Some artists master one craft. ERIC AZ has made it his mission to master them all.
A true multi-hyphenate entertainer, ERIC AZ is a singer-songwriter, music producer, choreographer, actor, host, clothing designer, and creative visionary whose artistry refuses to be confined by labels. Drawing inspiration from his West Indian heritage and the vibrant energy of the Bronx, New York, Eric has spent his life building a career rooted in fearless self-expression, innovation, and purpose.
His creative journey began at just 12 years old when he wrote his first song—a spark that would ignite a lifelong passion for music and performance. Since then, Eric has graced the stage in celebrated Off-Broadway productions including Dreamgirls, The Wiz, West Side Story, and A Colored Museum, sharpening the commanding stage presence that has become one of his trademarks.
Whether he’s producing music, choreographing unforgettable performances, designing fashion, or connecting with audiences as a host, ERIC AZ approaches every opportunity with the same philosophy: art should inspire people to embrace who they are without apology.
Blending the timeless soul of ’90s and 2000s music with modern production and fearless experimentation, ERIC AZ creates more than songs—he creates experiences. His work celebrates confidence, individuality, and self-love while reminding listeners that authenticity is always in style.
We caught up with ERIC AZ to talk about his creative journey, artistic influences, and the vision behind one of the most versatile careers in entertainment.
V-Henny: You’re known for wearing many creative hats, singer, songwriter, producer, actor, choreographer, host, and designer. Is there one role that feels most like home, or do all of them work together to define who ERIC AZ is?
ERIC AZ: At a point in time, they have all felt like home in one way or another, but after becoming a music artist, I find that they work together in defining who I am as a multi-disciplinary
V-Henny: How do these different passions fuel one another?
ERIC AZ: It starts with the music and works its way down the ladder from that. My music dictates my style, my branding, my energy, my choreography and the vibes, that I want to put out into the world
V-Henny: You wrote your first song when you were only 12 years old. What inspired that first piece of music, and did you already know then that entertainment would be your life’s calling? If you could speak to your 12-year-old self today, what would you tell him?
ERIC AZ: I knew that entertainment would be my calling as young as 4 years old. My first song was inspired by love. The ability to tell someone how you feel through song. I was probably talking about stuff I had no idea about such as paying bills, but I knew that it was a way to communicate my feelings in a way that didn’t make me nervous.
If I can speak to that 12 year old boy, I would tell him to Double Down, Go Harder, Stop Hesitating, Get Delusional! You have everything you need to succeed so believe in yourself!
V-Henny: Growing up with both West Indian roots and Bronx culture must have given you a unique perspective. How have those influences shaped your music, creativity, and identity as an artist? Are there traditions or experiences that still inspire your work today?
ERIC AZ: My upbringing has shaped my music in that, I understood how music could make you feel emotionally and how it connected people. Music was always in my home and someone was always singing, and it’s how we would come together to spend time. My upbringing influences my artistry by how I pay attention to detail, the strength in my performances, the conscious messaging in my writing and how to shift/lift a room, energetically.
Growing up in the islands, things move but they don’t. One of the things I carry with me is that you don’t have to rush. With that, it allows me to create at my pace with a certain peace. Don’t get me wrong, as a Virgo, there is always something to get done or fuss over, but I try not stress myself over it. I allow the lyrics, movement, design, vision to flow as it comes. Once it reaches a point where I hit a block, I don’t force the block. I take a step back, let what has been released so far marinate and then come back to it when the idea returns with a gusto. This energy only occurs 40% of the time because the perfectionist in me can be relentless but I’m learning.
V-Henny: Your stage credits include productions like Dreamgirls, The Wiz, West Side Story, and A Colored Museum. What has musical theater taught you that continues to influence your performances as a recording artist? How different is it performing a character compared to performing as yourself?
ERIC AZ: The Show Must Go On! and Let it go. Once you’re out there, you only have one moment, so if you’ve done everything you need to do (rehearse, know your lines, know your cues and marks etc), This Is Play Time so Let Go and Go Off!
As a character, I’m expressing a person who is not me, right?! But I as an actor can use my history of emotional, funny, or heart-tugging events from my own life to create this character and create something real of that character without truly exposing myself.
As an Artist, THIS. IS. ME. I am exposed. The music is my diary to a degree, capturing moments in time where the song was my only form of therapy of working my way through that specific feeling. One night I was listening to my record, “Miss Me” and I was completely brought to tears because mid-listen, I remembered this is my story. Those are my feelings. This is my truth.
The main difference though is the ability to hide behind a character as an actor vs. being the main character or related to the main character of the topic in the song.
V-Henny: Your music blends nostalgia from the ’90s and 2000s with a modern, experimental sound. What is it about those eras that continues to inspire you creatively? How do you balance honoring those influences while still creating something fresh and original?
ERIC AZ: The freedom with which they created. There was so much variety in music at that time. The fusing of hip-hop & R&B, the expansion of Rap, the British movement, boy bands, the Latin explosion and so forth! Music felt more colorful and vibrant. I miss when artists would put out a record and then have 5 other remixes of that same record for other genres.
