As we gear up for the fourth installment of Ezra and Noëlle’s series, I thought it would be wise to hear from the man himself. I pulled up on Ezra as he was heading into the studio to lay down a few verses for some features. Surprisingly, he was open and didn’t shy away from even the most evasive questions as I asked hat we all wanted to know.

33, Grammy-winning Singer and Songwriter

Photo Cred: I do not own the rights to any of the photos above, they are used for inspiration purposes only.
All rights at credited to google.com and @treysongz

The BasicsWhat is your full name? Do you have a nickname (if so, who calls you this)? Ezra Israel Graham. I’ve been called several pet names by the love of my life but the greatest nickname I could have is the one I started hearing a few months ago, Daddy. Love hearing my son call for me throughout the house. Sometimes I ignore him so he can keep yelling. Being his father brings me an indescribable joy and no other name people could ever call me would matters much if I never get to hear Daddy again.Where and when were you born? September 11, 1986. I was pushed out in Richmond, VA but three days later, my adopted parents wished me away to Ettrick, VA where I spent all my days until I left five years ago.Who are/were your parents? I never met my birth parents. I’m a product of rape. My mother was only 16 when it happened. She couldn’t raise me but didn’t believe I didn’t’t deserve to live just because my dad was fucking scum. Her names Daisy Parker. She’s a rape crisis counselor and ADA somewhere in Upstate New York now. Th parents who raised me are Judy and Charles Graham. They are both born and raised in Ettrick, VA. She was a medic in the army, my dad was an Armor Crewman. They met in the army. After they married, my mom finished out her last tour of duty and didn’t re-enlist. I was adopted two years later. My Pops retired seven years ago. Now, they are living it up doing whatever they want, which has been absolutely nothing.You said your were adopted, but you know a great deal about your birth mom. Are you in contact with her? No. When I was 18, I went to see her. I just wanted to meet her and thank her for making sure I went to a good family and let her know that she didn’t need to feel regret or shame about not being able to raise me. We talked for hours that day. She told me a lot about my birth family, things she thought I should know for when I started my own family. But we both decided it would be better if we not try to build a relationship. It was too hard for her and too hard for me. She’s an amazing woman and I’m sure she would have been an amazing mother if life happened differently.Do you have any siblings? If you do, what are/were they like? Not by blood. I had a best friend that I considered abort her, but you already know how that story ends. So, now it’s just me. My birth mom never had anymore children, and my adoptive mom can’t have children.Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place (home and location) and the person/people you live with. I got a house in L.A. But I hardly be there, so I wouldn't necessarily say I live there. I spend all my down time with Noëlle and Israel at her place. I guess one day we’ll sell one of the houses or both of them and live together under one roof, but for now our thing works.What does your voice sound like? It keeps the women paying top dollar to buy-out every venue on my tours. Come on, I’m a tenor so that should tell you a ton there, but I’ll give it a real try. My voice is swoon-worthy. It’s sultry. It’s captivating, entrancing. Low, but not soft. Deep, but not intimidating. If love were defined by vocals, mine would be it. It’s terrifyingly tender, which why I’m sure my records hit those charts every time they drop.Do you have any annoying habits, quirks, strange mannerisms, or other defining characteristics? I don’t think so, but Noëlle hates when I bust in on her. It’s something I always did to my parents. Now I do it to her and the color always drains from her face. It’s quite comical, but I can see why it’s not for her.Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I love you. Probably one of the most overused phrases in the world, and I use it at least thirty times a day. Mostly to Noëlle and Israel, I want them to fully understand me and hear me I say it because neither of them have heard it enough from me.The Nitty GrittyHow would you describe your childhood? Great. My parents provided me with the best home. I was fed, clothed and loved beyond measure.How much schooling have you had? I have my BS in business. It comes in handy in this industry. I never needed a manager when I decided to go into music, I had all the marketing knowledge I needed to get myself in front of an audience before I ever laid down my first real record. 

