We recently had the chance to connect with Jessica, Jacob, Angel Elalouf, Elalouf, Bukata and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica, Jacob, Angel, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Just about everyone has something they’re battling in secret. It can be anything from short-term personal issues to lifelong traumas. Sometimes it’s something small, like hiding the fact you just got into a serious argument and have to show up to work with a smile, or you are grappling with complicated life-changing decisions that challenge you and those around you. Unfortunately, a lot of people are unwilling to understand or give grace, which pushes us into staying silent. We’ll carry the weight of the world with us while pretending everything is fine. Musicians, artists, and creatives often struggle with things like this, but they learn to use their art to express it and help others come to understand those things within themselves. It helps bring light to those things and develop a sense of community. How many times have you listened to a song that made you feel seen or watched a movie that brought you to tears? Has that sparked conversations that led to understanding yourself, another person, or even the world a little more? The secret weight we carry is lifted off our shoulders, even if just a little bit. It helps our journey through life become a bit easier.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We are Exigent, an original 3-piece rock band from South Florida. The members include lead vocalist and bassist Jessica Elalouf, guitarist Jacob Elalouf, and drummer Angel Bukata, young musicians who share a deep love for rock and metal music. The band began in 2018, started by Jacob who recruited Jessica as the bass player, who later on became the lead vocalist. They soon met Angel during a show they were both playing in before she joined the band years later. With different musical backgrounds, each member brings something unique to the band, combining soaring vocals with heavy, energetic instrumentation. Exigent has played various venues around South Florida as well as the Josie Music Awards in Tennessee and NAMM in California, both in 2019. Jacob and Jessica are both Ernie Ball endorsed and Angel is endorsed by SJC Drums and Scorpion Percussion. We recently released a new original song “Second Wind”, out on Spotify, Apple Music, and other music streaming platforms, where you can also find the rest of our music. Currently, we are continuing to expand our reach to new audiences and have new music in the works to be released in the near future.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
While we each had different musical journeys, we did have similar experiences as children. We were deeply connected to music and found an outlet through that, which helped us cope with our childhood struggles, like not fitting in and not connecting with our peers. The world would often tell us to be someone different, and they were challenges that revealed who we truly were and what mattered to us. Sometimes, creatives are told to give up their art, that it’s not a real career or anything worth pursuing. We are told to be someone else, to fulfill some image so that we are considered more acceptable to society and to hide our authenticity. We never let ourselves be controlled by that and continue to stay true to what we love, keeping that spark alive that we had as children. We are thankful to our families, friends, and fans for being so supportive and believing in what we do.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Jessica says “I would tell myself that I am capable of doing everything that I’ve dreamed about and even more than what I have imagined.”
Angel says “I would say continue being you. You are a very creative mind, and the way you are expressing it is true to you. Continue with music and you will attract people like you.”
Jacob says, “I would tell my past self to stop worrying about playing perfect and burying my guitar in the mix live. Just play!”
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Our answer would be Exigent itself. Ever since it began in 2018, it has always lasted through even some of the most difficult times in our lives. It’s more than just a hobby or a job. It has become a part of our purpose. It pushes us further as creatives and inspires the people around us. Our goal is to see this project, our dream, grow into something greater, regardless of how long it may take. The question of when it will happen is one of the many unknowns about the music industry. Without a definitive answer, there is only one option, keep going until it does happen. That requires commitment and dedication that can challenge even the most disciplined of people. There are all kinds of obstacles, like time and money, but also things like burnout, life struggles, outside pressures, and personal vices that can destroy one’s spirit and their dreams. However, there hasn’t been any obstacle that has ended Exigent. We will stay committed, even if it takes many more years to see our dream realized.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Our hope is that people tell stories about how we made them feel, how we impacted their life, and what we’ve done for the community. We would want to be remembered in the same way that the generations before us fondly remember the bands and musicians from their time. Those artists are timeless and have created a legacy that is larger than simply being famous and talented. They have impacted people both through their music and in their lives. Their accomplishments reflect who they are as people, showing their humanity, what they value, and what they believe in. In fact, they are role models for everyone. They inspire and move people, use their platform for good, share their wisdom with the world, and are fantastic teachers for beginners and experts alike. They just have so much to give the world, and people take notice of that. It would be the greatest honor to be regarded in the same way we all regard our own musical heroes and to make the world better for everyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://exigentband.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/exigent.official
- Twitter: https://x.com/exigent_band
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BandExigent
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChZIOoujZGrn6qzH9G4zi7A
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/exigentband
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2YvxkS2uS6qmBxLbIvLt1F
https://tiktok.com/@exigent_official
https://bsky.app/profile/exigentofficial.bsky.social
Image Credits
Gabriela Barbieri
