We were lucky to catch up with Slayla The Purpose recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Slayla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I actually just released my debut EP entitled “Twelve Twentytwo”. It’s my baby, honestly. I’m so proud of it and I even grossed 100,000 streams my first month of the release. Everything, from the title to the EP cover, to the name of the songs, the interludes, the lyrics, all were intentionally crafted. I’m a person that cares a lot about the details and the significance of things.

I started seeing the sequence 12:22 everywhere starting in 2021. Because I am a “spiritual person”, I knew that it was the universe trying to tell me something, but I did not know what that was at the time. I realized those numbers added up to the number 7 which is a very significant number to me and also a holy number symbolizing “perfection” and “completion”. My mother passed away December 7, I was born in the 7 month, my childhood home is the 7th house, and the list goes on .

The numbers 12:22 represents new beginnings and positive change. So when you combine these messages, I felt the universe was saying to me, it’s time to close this cycle of your life and began a new one. It’s time to walk in your purpose and enter a world of “New Beginnings” (12:22). And so, I named the project “Twelve Twentytwo” as an ode to this message brought forth to me. Also, the project was released December 2022, 12/22. In the music, you hear about my experiences from the last 7 years of my life. From relationship drama, to friendship breakups, to me just being insecure and lost in this world. I wanted my first impression as an artist to the world to be my most authentic self. I did my best in 26 minutes to do that. I just hope people see themselves in the music and that they are able to heal from it.

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

I’ve been singing since I was 3 years old and writing songs since I was seven. I from Atlanta, Ga so like any proper southern girl, I was raised in the church where I learned how to really sing. I attended a performing arts high school, Tri- Cities, in East Point, Ga and I studied, music, theater, voice, and dance for 4 years. I then attended the Grammy award winning Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. I earned a degree in English. I also published my first children’s book in 2018. I love writing and a big part of my love for music comes from my love for good lyrics. After, spending a couple of years in politics/corporate America, I realized how unfulfilled I was in my life. I needed to be doing something creative and innovative. I’ve always loved any form of art and I didn’t feel like myself anymore because I simply was not meant to be there.

During the pandemic, I had a lot of time to reflect and heal and process my thoughts and ideas, so I did. I left corporate America to write songs for a living. No job. No money. In the middle of a pandemic. I just had to try, and I was committed to trying. I wrote some songs for artist, and realized it would be cool to put my own project out. I have a decent voice, so why not? I committed myself to the idea and brought forth a really dope debut EP, “Twelve Twentytwo”. It’s a reflection of all that healing, therapy, and deep convos that were necessary for my sanity during the pandemic.

I am very honest in my music because I write from experience. I’m very creative with my melodies and cadences because I just vibe and whatever comes to me that I like, I keep. I love jazz music, gospel, and hip hop, and my music is influenced by them all. I think that my use of the genres is what sets me apart. I also like to create environment in my music, I want people to feel apart of the moment and in the story.

I’m most proud of my courage to even do this. It’s hard to be so vulnerable and open in a world where differences and opinions get you “cancelled.” I just don’t always feel safe, and so to be so authentically myself in my music is really scary, but I know there’s a little girl that looks like me that wants to maybe do what I’m doing , and so it’s my job to make sure I do it and do it well cause it’s bigger than me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is when someone sends me a message or dm about how they can relate to a song so much or how they can’t stop playing my EP because It’s just so good and they wish that it was longer. That literally brings me so much Joy because my goal is to always create something that people see themselves in and want to listen to all of the time. It’s something about music, that helps you liberate yourself from whatever it is that hurt you or caused you so much pain, or even reminisce about a time when you were your most happy and fulfilled. I’d like to be an inspiration to people through my music.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’d like to think that my ultimate goal is connected to whatever it is that God wants me to contribute to in this lifetime. Like I said before, It is bigger than me. I wanna be the voice for my generation. The music I make, I want it to be studied one day in universities and dissected in literature courses. I want it to be played at the most important events of our lives. That’s my only goal and I’d be satisfied with that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/slaylathepurpose?fbclid=PAAabLKd0aaiqdtHtFf2INdNOV4vTnor4MI3BbA7lcyqCUf1HeEboyt1ABi3s
• Instagram: @slaylathepurpose
• Facebook: @slaylathepurpose
• Twitter: @slaythepurpose
• Youtube: Slayla The Purpose

Image Credits
Cameron Rodriguez and Focus The Art God