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CanvasRebel Magazine

STORIES & INSIGHTS

Meet Elliott Sabbagh

STORIES & INSIGHTS – NOVEMBER 6, 2023

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elliott Sabbagh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elliott, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I believe in the motto “wear multiple hats,” which has been fundamental in shaping my career. Initially focused on my role as a DJ, my career led me to work in various related fields such as post-production, engineering, live sound, and teaching. This ultimately gave me the opportunity to establish multiple sources of income.

In the entertainment industry, work tends to come and go in waves. I might find myself busy with DJ bookings one month, then occupied with studio work the next, and later taking on responsibilities as a front-of-house or monitor mixer at concerts or on tour while I consistently earn from teaching at universities and other educational institutions. More often than not, I find myself working multiple roles each day. Diversifying my work allows me to have a steady income as the waves of gigs go up and down.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I began my journey in the music scene as a DJ, spinning at small-scale house parties and local events hosted at a local teen hangout in Ann Arbor. The opportunity arrived when I got a chance to appear on a local radio show during my 8th-grade summer break. The radio station experience left a lasting impression, prompting me to make regular visits, submit demo tapes, and hope for an opportunity to have my own show.

It wasn’t until I hit 14 that my persistence paid off with a co-hosting role on the renowned Prop Shop, the country’s longest-running hip-hop radio show. Those Saturday night on-air gigs paved the way for my visibility within the music industry, catching the attention of promoters and artists. Before long, I landed my first concert with Twista during his ‘Perfect Storm Tour’ stop in Ann Arbor. That show led to a chain of opportunities, with the same promoter booking me for gigs alongside acts like ASAP Rocky, Machine Gun Kelly, Joey Bada$$, Danny Brown, and Wale, among others. It’s true what they say, one gig often leads to another.

During my high school years playing radio shows, tours, and concerts, my curiosity in audio production and engineering grew from its starting place making clean radio edits of songs to play on air. My interest in gear and technology grew as I pursued my education at Berklee College of Music, expanding further during my graduate studies in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation at Berklee’s Valencia campus in Spain.

What sets me apart in my field is my ability to engage with artists through the entirety of the creative process. From recording, mixing, and mastering artists tracks in the studio to working live shows as a front-of-house mixer, monitor engineer, or the DJ during their performances. My radio shows allow me to play their music on air and amplify their presence at events and clubs. By providing a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” service, I aim to simplify and streamline the creative process for my artists.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Every day in this industry is a blessing. Gigs, income, and your career can come to an end at any moment. It’s important to appreciate the opportunities you’ve had thus far while understanding that they might not last indefinitely, and that’s okay,

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Perpetual creativity can be challenging, especially when you’re counting on it for a living, Artists have to hustle to find every dollar and opportunity they can get ahold of. It isn’t meant for everybody.

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Image Credits
Doug Coombe Zimmy Moon

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