Meet tahj | Music Artist & Creative Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with tahj and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi tahj, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
It is interesting when I think about risk-taking because although I think it’s necessary to discover and achieve artistically, it is a definite privilege to be able to take risks in the first place. My parents grew up in a generation where stability was the priority — meaning, having a stable job that provides a steady income is most important to gain financial freedom and eventually generational wealth. I think I’ve just never really bought into that idea. Of course, my goals are also generational wealth, but I decided pretty early on that I was not going to settle for anything I did not have a passion and sustained interest in. That (mixed with my general aversion to authority and undiagnosed ADHD) meant that I would need to be doing something remote to allow autonomy over my schedule (life) and/or something creative to keep my mind engaged.

After graduating from an Ivy League college (Yale) and spending about 2 years in a corporate Product Management position, I realized I would be unable to actualize the dreams I had for myself surrounding music and artistry if I didn’t take a chance off the beaten path. So I quit, and I have never been happier. Even still, like I said, this is a privilege. I don’t come from wealth, so my risks have to be calculated and well-executed. However, my parents walked so I could fly. Therefore, it only makes sense that I maximize the opportunities afforded to me by their hard work. Also, I’m only 24… I got the next 30+ years to lock-in another corporate job if I need to.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Music Journey:

I’d say my journey with music has been lifelong and ever-evolving. I have been singing since I was about 5, primarily in church choirs and in-school music ensembles. Upon entering college, I joined an acapella group committed to singing music of the African Diaspora and African American tradition — refining my skills as a vocalist and musician. This opportunity allowed me to tour both domestically and internationally (Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Boston, South Africa, etc.) with a mission of singing Black music to Black people. It was while in this group I began taking my solo music more seriously, embarking on my path as a songwriter. Since 2019, I have been writing songs and officially began recording my music in 2022.

My Artistry:

I try to use songwriting as a way to process my emotions and understand how I’m feeling about a certain topic or experience. I then take those feelings and inject them with rhythm and melody, creating a sort of time capsule of energy and emotion that can be re-lived every time you play it back. That’s really what a song is to me — a tool to immortalize personal and collective experiences in time and sonic space. It’s a super powerful concept, and it has been such a learning experience using music as a way to understand myself more. Also, alongside the music, I have been intentional in building the visual “world” that accompanies it. I am inspired by multi-hyphenate creatives whose music is only the tip of their artistic iceberg. Artists like Donald Glover, Tyler the Creator, and Vince Staples are a few examples of individuals who “build worlds” with their art, and that is what I desire to do with mine. I hope that my music ultimately allows me to tell multi-faceted stories and become a more confident creative in the fashion and film space as well.

Challenges/Lessons:

I think something that has allowed me to continue growing and challenging myself artistically has been experiencing failure at my craft — or at least, “being humbled” on more occasions than not. I’ve always had a natural gift of musicality and rhythm, but I was not born a prodigy. I’ve had to work hard to be good at music: writing spoken word poetry in high school but struggling to put a song together, forgetting lyrics mid-performance, losing the key and finding it again, touring with a hoarse voice, the list goes on. For me, I have never been the best in the room, but have always been the hardest worker, and now that I have begun my journey as a solo artist, I am only a stronger, more refined creative because of these early experiences. Fail and fail often!

What I want people to know about me:

My art is a practice of authenticity. I hope to positively reflect my growth as a person and hold a mirror to experiences we share collectively. Also, I hope to constantly innovate – creating things that bring new meaning and imagination into the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One thing you should know about me is I am a BIG foodie, so we would be filling our itinerary with good eats!

1. For the best Ethiopian food, we would go to Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant off of La Brea in Inglewood
2. Definitely would have to grab a BBQ Brisket Sandwich from Johnny’s Pastrami on West Adams
3. Some cemitas from La China Poblana in East LA
3. Perhaps head to Gardena for some Hawaiian food (L&L Hawaiian Barbecue) and boba (Oko Cafe)
4. Order a French dip sandwich at Philippe’s in DTLA
5. We’ll grab some KBBQ at Bulgogi Hut

I’m a coffee shop guy, so we will be stopping at a few of those…

1. Hilltop Coffee for the menu and ambiance
2. Sip & Sonder for the vibes and later hours

Definitely will sneak a hike into our adventure… preferably to a waterfall or breathtaking, scenic view.

Lastly, we gotta go somewhere with live music. If it’s not a concert at the Moroccan Lounge, Fonda, Roxy, or Peppermint Club, then it’ll be some live jazz at Pip’s on La Brea or a full-day experience of food, shopping, and music at Black Market Flea located at The Beehive.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Of course, I want to first recognize my parents and their support, as I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them. However, I would like to dedicate this shoutout to Memo Mora. Memo has been my primary cinematographer and creative director for the visual side of my music and brand development. He has been shooting and directing film projects since he was about 15 years old and has his degree in Film and Television. We began creating together in early 2023 and have been gaining momentum (and new ideas) ever since. I am very excited to see how our creative relationship continues to expand, and I am blessed to have such a powerhouse as a close friend.

Website: https://tahj.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tahj.mp3

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahj-lakey/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1mkFGXuEujnldkVQYtIGSw

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/74lxJFclyaHssqz4ewbd8u?si=_rxgaIZuTTqMoTaH5pShxg

Image Credits
David Hou Memo Mora Andrew Velasquez Brian Zepeda