Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mel Soul. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I knew I wanted to pursue my own musical journey once I dropped out of college. Music to me felt free flowing and an easy way to express my own story. College felt structured and strict to deadlines and grades. I needed freedom in order to create.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve been a singer and songwriter for about ten years. Locally grew up in Utah County. I manage my solo music career, but I also manage my band!
My band came together last summer of 2022, and ever since then we have been an unstoppable force within the Utah music scene!
We go by Mel Soul And The Heartbeat. So far we’ve played at venues like The State Room, The Cabin, State Road Tavern, The Wasatch Cooperative Market, Rowleys Red Barn, Park Silly Farmers Market, and The International Bar.
We’ve opened for Robby Krieger from The Doors and Utah local successful singer/songwriter Alicia Stockman. We meet and received compliments from the Mayor of Salt Lake City, and we’ve received high recommendations from the organizers of Salt Lake City’s Mural Festival!
Those are many of our achievements we’re proud of.
Some of the challenges I’ve faced managing both my solo and band career comes with the high responsibility of connecting us with the right people and following through with the best opportunities.
So far though I feel we’ve made some great progress and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to make these events happen has been rewarding!
Some achievements I’m excited about with my solo career include opening for one of my musical influences, Dan Tyminski, for The Ogden Music Festival coming this June!
KRCL Radio reached out to me personally to play my originals during their event for International Women’s Day. I was able to meet the organizers of OFOAM, who have created The Ogden Music Festival in existence, and they were so impressed with my music they booked me as one of the tweeners (in between acts) for the festival!
I’m forever grateful for the opportunity KRCL gave me to play for their event and will always be an active listener in support.
I think what sets my band as well as myself apart from the wide range of musicians within the Utah music scene is literally the heart and soul we put into the music! It’s all about bringing in the high quality and the passion!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal personally is to find myself in a place where I love myself and everyone else. I try to encourage that message within my music for all of my fans/listeners.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Making my voice heard and creating these songs to help others stories to be heard as well as my own.
Every now and then I’ll run into other local musicians who will express to me that the main reason why they followed their passion of writing their own music and performing it was because of me.
After ten years of working and manifesting my music career to what it is now, it’s a huge compliment to hear that I was able to inspire other creatives to not give up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melsoulandtheheartbeat.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/melsoulandtheheartbeat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melsoul09
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@melsoul90
Image Credits
Jeremy Price