Caleb Floyd
From a young age, Caleb Floyd had a passion for the arts. Now that he’s at Georgia State’s Perimeter College, he plans to complete a bachelor’s degree on the Atlanta Campus and turn his passions into career opportunities.
Interview by Zohra Basmadjian
Tell me about yourself and how you got to Georgia State.
I am from South Fulton, Ga., attending the Georgia State Decatur and Clarkston campuses, and majoring in film and media. Ever since I was in high school, I’ve been involved with the arts. I took film, theater and chorus classes. I was also involved in our various musical theater productions.
I’ve always involved myself with many aspects of art — from singing and dancing to acting.
I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was 9 years old. I’ve always enjoyed creating and expressing myself. I also make my own music. My stage name is L.E.O. Byrd.
When I was looking for colleges, I saw that GSU had a lot to offer in terms of film programs and that’s what I wanted. Atlanta is a great place for the film industry and I want to foster great connections while being here.
What do you want to do with your major?
I want to get into acting and music. With my major, I feel that when you have a degree in film, you have a better chance to make connections while working, so then you can transition into acting smoothly, since you already know the people in the industry.
How do your courses at GSU benefit you as a student?
They’ve helped me stay organized and stay on top of my responsibilities. I think that no matter your major, they help you build a work ethic and a structure within your life.
Tell me about your music and the inspiration behind it.
My music is inspired by Tinashe. Fun fact: I got to sing for her recently at her show in Atlanta!
I appreciate how multidimensional and versatile she is. She also shares a very similar journey to mine. She began her music career mixing her vocals and tapes in her bedroom, and I did too. I admire artists who don’t just sing, but also who are writers, producers and dancers. People who are hands-on with their careers don’t get stuff handed to them. She’s always just stayed true to herself and you can really hear that in her music. That’s the motivation behind my music. I don’t want to be one sound or monolithic. I want people to associate my music with more.
What impact do you hope to leave on others?
I hope to leave people open minded and inspired, especially by my music. One of the most touching things anybody has told me is that my music helped them through tough times. That’s the biggest thing that an artist can do. That’s also a big reason I was so happy to sing for Tinashe. Her music got me through a lot and hearing her say my name was everything. The way I feel when I listen to her music is how I want my listeners to feel when they hear mine. I want people to feel seen and understood.