Photo cred: google.com

Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities? Business skills I learned at school. Music I learned from my best friend. My brother from another, Nolan. He taught me how to produce beats, record my vocals, mix down my vocals. The process for filing for sample permissions. After he died, I kept learning because I wanted to make his dreams come true. I wanted people to hear the genius, so everything else about the business I learned on my own.Did you have any role models? If so, describe them and why they were your role models. My pops and Noëlle’s pops. Pop G was always a stand up guy. He raised another man’s kid with the same regard he would have raised his own. That’s real man shit to me. He loved my mom unconditionally even though he knew she would never give him children. Mr. Emerson has always been my second dad. Whenever my dad was deployed he made sure my mom and I were alright. We wanted for nothing, he came to my basketball games, taught me how to drive. I’ll never forget when he and my dad tag teamed me and Nol with the sex talk. They are who I plan to emulate while raising Israel.What did you want to be when you grew up? I want to be a premiere furniture maker. I planed to go to school for business and have my own firm that designed and built both wholesale and custom furniture. I even built like all the furniture in my parent basement. And a couple of the staple pieces in my own home. But we all know that ain't what life had planned for me.When and where were you the happiest? I used to think the happiest day of my life was the first date I took Noëlle on. It was just after I'd graduated college. She'd bought me a nice gold shadow box for my cap & gown and degree. I knew she had to have saved up to get it because Mama Emerson would not have let her buy that shit. That night, at my party, she told me she thought she like me as more than her big brother. We left the party and just went driving up route 70. When we stopped driving it was the next day and we were in DC. I took my graduation money and booked us a room at MGM. We stayed up all night talking and watching old gangsta movies. But, the happiest moment of my life is the day we got custody of Israel. Nothing will ever top that.Who were your friends, and what were they like? Nolan. He was my only friend. I was a very closed off kid. Everybody loved me, but I didn't trust easily. Nolan and I guess you can say Noëlle too *chuckles* But Nolan was the most honest, caring, free-spirit I knew. He was a musical prodigy and I used to joke him and say August rush was about him, but in hindsight it wound up being my son's story. Nolan got me i to so much shit, but got me out of just as much. We did everything together, including getting our first piece of ass. Excuse me for that, no disrespect intended. I miss him every day and while it's gotten easier, I don't think I'll ever be fully okay with how he was taken from me.Describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today. By the time this interview ends you'll be tired of hearing his name but Nolan is the only reason I ever got into music. I always knew I could sing my ass off, but I literally reserved that shit for getting girl in high school. But Nolan was so into the making of music that naturally I kind of fell into it. I lent him my vocals for songs he wrote or beats he wanted to submit to A&R reps. Eventually m, I started to love it. But it wasn't until he died I really pursued music. The music makes me feel close to him. When I'm in my home studio I feel like he right there beside me mixing and writing.What do you consider the most important event of your life so far? Same as my happiest, when my son was officially my son again.Who has had the most influence on you? Toss up between Nolan, Israel or Noëlle. No one else really has ever had any bearings on my decisions.What do you consider your greatest achievement so far, why? Putting a baby in Noëlle. I love her, never stopped. Ever. I always knew we'd wind up together again, somehow. She's supposed to be the mother of my child and the fact that so much worked against that fate, I know it was something monumental for us both. So creating life with her is my greatest achievement.What is your greatest regret so far, why? Has this regret formed you into the person you are today? If so, why? There are two. The first is not being upfront with Nolan about my relationship with Noëlle and not telling him that he needed to get over himself and talk to his sister. Because I think maybe he would have been home that night. He wouldn't have been driving on the road to begin with. The second was leaving Noëlle after I told her I could handle her truths. She poured her heart out to me and I took our son and went on a vacation. I came back and I shunned her and she didn't deserve any of that. I no longer keep secrets because of the first and I showered Noëlle with love and attention because of the second. I never want her to feel abandoned by me again.

