Young Pittsburgh-based musician Elias Khouri discusses inspiration, creativity, and new music with me. His talent is undeniable and the music he creates speaks for itself.
How about you introduce yourself to our readers!
My name is Elias Khouri. I am a young local musician from Pittsburgh, PA. Some things that are interesting about me are that I enjoy Indian Jamaican cuisine, going to comedy clubs, and I enjoy listening to music specifically from the 60’s and 70’s. I am an avid podcast listener, and I love to experience new things and places.
How long have you been involved with the Pittsburgh music scene?
I’ve been involved in the Pittsburgh music scene for about 4 years now. I have been lucky to be given the opportunity to perform at various venues and be featured in the local media, and make a lot of friends along the way.
What inspired you to start creating your own music?
It came natural to me, I’ve been growing a lot and have been experiencing a lot of what’s happening in the world and it seems to translate to my music.
Is there a message you want your music to convey?
Unity and Love.
What has been the most exciting part about being a music artist, especially in Pittsburgh?
Being able to do what I love in the place that I love, and being able to meet people from all backgrounds.
Your debut single, “I Got You On My Mind” was released this year, can you tell us about it?
It’s about when you meet someone who gets all of your weird jokes and makes you smile when you walk around with them. It’s about when someone means more than they think they know and they’re always on your mind. So even though that person is far away they can still put a smile on your face just from thinking about them. This song accounts for a first hand experience I had with this.
What is your creative process like when it comes to making music?
I strum a few chords until something strikes me and I feel around the melody until I find inspiration for lyrics.
Do you have any artists that have inspired you?
My real inspiration comes from guitarists like Hendrix, Santana, Larry Carlton, Lenny Kravitz, and Sly Stone.
Where do you hope to see yourself and your music in the future?
I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business and I hope to translate this into working with artists in the industry.
How can fans help support you and your music?
Since concerts aren’t an avenue of support at the moment, By giving (me) a follow on Instagram would be amazing!
What is your favorite memory so far from performing?
It would either be my show performing at Light Up Night 2018 where I was displayed on a Jumbotron downtown or it could be my appearance at Highmark Stadium last September where I was really feeling in my zone and the crowd was really into it. Or lastly my first concert ever which was at the 2015 Polish Hill Arts Festival!
Any last details you would like us to know?
Go check out my latest song called “I Got You On My Mind” it’s available on all platforms and also feel free to check out my Instagram or Elias Khouri on Facebook. Thank you for the interview!
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