By listening to the music inside my head cause it works in a funny way. But in all seriousness, I’m inspired by how the music made you FEEL. It moved you. Not just your behind but your mind and your body. Again, because we had variety and so many sounds to hear from, and not just the 90’s and 2000’s but MUSIC THROUGHOUT TIME. All great musicians that I admire created music that spoke to their people, that resonated in their hearts whether they wrote the song themselves or had it written for them. They made timeless music because they listened to the way music worked insideTHEIR head to innovate and bring something new to the landscape of music.
V-Henny: Self-love and individuality are recurring themes throughout your artistry. Why are those messages so important for you to share?
Has there been a personal experience that made those values central to your creative mission?
ERIC AZ: The world spends most of its time telling us who we should be, and that’s not usually a fulfilling or purposeful life. If i’m going to be remembered for something, I would want to be remembered for inspiring people to double down on who they are, take accountability for their flaws and to be themselves because it’s their authenticity that creates the world and the diversity that we have.
Has there been a personal experience that made those values central to your creative mission? Being undermined, undervalued and underestimated when it comes to my artistry.
V-Henny: As someone who creates music, choreography, fashion, and live experiences, where does your creativity come from?
When inspiration strikes, do you immediately know whether it belongs in a song, a performance, or another artistic medium?
ERIC AZ: In the words of one of the greatest entertainers in existence, Michael Jackson; “it’s very spiritual. There’s a connection, I’m just the source through which it (creativity) comes. I’m inspired by a lot of things but it comes from the heavens.
Sometimes they arrive all at once. When inspiration strikes, all I know to do is document. Whether it be an idea, a lyric, a melody (voice note), it needs to be documented because even if it’s not fully fleshed out, it’s the beginning of the bigger picture that will eventually fill out during the creative process. I don’t like to force it.
V-Henny: Entertainment has changed dramatically over the years. As someone with experience across multiple industries, what do you think today’s artists often overlook while pursuing success?
What advice would you offer creatives trying to build a lasting career rather than chasing short-term attention?
ERIC AZ: The business side of music. Everyone is so quick to throw out music without doing their proper research on samples, interpolations and chord progressions that they end with some lawsuit down the line. One of the most important things to me becoming an artist outside of the creative aspect is making sure that I am legally on the up and up. That meant trademarking my name, learning copyright info, publishing, split sheets and so forth. The product is only one aspect of this business. Knowing the business side saves you much headaches on the road ahead.
Be you. The more you are you, the more you create something unique. Trends are passive, Authenticity is forever.
V-Henny: Outside of the spotlight, what’s something fans would be surprised to learn about ERIC AZ?
Whether it’s a hidden talent, favorite pastime, or personal ritual, we’d love to hear something people don’t already know.
ERIC AZ: I like things chill and calm most of the time but I’m also somewhat adventurous. I love axe-throwing, zip-lining, the gun range, Snowboarding among a few others. When I’m not being adventurous though, I’m usually found watching “the making of” a film or some sci-fi/Comic book related content.
A personal resetting ritual of mine i do Every Sunday morning is I have what i call “old-school Sunday” where I put on a movie that is 20 years or older (the important part), I make myself a cup of tea and a full breakfast (because I’m usually intermittent fasting during the week), do a quick post on my stories and then spend the day relaxing. That includes, some more movies, video games, a hot salt bath and dinner! It’s one of the ways i return to the kid at heart. That’s the time we (12 yr old me and the me now) are able to #relaxrelaterelease and remember why we do what we do and what we love about it, through the art of classic entertainment.
V-Henny: Your mission is to transform lives through entertainment. When people look back on your career years from now, what do you hope your legacy will be?
What impact do you hope your music and artistry have made on future generations?
ERIC AZ: That I used my platform to make the world a better place to exist in while he was here and hopefully one that will linger long once I’m gone. That he used his platform to inspire, to uplift, to speak truth all while two-stepping and throwing that thang in a circle.
You don’t have to limit yourself to certain topics. That you can make uplifting conscious music (and fun party music), and it doesn’t have to be cheesy or corny. You don’t have to sacrifice your creative integrity to obtain mass appeal
ERIC AZ represents what it means to be a modern entertainer—fearless, versatile, and unapologetically authentic. Rather than limiting himself to one creative outlet, he’s built a career that celebrates every aspect of artistic expression, from music and theater to fashion and choreography.
His ability to blend timeless influences with contemporary sounds has created a style that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly original. More importantly, his work carries a message that extends far beyond entertainment: embrace your individuality, believe in your purpose, and never be afraid to stand out.
As ERIC AZ continues to expand his creative universe, he’s proving that true artistry isn’t about fitting into one lane—it’s about creating your own.
Whether you’re discovering him through his music, captivating stage performances, or visionary creative projects, one thing is certain: ERIC AZ isn’t simply entertaining audiences, he’s leaving a lasting impression.
Keep watching. His story is still unfolding, and the best chapters may be yet to come.