The Musicians’ Apartment

Meet the residents of 694 Metropolitan –  Elijah Fox; a pianist, producer and all-round musician who has worked with the likes of Taylor Bennett and Masego, multifaceted talent Gabe Monro; a New York native sound engineer and tour manager with an exceptional skill for bringing shows and sounds to life, and Doc Daniel; a multi-instrumentalist producer with Sony ATV who has worked a number of talents such as Tate McRae and Dominic Fike. 

Gabe and Elijah were friends at Oberlin College (in Ohio) and Gabe got to know Doc through a mutual friend. When they graduated, the apartment/studio formerly occupied by Ivan Jackson (from Brasstracks) and Johnny Stein (p/k/a JNTHN STEIN), both fantastic producers in their own right, became available. Ivan was a big brother and mentor figure in Gabe’s life, and when he and Johnny moved out of the studio, they passed the space along to Gabe. Gabe roped in Elijah to occupy one of the rooms in the apartment, with the third room going to Doc who was finishing up his master’s degree at Berklee School of Music in Valencia, Spain. The trio hit it off, and the rest, as they say, is history! In this edition, we caught up with the gang, listened to their latest release – Akinyemi’s Seaworld, and got to know the boys better with a round of rapid-fire questions. 

1. What were you doing an hour ago?

Doc: Uh… picking up some sweet potato fries I dropped.

Gabe: Playing a show at Mercury Lounge with Rothstein.

Elijah: Driving from Montreal to Toronto.

2. How old were you when you went to your first gig and what was it?

Doc: I was about 10 or 11 years-old, and it was Green Day.

Gabe: I was 6 years old and my dad took me to see Patti Smith. It was sick.

Elijah: I was 12, and it was a fundraiser jazz trio concert.

3. Favourite time of the day and why?

Doc: 10-to-11am, because I do my best thinking in the shower, and that’s when I usually take a shower.

Gabe: 2AM, because I’m either at a party or in my most creative state. The people I love the most are usually awake and with me, and the people I don’t like are usually asleep.

Elijah: 4:20PM, because it’s my favorite time to make tea.

4. Favourite thing to do in New York

Doc: Overpay for Ubers.

Gabe: Eat Punjabi food at 4AM

Elijah: Ride the ferry.

5. What superpower would you like to have?

Doc: Flying, 100%, not even close.

Gabe: Teleportation, easily. I’m late to everything — that’d solve all the problems.

Elijah: The ability to fly.

6. Favourite supermarket snack?

Doc: Bodega muffins.

Gabe: Pesto Tortellini from Zabars

Elijah: Gushers!

7. Red pill or blue pill (matrix)?

Doc: Whichever one Keanu didn’t choose. Blue, right?

Gabe: Blue pill, because fuck all those r/redpill guys. I like the way Matrix put it, but I can’t get behind that movement.

Elijah: Blue pill.

8. If you can only listen to one album for the rest of your life…what is it?

Doc: XXX by Danny Brown, or Cosmogramma by Flying Lotus

Gabe: Crack The Skye by Mastodon

Elijah: In Rainbows by Radiohead

9. Favourite pizza joint?

Doc: Carmines, or Luigi’s in South Slope.

Gabe: Sal & Carmines… c’mon, easy.

Elijah: Carmines on Graham & Metropolitan.

10. Currently listening to _____________ and reading/watching _________________

Doc: Lil West, Ghostmane, Deb Never, new Post Malone album… rewatching the office for literally the 30th time.

Gabe: Listening to Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes by Radamiz… reading Outside Looking In by T.C. Boyle.

Elijah: Listening to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco, and reading Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto.

11. Best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Doc: Don’t overthink shit!

Gabe: Trust your gut.

Elijah: As a creative, your ideas are your form of currency. You need to protect your ability to dream at all costs.

12. Complete this sentence. Take time to __________________________

Doc: Hone your craft.

Gabe: Tell your partner you love them

Elijah: To be on time.

Listen to Elijah Fox’s playlist below, and check out their body of work on soundcloud. Follow Lytt Labs on Spotify for more. Stayed tuned for Lytt Labs’ video interview with Gabe, Doc and Elijah coming up next month, for insights into their creative process and what makes them tick.