Photo cred: google.com

Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Optimistic, sometimes to a fault. I only wanna see the good even though the bad be staring me right in the face.What is your greatest fear? Who knows about about this fear? Who don’t you want to know? Losing my family. Everyone in my family knows that. Family is something I've always cherished because I didn’t have a biological one I was connected to as a child. On top of that I was the only child of my parents. My family is  everything to me and that's never been a secret.What are your religious views? I luh God, youn't luh God? *laughs* I'm Christian, but I also believes my ancestors are conduits of my navigation as well.What are your political views? They are criminals or liars or opportunists.What are your views on sex? Sex is good for us. It keeps us healthy and more adults should do it. Best natural remedy for a lot of ailments.Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love? Damn straight. Noëlle and I's story is proof that our soul has a mate and will stop at nothing to find it.What do you measure success in? (Money, career, husband/wife, children, happiness, etc.) Joy and experience.How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings in the company of others? Too honest, too damn honest. I know you probably what the hell is too honest, but seriously. I don’t leave shit to questioned. If I feel it you going know. I always been like that. I don’t sugar coat shit either. I be delicate with Noëlle and Israel, but everybody else gets the unfiltered version. Even my fans. They know if I said it, I meant and if they ain’t hear that shit from me, it ain’t true. It don’t matter whoo is around or where I am, ain’t no holding that shit in because that shit kills you quicker than any cancer or other incurable disease.Who or what would you die for, or otherwise go to extremes for? My family, without question.The InteractionsIn general, how do you treat others (politely, as they treat you, by keeping them at a distance, with sarcasm, etc.)? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them, and if so, how? I love everybody until you give me a reason not to. I don’t sing about love, I am love. It’s in me and ain’t too denying that, so I embrace it. I treat everybody with kindness, respect, no matter if I know you or not, because who am I not to? We all bleed the same, put our pants on one leg at a time, you know, so in essence we should all be treated, handled the same way, with compassion, humanity, respect. All that boils down to show each other love.How close are you to your family? Super close to my parents and my cousins when I see them. It’s rare that I get to be around them, but when I do I make sure to give them all of me, never half steps when it comes to my family.

Photo cred: google.com

Which person do you wish you were closest to? Not necessarily closer, because we’re close, but I wished I had been there from the beginning with Israel. I feel like we lost a lot time and there’s no way we could ever get it back.Do you have a spouse or significant other? If so, describe this person in some rough strokes. I got a lady. She my bay, but again, that ain’t no news. She’s beautiful, even in her darkest moments. Honestly the dark moments are why I’m so drawn to her. She makes life happen and gives off lighten through all the heartache and pain. That’s shit is fucking sexy to me. Not to mention she really is fucking s treat to look at, and touch.Have you started your own family? If so, describe them in rough strokes. If not, do you want to start a family? Why or why not? My family started itself and kind of came to me at the perfect time. I gave Noëlle a bunch of slack about the way she handled her pregnancy, but forreal, forreal, I would not have been the best father back then either. I was still slinging vocals and pipe every night and not giving a fuck about much.Who is the most important person in your life, why? Israel. Hands down. He means more o me than anything and anybody.Who is the person you respect the most, why? Noëlle. She’s deserving of all my respect. All of it. My boo on her shit and downs her mistakes, not many do that shit.Who are your friends? Do you have a best friend? What do you most value in your friends? My pilot, Marlough Jones. Marlough and I went to college together, we been tight since then. He always has my back. The second he came back from the Air Force, I asked him to be my personal pilot.I trust him my life, obviously. Dre, my homie, body guard, shit ain’t a title he don’t have. But he’s loyal, honest and calls me on my shit when I’m on bullshit. We all need a Dre.What do you look for in a potential lover? Understanding. I need her to understand she’s number 1, well number 2, cause Israel got that top spot. Understand she can trust me with anything, including her heart and life. Understand that if we rocking, we rocking til the wheels fall off then we rocking in something new. Understand that when I leave, I’m always coming back. Understand that I love hard as hell.Who is the person you despise the most, why? My birth father. They never found him, so I have no idea what his name is. I hate the fact that I probably resemble his bitch ass. No man who. Has to force a woman to do anything should be fucking breathing, and that’s my stance. So, yea, fuck him, forever.Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict? I don’t argue. I state my peace, and leave it there. I’ll let a person argue with themselves before I let myself get worked up, unless it’s Noëlle. I’ll go toe-to-toe with her because she knows I hate arguing and does it to try and get me to leave. I never give her the satisfaction.Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not? I can perform for a sold out crowd, but interacting with people in large groups is a big ass no. I have no idea why, but I’ve always been a loner type. Never really was into the big ass crowd scene. Even during my party days, once shit got to crouchy, I was ready to dip.Do you care what others think of you? Why or why not? Hell nah. Never have, never will. Well, let me back track. I don’t give a fuck what a stranger thinks of me. My family’s opinion matters to some degree, but overall at the end of it all. I am the only one who has to live with the choices I make, whether good for bad, I have to live with them, deal with the. Consequences, and face judgment for them, no one else. So, what I think of myself means more to me than what anyone else ever thinks.

