MORE THAN MUSIC

For New York native Ezrah, music has always been at the epicenter of his life. As a child growing up in the church, he recalls being adamant about singing in the adult choir despite being told he was too young. As he progressed through elementary and middle school, he received confirmation after confirmation that his vocal capability had the potential to be more than just a hobby. However, it was after having art and music education pulled out of his high school due to budget cuts and being led to Music Unites, a nonprofit organization that funds sustainable music education programs in under served U.S. public schools, that Ezrah realized he wanted to pursue music professionally.

Now a graduate of NYU’s Clive Davis School of Recorded Music, the young musician is an advocate for music and art education, attributing much of his musical progression to programs like Music Unites and musical educators that poured into him. “Music education in public schools is a luxury, but it shouldn’t be. As anything, art should also be there. Why is it that when funding is taken away, those things are always the first to go?” Says Ezrah. The singer/songwriter hopes to use his musical career to give back to young aspiring musicians in a big way. To learn more about Ezrah’s journey to music read the full interview below!

 KJ: What are some of your earliest musical memories?

Ezrah: Since I can remember, music has always been a thing for me. I was in the youth choir and did not want to be there; I felt they were not as good as me.  By youth choir I don’t mean young adults, I mean the children’s choir. I did not want to be in the children’s choir I wanted to be in the young adults or adult choir, but they were like calm down you’re in the children’s choir.

I would practice singing all the time. Finally, I got into the youth choir probably at around 9 to 10 which was pretty early, it was filled with teenagers, but ever since I can remember I have always been singing solos or doing something in the church.

KJ: When did you realize you actually had vocal talent?

Ezrah: At church, we sang Go Tell It On The Mountain, and I had the solo, I was really really young, but I had the solo. That was one of the first times I was in a lead position where I not only sang a verse but was in a call and response situation, and it just felt right.

Then in school, I’ve been fortunate to have amazing musical educators throughout public school. One of my elementary school music teachers really cultivated and supported me 100%. Another Kyle and I were both, “the” singers of the class and sang I’ll be home for Christmas

Another time was in middles school, I went to Philippa Schuyler, it is a school for the gifted and talented, but you have to take a test to get in. I got in and was a part of the chorus with Mr. Vara, another educator who completely changed my life. We sang Seasons of Love from Rent, and I had that crazy insane high note at the end. There was something about his approach to me as a singer and a student that just changed my whole perspective, and it made me realize I could actually do something with this.

KJ: When did you first consider a professional musical career? 

Ezrah: It wasn’t until high school, I went to the High School of Fashion Industries. When I went to take music classes, I was told I had to be an upperclassman, but when I did become a sophomore, there were no more music classes due to budget cuts. I was like ok, what am I supposed to do? But the universe worked itself out. All my friends knew that I sang and loved music, some recruits came to the school looking for people to join an after-school music choir/club, my friend Jenny Lee came into my art class and was like “oh Kyle, you should really try out for this music club.” I looked into it, auditioned and got in and I’ve been with them ever since.

KJ: Ezrah is not your real name, how did it come to be your stage name?

Ezrah: It all just felt right. Ezrah was my grandma’s name; she passed away during my freshman year of college. Fast forward later down the line, and it was time for my capstone class, I had to figure out what I wanted to present myself as. I always thought I wanted my name, Kyle Alfred, to be my stage name, but then we learned about branding and getting yourself out there. Before I looked up the name, I ran it by my sister because my nephew, her son, is also named after my grandmother. She was like “yeah, I am 100% down with that, I think it’s a great tribute to grandma.” As I was going through my pitch in capstone, my teacher, Lauren Davis, who knows a little bit about Jewish culture goes “oh Ezrah, that also means to give back in Hebrew.” I looked it up, and it literally means to help or to give, which is my mission, to give back in charity work. So, the name just sort of stuck.

KJ: What was getting into NYU’s Clive Davis School of Recorded Music like for you?

Ezrah: I remember getting into the program, I did an early application and when I got in all other applications stopped. Clive’s classes are ridiculous, all of the professors have a Grammy or an equivalent to it. Jimmy Anderson, my engineering teacher, brought his Grammy to class so we could see and feel it, I remember being like “wow this is really in my hands right now.” The wealth of knowledge there is insane, the professors teaching music business classes had been there done that ten times over. Professors teaching law were these huge moguls, and in your mind, you’re just like is this really going on? It was incredible. Everybody was super talented and had a niche; the program is very selective. They only choose about 40 or 50 kids per year, and I think my graduating class had about 50. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had that sort of education and transition into the industry.

KJ: How did that experience shape you as a musician?

Ezrah:  Two people shaped that. Nora York, she passed away two years ago, she was my performing arts teacher. She was very mindful of the body on stage and how you present yourself to an audience. She was also very scientific which was great. She taught me what occurs when you position your body, and what inside of you gets specific sounds to come out. She was amazing.

Next was Ken Hix, he was my vocal coach my sophomore, junior, and senior years. Even after I graduated I felt I still need him, so I took him privately. He definitely shaped my approach and breathing and just technique in general

KJ: How would you describe your sound?

Ezrah: That is hard, but if I had to choose, I would say it is the sort of pop that has a lot of ballads, ballads are my thing. When creating music, I know I have something good on my hands if I can take the song from being a beat jam to having someone playing the piano or just singing it slowed down and it still is fire, that’s my goal for pretty much everything.

KJ: Where do you pull your inspiration from when writing?

Ezrah: So most of my songs are about love and loss and stem from real-life situations. I have a song called Cross The Line which I wrote with one of my friends at the time, Nick Brannock. It’s about not crossing the line that you draw between friendship and relationship. At the time, there was someone that I was interested in, but I didn’t want to cross that line. I didn’t want to say something or do something too forward and risk losing the friendship. But, I also didn’t want to stay on the other side of the line and miss an opportunity. So, it stems from that sort of pain.

KJ: Who are your top three musical inspirations?

Ezrah: Whitney Houston, Adele, of four, Beyoncé and Etta James

 KJ: What challenges on this journey are shaping you as a musician?

Ezrah: This is hard, harder than I ever thought. If you’re 100 percent sure that this is what you want, find something else. Even now, all day today I’ve been dealing with other musicians trying to figure things out for a show I have coming up. That’s another thing, dealing with people, I’m always the person in the group that’s like what do we have to do? Ok, you go to sleep, I got this. But it doesn’t work like that. You need people; I can’t get on stage and play the piano, guitar, drum, and sing. It’s just not happening.

KJ: What do you hope to accomplish through your music?

Ezrah: I want to inspire people, and I want people to hear and see me sing to feel like they can reach their dreams too. If I can walk into a room and inspire someone to go for their dreams or a new business venture and put their passion into work that makes me happy, and I think I’m doing it,  I just want to do it on a grander scale.

Follow Ezrah on Instagram @ezrah_music