a band?

Yes, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

What do you enjoy about it the most?

Playing live! When you’ve been working hard, there’s a moment when all the work makes sense. The audience is like an electric spark that sets it off. For a few minutes, you don’t think about the notes that you’re playing—you just live in the song.

On many commercial radio stations today, you can listen to pop songs—songs with catchy melodies that get stuck in your head. What kind of music does your band play?

We’re a fusion of jazz and old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll. We like a melody with a strong hook, but we also like the unpredictable nature of jazz. In the studio, we’ve also been experimenting with distortion and that changes our sound completely. Often, a song becomes entirely different once it’s been mastered. When we perform the song live, it changes again.

Being heard a lot on a radio station could mean that people get tired of your song quickly. Do you think radio play is an advantage?

Definitely! If more people know about your music, there’s a bigger chance that they’ll come to your gigs and buy your album. 

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about the music industry?

There are no guarantees! No amount of time, money, or talent guarantees success, and there is no fail-safe method of making it.

It’s difficult to build a career from music. How do you feel knowing you’ve chosen an unusual career path?

A challenging career is really exciting. I wouldn’t be happy working in a job that dealt with lots of information or statistics. Not because I don’t work hard, but because I’m best at working creatively – experimenting, improvising, and being spontaneous. That’s how my brain works. I also love meeting people in the industry who are as passionate about music as I am. To do well, you have to be open to everything that a career in music can bring.