Singer songwriter Elijah Thompson goes by the band name Florian's Creek to create amazing mash ups of pop, hip hop, folk and indie rock. Do you remember the first time you heard Beck's song "Loser"? That's kind of the vibe but with more street cred. Florian's Creek from South Jersey is a very new project but so far every song he's sent to Blood Makes Noise has blown us away. Recently announcing his signing to North Jersey label Mint 400 Records, we had to know a little more about this artist who is at the beginning of his band journey:
How did the band form and what does the band name mean?
Florian's Creek is a one man show. I started the Florian's Creek project during the pandemic. The world kinda paused for a sec and I had the chance to sit and think about what I wanted to be do with my life. Music and art was always my passion was tired of not focusing on it. So, a friend and I sort of half-joked about me creating like a new rap persona called Florian King. Florian King eventually evolved into Florian's Creek after I realized I didn't want to put on a "persona" but instead be unapologetically me.
The name sort of came to me from the ether, but it is also a reference to one of my favorte shows, Dawson's Creek. lol
It does have another meaning though. Florian's Creek is an attempt to recapture a feeling we all lost in childhood that is the stuff dreams are made of. And yes, that was a reference to The Lizzie Mcguire movie, sue me!
Previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?
Before the Florian's Creek project I started out as a teenager rapping under the name Psychz. Back in 2021 I released my first self produced mixtape called, Senior Year. It still on Datpiff.come til this day. I was introduced to the idea of making music by a friend I met in middle school who was always freestyling to himself during lunch time. He introduced me to a guy named Sleepy who had his on "studio" in his mom's house. By studio I mean a beat up dell laptop, a faulty logictech webcam mic, a usb mic, and an empty closet. Lol I was at Sleepy's house everyday that summer. Those weere the days, honestly.
First concert that you ever went to?
The first and only concert I ever went to was Jay-Z and Kanye West, Watch The Throne It was crazy! My dad took me.
What's your writing process like?
Well, I make a lot of my own instrumentals, so most of the time I start by making a beat and before I am even down the lyrics will start attacking my brain rising from deep down somewhere in my guts. One thing I like to do is record myself on my phone just to get the flow and melody down so I won't forget it, then build from there.
What other artists or songs inspire your music?
Well, I have to say Childish Gambino has always been a huge inspiration to me ever since my friend Steph, the one who got me into rapping, let me borrow Childish's first album, Camp. He was such a new person in the rap game, one that I could finally whole-heartedly relate to. Another big influence is Dijon. He sort of exists in his own lane if you ask me. Which is what I wanna do too as an artist. Last but not least, Soccer Mommy! She has this retro sound that just takes me to a secret world. I don't think Florian's Creek would exist if I never discovered her music.
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be its own thing?
I have only performed live once when I was a kid and it was terrifying. lol I'm really excited to finally get out there for real though. I would say it's its own thing, but I think the core concept is the same. Vulnerability. With it being live the experience is a lot more intimate, but I think both live and recorded is still about being vulnerable.
What's up next for the band?
Next year I'm dropping a 4 track EP called Melo.Drum.Matic on Mint 400 Records! I'm really excited. We are also dropping a new track this month called TRAINWRECK, plus a music video! It's gonna be so sick. Shout out to my director Mike Meer!