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

Nicólas, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

My happiness as a creative is such overwhelming question to answer. In short, yes I am happy as a creative. Now if you want the long story, I’m human.

Let me explain. I’ve been making music since 2012. I moved from Kenya to Tennessee in 2003. Early on, I found solace in 2000s R&B and early Eminem. Then I found Kanye in 2007 when Graduation came out. Em made me like rap music. Kanye made me LOVE rap music. Then finally J. Cole in 2010 dropped Friday Night Lights and that made me want to actually MAKE rap music. Songs like “Before Im Gone” and “The Autograph” spoke to me in ways no other artist had. (That’s why I don’t care if the rap culture hates J. Cole now, y’all could never make me hate bro. He’s just too pivotal to me growth.)

Fast forward I dropped my first mixtape Standing Ovation in 2012, my freshman year of high school. I made the whole project on Garageband on an iPad and then dropped it on DatPiff. People around my school at the time, which I should mention is how I even got the iPad, showed love because no one else really rapped so I was the resident “rapper”. In these early moments of making music, I loved it. It was pure. No second guessing. No overthinking. Just whatever I liked I put together.

Even more fast forward to 2017. Now I’m in college. I met some homies and we create this record label called NuRenaissance. Music is still fun at this point. Even more so now because I’m actively collaborating with others and realizing how much fun that can be.

Then 2020 hits. A global pandemic as well. I graduate undergrad that December. Now I’m out in the “real world”. Now music can’t just be this fun little hobby I do. Now it has to make me money if I want to continue doing it. Cause if it doesn’t why are you doing it? You’re an adult now. You can’t do things for fun anymore. YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY. Cue Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots. So this is the part of the story where I go through imposter syndrome, immense anxiety, and just general lack of excitement in the music making process. I have to BLOW UP or else its over. Right?

Now. Present day. December 2024. After literal years of battling depression connected to making music, I can say I’m okay. I’m content. I’ve found a way to adjust my expectations and I’m actively working to remember that music is supposed to be fun for me. I don’t need to add this immense pressure on it to be my livelihood. I can just make a song because I like making songs. This is definitely heavily edited because I took out the whole “hating my life for 4 years” part, but you get the gist bruh. So yes I’m happy. I actually have a “regular job” so no wondering lol. I’ve accepted that things come when they’re supposed to. So back to enjoying the journey.

Cue Walking On a Dream by Empire Of The Sun.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Sure! Hiiiiii!!! My name is Nicolas Soul and I’m a renaissance man. I got into my craft through being inspired by artists before me like Eminem, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and J. Cole. I make music, short films, websites, iOS apps, and run a digital magazine and music community called Renaissance Certified. What sets me apart from others is I’ll do it. I’ll shoot. I’ll go out there in the rain and make a music video. I’ll walk to whoever is in charge and ask for help. Simply put, I can’t live with “What Ifs”, I have to know. So I do.

I’m most proud of my website www.nrnszn.com because it’s basically the universe of all my creative works in one place. You can see where I been, where I am, and where I’m going all on there.

People should know that I’m coming. WHOA. PAUSE. LMAO. But nah in all serious, you might not know me now, next year or even in 3 years. That being said, you will. God got me and I believe in my own hype. So in due time.

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

PAY ARTISTS. PLEASE. If you enjoy something someone has created either pay them for it or support them through sharing, liking and do all the social media engagement things. I promise you that shit might lowkey be the thing that keeps an artist going for another 3 months or so. I remember in my depression one of my elementary school homies (shout out Jennifer), send me like $20 on CashApp and said “I like your music. Keep going” and BRUH I LEGIT CRIED. Cause I felt like no one saw me. And she did. And that felt amazing. So pleaSe y’all support art you wanna see more of. PLEASE.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. Simply that you can DO IT. There’s some people who truly believe despite how talented they are that they aren’t worthy of greatness. Personally though, I’m like hell nah I’m meeting and overachieving my potential. So if someone like me, an immigrant from Kenya start in the lowest financial class with no connections makes it…I feel like at the point y’all ain’t got no excuses. AND THAT’S A FACT JACK.

Lol in all seriousness though, I want to inspire others to believe in their own potential. WE CAN ALL BE GREAT. We were made in God’s image. Mic drop.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nrnszn.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrnszn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nrnsznllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickoaluoch/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAimerlavie
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@soulnicolas

Image Credits

Frozen Moments, Deon Gholston