We were lucky to catch up with Solace Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Solace thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Introspection and thanks given are parts of my daily regimen. The critical thoughts mined are turned into mantras for self care. Said mantras serve as the foundation for some of my songs. My pen is tied to my truth. I strive to create real soul music.

I’m from the era of original Hip Hop. All of my projects are rooted in the cornerstones of the culture. Fashion, Music, Visual Art, & Knowledge of Self, all play integral roles in my overall brand/message.

To me, music video is my favorite medium of art due to the fact it allows me to showcase all facets of creativity at once.

I write and arrange all of my songs, lead creative direction for the projects, design and style all of the wardrobe, do all the album art, edit all promo videos, and market the finished product. DIY until you can’t.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m @thepoetsolacetaylor multimedia artist and owner/designer of @feedthepoet.apparel . FEEDTHEPOET® is an independent streetwear brand using ART to promote social/racial awareness and self-love. I’m a former @huskerfbnation safety who now paints poems, designs clothes, and have published multiple books and musical projects . I work with and style some artists in the industry and professional athletes.

I have music collaborations with the world renowned Dungeon Family and Ruff Ryders music groups. I recently released a 6 song EP, SOUND ARGUMENTS, available on all DSP’s along with 4 accompanying music videos available on YouTube and Spotify.

I recently participated in my first major fashion show. I was 1 of 6 designers selected from my city to showcase my art. My theme was FRESH PRODUCE. I showed 5 different #cutandsew outfits on 5 different models for FEEDTHEPOET® apparel.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I Had full ride scholarship offers from almost every division 1 football program in ‘99. Played for the #1 team in the country as a true freshman. On pace to leave/declare for the NFL after my junior year of college. THEN, I suffered a career ending neck injury.

At night I would still say my prayers and count blessings. One night after I finished, a thought occurred to me. “If my creator is omnipresent, and they see me giving thanks for gifts given I’m not using, is that a sin of omission as well as a lie?” I got out of bed, wrote that question down, and was able to sleep for the first time in literal years. That night I found Solace in my pen and have not put it down since. I knew I had alot of soul searching and self work to do but I knew I was on the right path because of the peace and relief I found in being able to express myself. This led to me writing my first book of short poems and my journey as a creative.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I graduated with a degree in Sociology. Since I still had my scholarship for 5 years, I started my first year of a 41 hour masters grad program for Special Ed with an emphasis in behavior disorders. I was thriving academically but was unfulfilled and reeling emotionally but felt like I couldn’t share it with anyone. At that point in my life I also did not have the words the the feelings of unrest in my soul. I could not sleep at night, I literally felt like I was having a midlife crisis at age 25.

I worked at a group half the week and the other half I spent working on my craft building up to a solid 35 minute live spoken word set mixed in with acapella singing and a few rap songs.

I started to get a buzz around my city and state by age 29 and was booking gigs as far as Hawaii. THEN, the incident at group home happened.

I was beat unconscious by one of my clients while driving him to the bank. Was left with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD from the assault. I subsequently was fired for not being able to return to work within the 12 week disability period. I could not finish sentences or communicate effectively during this time period but I was able to remember my rhymes and was still being booked for shows.

I had a lawyer and a filed lawsuit but that was not helping pay rent or for therapy or meds or food. In a Maslow’s Hierarchy sense, I went from fightin my way back to the top, back down well below the bottom rung.

At that point in time, for my live shows, I would right hundreds of little positive mantras and put them in a decorated “FREE TIP” jar. I was using the process to center myself and pay it forward in terms of vibrations intentionally placed in the atmosphere. My merch box I decorated with markers construction paper and the phrase “FEED THE POET” .

At that point I was down to one meal a day and was evicted from my apartment. I slept on friends couches and biked or skateboarded to my shows, or to therapy or other appointments. I survived like this til age 31 then I went radio silent. I needed time to heal and me being stuck in survival mode was not allowing for any progress.

Fast forward a few years. I trademarked “FEEDTHEPOET” and started my journey as a clothing designer and building my brand.

Fast forward a few years. Present Day. I’m blessed to be here and feel I’m just now getting started!       

Contact Info:

• Website: http://thepoetsolacetaylor.bandcamp.com/
• Instagram: @thepoetsolacetaylor/@feedthepoet.apparel
• Facebook: @thepoetsolacetaylor
• Twitter: @solacetaylor
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/@thepoetsolacetaylor
• FANBASE: @thepoetsolacetaylor
• EMAIL: [email protected]

Image Credits
@polomutt @keenanserano