Photo cred: google.com

The Loves and LoathesWhat is your favorite food? Mama Emerson’s Oreo sugar cookies. They not food, but listen I’ll skip meals to have room to eat an entire tray to myself.What is your most treasured possession? I have Nolan’s record collection. All of them. I have them all mounted to the wall in home studio.What do you believe is good entertainment (music, movies, dance, art, etc.)? All the arts. Music, movies, plays, art exhibits, museums. Give me all that shitHow do you spend a typical Saturday night?  Home, if I can. Very rarely that I actually get to, though. There’s always a session, an event appearance, tours, something. But an ideal Saturday night would be spending time with my. Son and his mother, doing whatever they want. Then tucking my son and dicking my woman dow before we fall off to sleep to do it all again the next day. Simple shit, ya know.What makes you laugh? Acting silly around the house with Israel and Charli.If you usually walk away from a situation that makes you angry, where do you go to calm yourself? My home studio if I can. If I can’t I walk. Anger is another of those life-threatening emotions I try not to consume me.How do you deal with stress? I take it in stride. Stress means I’m alive, able to feel and able to fix it. I step back, evaluate and proceed. How do you deal with pain (physical and emotional)? Physical pain, I eat that shit. I have a high ass tolerance for it and have no idea where that shit came from, but yea, that shit gets ate. As far as emotional, I got a therapist. I pay her very generously to be on call whenever I need her because that’s a pain I can’t eat. Shit will consume me if I don’t get too the root of it and weed that shit out.Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan? My life is always planned to a tea, so spontaneity is always welcomed. Where would you like to live? Why? Location really doesn’t matter as long as Israel, Charli and Noëlle live with me.Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted? Ain’t shit normal about my days, they never look the same from day-to-day. But some things I make sure I do every day, pray, workout, and just spend a few moment in complete silence. What three words best describe your personality? Generous, genuine, and goofy.What three words would others probably use to describe you? Loving, irky and persistenceWhat goal do you most want to accomplish in your life? Be the best man I can be, whatever that winds up looking likeWhere do you see yourself in 5 years? Hopefully, married and going on three or four family vacations a year. Being able to put out music less often and still having the same level of relevance. If you could choose, how would you want to die? I just wouldn’t want to wake up.If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you had left. There’s only one thing I would be. Thank God for the time I had with the people I love and doing what I love. The RandomsWhat do you have in your pockets? My phone, a pen, two %0-dollar bills that I have to give Charli and Israel.What in on your nightstand? A pic of me, Noëlle and Israel at his 9th birthday party.What is in you refrigerator? What’s not in there is a better question. Since I gotta family, I keep it stocked for whenever we stay there. Mostly with snacks because we eat out a lot. Not by force, but I enjoy going out for dinner so we won’ have to worrying about cleaning shit up. We be tired as shit and cleaning is just something neither o us ever have the energy to do. 

Photo cred: google.com

What do you most wear on your feet (dress shoes, boots, gym shoes, socks with holes in them, slippers, etc.)? I am a sneaker head. So mostly a pair oof fresh kicks, but slides is second to that. The memory foams ones are fucking love after I get off stage.What smells do you associate with your childhood, and why (the cookies your grandmother used to bake, the oatmeal you ate every day, the perfume your mother used to wear, etc.)? Ha! Oreo sugar cookies always make me think of home. Shit melting butter makes me think of home because I think about cookies, the holidays and listening to Mama Emerson fuss at me and Nolan for stealing cookies while she was baking them for the community Christmas party.

Run, as fast and as far, to the edge of yourself. Love will meet you at the end.

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