Today we’d like to introduce you to Obisoulstar
Hi Obisoulstar, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Chicago, my family and I move back to Nigeria when I was 5 years old where I found and fell in love with art and soon after. I came back to Chicago at the age of 18 or 19 when I was able to travel alone and over the years ,I perfected my crafts.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There has been no easy road in my journey and being a jack of all trades means at times, each talent has it’s season and each talent demands undivided attention. Art is subjective, music is subjective and so is photographic style, so finding your stride and audience can be a struggle because there is also a financial part that’s required to keep the ship afloat.
Life also happens, which again..what is life without personal obstacles most of which has nothing to do with creative outlets. However, as a creative, personal obstacles can be used to create beauty and relatable concepts…the balance of life I guess.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have been fortunate to be blessed with several creative areas of expression with the main 3 being music, art and photography. These areas have helped define who I am as a person and my purpose. Art might have been my first love as I remember as a kid, tracing images of Michael Jackson (when he use to wear the marching band jackets and big aviators lol) until I could free hand draw him. I was born in the US, but my family and I moved to Nigeria when I was 5 years old and over there at the time, there was no tracing or wax paper so we would pour kerosine on paper and when it dried you could then use it as tracing paper. I groomed my talent over the years and grew my career and finally opened my own gallery called Electriqsoul Hideout Studios in 2021.
As a musician, being always drawn to music (initially inspired by Michael Jackson), when I was in my early 20’s I frequented the open mic scenes in Chicago doing spoken word poetry fused with singing . I always had an ear for music though I could only play guitar and a little bit of keyboard which I taught myself, yet unable to read sheet music ’til this day. But I was fortunate to have others around me that could help interpret my vision through their expertise with their instrument, so I formed a band and been rocking ever since. I write and produce my own songs .
Photography came later on in life back in the early 2000’s. I had a eye for spotting interesting things around me and conceptualizing so I bought an old film camera from a friend who was a wedding photographer and started shooting with it all in manual settings. Once I upgraded the camera and started leaning more about the inner workings and graduated to shooting in manual settings, it was a game changer. Photography has added great value to my life inspiring me to explore and see more of the world, which I have started doing.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Along the way I have learned to stay consistent and resilient, have a goal and see it through, create consistently not compromising to conform to whats trending but create what I’m inspired by . There may be discouragement when shows aren’t sold out, no one is acquiring art or no clients booking photo sessions but these are all opportunities to think of creative, immersive and engaging ways to deliver these services. You have to believe in yourself in order to keep moving when the odds seem to be against you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.electriqsoulhideoutstudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obisoulstar/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obisoulstar
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@newofficialobisoulstarchan
Image Credits
OBISOULSTAR