We had the good fortune of connecting with Soulfiya and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Soulfiya, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
1. As a youth I always knew I would grow up to do things my own way. As a Guyanese/American I knew that MY story had never been told. Those two factors added together with my gift with words showed me my path clearly. I’ve been writing songs since high school so the artiste life seemed like the way for me.
2. I think most people have no conception for the amount of work and effort it takes to be an artiste. Every successful musician I know has a novel’s worth of crazy stories and tribulations that they have overcome. People just see an “overnight success story” without ever knowing how many sleepless nights we’ve spent to get there.
3. Without risk there is no reward, especially in the music world. In order to prosper we must place our trust in shady promoters, unscrupulous club owners, and worse. Nothing risked, nothing gained. I have taken 5hr flights, on the word of people ive never met more times than I can count just to push this dream of mine forward.
4. Staying in my lane. I do me, my style. I used to look for my niche not knowing that my unique story gave me all the niche I needed. I think internet culture can sometimes make people feel they need to be wild and bombastic to gain attention, and that may help in the short term, but those people never last. What ive done attracts a different audience, that seems to be down for the voyage. My people show love always.
5. Basically the same answer as #4. Really tapping in to my culture and upbringing and trying to bring MY story to my fans has set me and my sound apart from the sea of copycats.
6. Quality control. There has been projects: songs, music videos, etc, that we put days or even months and much money into but the dream was never fully realized and they had to be shelved. Never released. Band members as well. When a teammate doesn’t share my drive and vision it doesn’t matter how much I like them personally, they are a hinderance to the movement, and they gotta go
7. Before having a family I would be on the road close to 300 days a year. These days it’s closer to 50. I homeschool my 3 children myself, so im blessed to spend plenty of time with them. If I go out a road im only gone 2 weeks at most nowadays and my family often travels with me because of the flexibility that home schooling affords. So there is really no stress in that regard.
8. Live the life you love, and love the life you live. Doing what feeds my soul has made my life sweeter and more simple. We all have a tendency to let life get “too big” to deal with. I can’t control the world, just my life in it. So I focus on that
9, I honestly dont know what else I could have done. Art, in general, has always been a part of me. Self expression has always fulfilled me and ive passed that trait to my children. Any time we are in a new city my family makes sure to take in the local arts; museums, live music venues, street vendors, it all adds up to culture.
10. My music IS my legacy. I choose my words carefully on record because I know that one day I will be gone, and the only way that my future progeny will know me is through my works. That could be a heavy burden, but I take it as a sacred opportunity. I would like to be remembered as a kind, humble, and strongly principled man and my musical output speaks to that.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The modern American reggae sound is an offshoot of alternative rock. Most of the artistes making the music grew up listening to rock and pop, and maybe a bit of Bob Marley their senior year. I grew up in Caribbean music, calypso, ska, soca, dancehall, invade my mind from my earliest memories. So my sound was always gonna be different. Getting started, I wanted to be the jump off point for fans to find the classics. If I seem tall, its only because im sitting on their great shoulders
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Mann I dunno about a week’s itinerary but I definitely got some spots..
First off, LACMA or LA county museum of art is a must see of patrons of the arts. In my opinion, one of the nation’s top spots for contemporary art, and a great time for the whole fam.
Planta cocina has some of the BEST plant based Mexican food ive ever had, and sure to have something even the most hardened carnivore can enjoy.
Surfers Hall of fame Huntington Beach, im not really a surf guy but this spot is really cool. If you are visiting California there isn’t too much more cali ish thing to do in my opinion. Plus it’s a short walk to the beach.
Dub Club @ Echo LA’s best reggae series keeping the real Caribbean sound blasting. Absolutely great spot to catch the vibes
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Actually, ive been blessed by quite a few outside sources. I wouldn’t be having this conversation without these people’s influence on my career.
First off, BigUp THE Cumbia Boogieman himself, El Dusty and the whole team at Americano/EMPIRE records. They have shown me NOTHING but love from the word go and really raised the bar as far as production and distribution of my music.
Next, is Geo Ramos of Tarasco Tropical and formerly RERooted Clothing. Geo was my 1st real sponsor and saw talent in my when really not many others did. He put up the money to record my 1st EP (Reality) and really helped my legitimize myself in the scene.
Greg Cooper (E5) put my business together and showed me how to do it legal, as well as putting out my 1st music video
and of course, my wife Brianna. She has always loved me for who I am and her steadfast support is the foundation that all my success is built on. I could go on and on, trust me. Top respect to all my fellow artiste that have reached out and built with me, nuff still to come!
Instagram: @soulfiya
Facebook: https://Facebook.com/soulfiya
Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qS030oIVXbkWYksteINft?si=8xUwA-d4Sq-JhggZ5djYsg
Image Credits
Photo 2 credit A440 studios