We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Francesca Eluhu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Francesca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My love for music started at a very young age. My mother says I used to dance in the womb whenever she played music. My uncle is a musician in the French Caribbean, so I grew up going to his jazz performances; I would constantly make my family late to school singing Whitney Houston in the shower. If you had asked me what I wanted to be at 5-years old, I would have said singer or artist. But somewhere along the way, I decided a career in music wasn’t very practical. So my dream was deferred as I pursued an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Economics. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit in 2020 and I lost my job, that I really spent time re-evaluating what I wanted from life. I began to learn audio production and realized I wanted to be in the studio creating music with others as a recording artist. I decided to start a record label and form a band. To me, it’s more fulfilling to pursue an artistic path alongside other musicians. Your collective dream carries itself into fruition.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the lead singer and guitarist for Day Soul Exquisite. We’re a Seattle local band that plays Neo-soul and Psychedelic R&B music. The band is made up of 6 amazing multi-instrumentalists–Zora Seboulisa, Josh Pehrson, Xiomara Mills-DuPree, Lily Tahar, Thomas Arndt, and myself (Francesca Eluhu). We like to say our music genre-bends; we enjoy experimenting with new fusions and creating styles that may not have been heard before. When I formed the band in 2021, I sought out QTBIPOC members because I wanted to center marginalized voices in the music. I felt it was important to try to say something with our music that could impact movements, but also carry on a legacy of storytelling for narratives that are often diminished or undervalued in mainstream media. Since our onset, we’ve taken to the stage playing venues across the PNW and festivals like Belltown Bloom, Folklife, Timber! Outdoors Festival, Hoodstock and more. We’ll be releasing our debut album “Sanguine & Cardamom” this Janaury 19th, 2024.

I also own a record label called La fem records (formed in 2021). The record label represents myself as a solo artist and the band. It was important to me to start a record label to make sure our rights as artists are protected. Eventually, I hope to grow this record label and help other artists develop their music platform.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

To pursue a creative path, I had to unlearn perfectionism. It’s okay to have standards for your art and listen to your intuition, but don’t let it debilitate you. At first, my “standards” for good music were not at my performing-level of artistry, and it was beyond frustrating. I did not have the skillset yet to create what I was envisioning. And that is okay! Leave room for growth. Be a beginner! Give yourself time and patience to learn. If you consistently work on something, improvement is inevitable–you just have to be diligent and patient.

I come from a very critical family of high-performing achievers. Two doctor parents: one MD, one PHD. Growing up, my father used to tell me, “Don’t do it, unless you are the best.” But you do not have to be “the best” for it to be worthwhile. For so long, I was scared to even admit that I wanted to be a musician because I was not some child protégé. Do it if it brings you joy. It’s never too late to pursue a dream.

Honestly, I would go one step further and say music taught to me to embrace imperfection. There are no rules. Those happy accidents are where true innovation lies. Most times, you are your own worst critic. But others will admire your courage and bear witness to your artistic journey.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

In my opinion, the best thing society could do to support artists and creatives is to invest in community and create more third places. America’s capitalistic society is overworked and lonely. We work too hard to go home and talk to no one. People don’t know their neighbors. Often times, even sound is over-policed. But community is everything! Community cultivates joy, sense of belonging, and inspires people–inspires movements. If you don’t have a space to gather for free and collaborate with others, or even exchange stories, it makes the creation of art really hard.

My band’s first studio was in my townhome garage. There was no heat or cooling, no air filtration, no security system in case our instruments got stolen. We had to bribe my neighbors with pie and promise to end rehearsal at a reasonable hour. But as we started to increase the frequency of rehearsals and to shuttle gear in and out for shows, it just wasn’t sustainable. Most musicians not only have to pay for the creation of their art, but also for the space to create it.

Contact Info:

• Website: daysoulexquisite.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/daysoulexquisite
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-eluhu-1b0233139/

Image Credits
Photographers: Lily Wenbao & Shannon Sullivan