We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Soleille. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Soleille below.
Soleille, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I love what I do. I love making music. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else on the planet but that doesn’t make the journey easy. When you’re an artist, especially when you’re in the early parts of your career, you face so much rejection and heartache that you wonder if all the pain is even worth it.
There was a time in my life when I wanted to be a lawyer. I immersed myself in legal boot camps and took as many law classes as I could take as a high schooler. I soon realized that law was not the right path for me. Music, however, was always there. After every breakup, after every tribulation, after every mental breakdown, music was always the vessel that brought me out of the darkness (right after God, of course).
I’ve failed a lot of times while pursuing this passion. I’ve been told “no” way more times than I could count. Still I persevere because I know what my purpose is. Music saved my life and it’s my job to use it to help save others. So do I wish I had “normal” dreams sometimes? Yes. Am I going to give up on pursuing my dream? Absolutely not.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I’m Soleille and I’m a Black Nöize artist hailing from the DMV; Silver Spring, MD to be specific. I began writing music at the ripe age of 7 and from then I knew music was my calling consistently singing, rapping, and performing ever since. With roots planted in Cameroon and Nigeria, my musical range spans from R&B & Hip-Hop to Afrobeats, French Pop, and more. I define myself as a Black Nöize artist as a rebellion against genre confinement. I’m inspired by all music of the African Diaspora and has created my own lane to freely explore these sounds.
I released my debut EP, Tour Eiffel, in October of 2018. TE was a raw, introspective project that gave listeners a direct glance into who I was as a growing woman & burgeoning artist. Since then, I’ve released a flurry of singles including hits like INTRO, Test Drive, and How That Sound. I have a range of musical influences from the likes of Beyoncé, Brandy, and Jazmine Sullivan to legendary lyricists like Eminem, Lauryn Hill, J.I.D., and Nas.
In 2021, I alongside fellow DMV artist MeMo, created a contemporary R&B duo and EP titled NO!RE.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I remember when I was in high school, I watched an interview that J. Cole did with The Wall Street Journal. He spoke on the importance of an education even as an artist and how the real power in the industry is (1) being a constant student of the game and (2) maintaining ownership.
When I first decided that I wanted to make a career out of music, I wanted to be a child star. I didn’t really want to go to college (I had to anyway, I’m an African child). I just wanted to sign a record deal and be famous. I was sitting in my English class watching the interview and I remember him saying how grateful he is to have a college education and how it puts him light years ahead of the game. That honestly encouraged to go to college.
He also spoke on the importance of ownership and how you don’t just want to be an artist that a label could pick up and put down whenever they want. You want to have leverage and a claim over your sound and artistry. That interview honestly changed how I saw myself in the industry. I no longer just want to be an artist. I want to be an entrepreneur, I want to sign my own artists, I want to be a CEO. I love J. Cole as an artist, but his mentality and philosophy makes me admire and respect him even more.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I get to go through a constant cycle of catharsis. Life gives me experiences and I get to turn it into music and share it with the world. I love the whole process of making music from songwriting to recording to performing. Every time I perform, I get to leave a piece of myself to a welcoming audience and it’s such a beautiful thing. Of course I want to be successful on a grand scale with what I do, but I simply love music and being able to do it to the degree that I do is such a blessing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Soleille
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonjoursoleille
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonjoursoleille
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/soleille
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bonjoursoleille
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCod3GKGQMRDGYwC9sB5X-nw
Image Credits
Anthony “AC” Wells MeMo