We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sonja Elise Freeman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sonja Elise, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I am presently working on producing my Strength of a Woman: A Phyllis Hyman Tribute is supported by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Former New York City Mayor and First Lady Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray in conjunction with The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, a nonprofit organization based in Atlantic City, NJ, whose sole mission is to preserve Black music culture one record at a time. I debuted in 2013 producing this tribute in New York City where I had my first performance at the Metropolitan Room located Off-Off-Off Broadway on 23rd & Broadway. I’ve had three goals one is to perform a sold-out show Off-Off Broadway, perform on Broadway at Feinstein’s/54 Below, and record a tribute album & documentary to be released on Phyllis Hyman’s 75th birthday which is July 6. 2024 with a live performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. I fulfilled my first two goals in 2018 and 2019. Now I am on a mission to achieve the last goal. I have always been heavily influenced by Phyllis Hyman musically. When I studied at Prairie View A&M University College of Arts & Science as a Voice Major I listened to three vocalists-Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and the Legendary Phyllis Hyman. I admire and have emulated their musicality, business savvy, and “divaness” to develop my style and musical success. I have been compared to her most of my adult life and I began my journey to research her life, legacy, and music. I learned about her battle with mental illness which led to her committing suicide on June 30, 1995. I learned that members of my family have either attempted or committed suicide as well. I became an advocate for both Mental Health Awareness with the NAMI-National Alliance on Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention in 2013. I make sure at every concert I share the importance of taking care of your mental and physical health. I took a hiatus to go to graduate school from 2019-2022. I am now more determined to get funding to produce my tribute album and documentary recording the album to share Phyllis Hyman’s music and encourage the world to take care of their mental health.

Sonja Elise, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Sonja Elise Freeman aka “Queen Diva” and I am a musician, entrepreneur, and inspirational influencer based in Houston and New York City. I am a proud two-time Alumna of Prairie View A&M University College of Arts & Sciences Bachelor of Arts-Voice/Fashion Merchandising & Design and College of Business MBA-Executive as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Omega Bible Institute and Seminary in Monroe, Louisiana. I am presently studying at the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Online Program Master in Communication Management with expected graduation in 2024. I have successfully worked both in the Music (Vocal Performance/Songwriting/Production) and Fashion (Fashion Show Production/Modeling/Pageantry) Industries in New York City, California, and Texas. I have an R&B single I co-wrote called “Is U In” with ASCAP award-winning Producer/Songwriter LaVolta “MED” Allen IV that is a single woman’s anthem on gaining commitment from her man. Over the last 30 years I have been working and performing at The Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, Triad Theater, Ashford & Simpson’s The Sugar Bar, Village Underground, Ovations, New York Fashion Week, and so on. I founded my company Divine Voices Media in 2004 that is a family affair including my brother, daughter, and nephews as independent contractors where I started a radio show called Divine Voices with Queen Diva at KPFT 90.1 FM Pacifica Radio in Houston, Texas for two years then transferred it to a podcast on podomatic.com in 2006 way before podcasting was cool. LOL! I started to connect with so many people with my podcast and was asked to consult artists, singers, models, actors, and so on about their careers. This led to me becoming a coach and consultant for creatives in between gigs and songwriting projects. What sets me apart from others is I am a creative myself and I fully understand the frustration of getting my administration together versus wanting to be in the recording studio all day or designing a shoe or clothing line. I have 30 years of experience as an artist and administrator coaching and consulting others to have a balance between keeping up with their creative side and administrative needs as an independent contractor or brand. What I am most proud of is laying a firm foundation with my clients and circling back to see them still using it 5 years or more later to see they are very successful and still incorporating the core ideas and concepts in their everyday life.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There are many resources I wish I knew about earlier in my creative journey. I did not know about the National Endowment of the Arts, getting a NAV number, and signing up with various portals that connect you to grants and government and private funding opportunities. I also wished I knew about using crowdfunding effectively. I have not mastered the art of fundraising. I am still learning how to do all of these fundraising efforts. It is just extremely time-consuming and very detail oriented. I am still learning but now it’s a matter of time management to do fundraising along with going to graduate school and running my business as well as preparing for future music projects.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My entire journey of producing my “Strength of a Woman: A Phyllis Hyman Tribute” illustrates my resilience. I have been thinking of performing and producing a Phyllis Hyman tribute since I was an undergraduate in college. I didn’t begin to produce my first show in 2013. I went through 5 different pianists, I had the venue cancel on me, the pianist was a no-show or learn the music completely, background vocals did not learn their music until two days before the concert and we practiced together two a week during the week. Through all of those challenges, I kept pressing on even when didn’t want to continue producing or performing the show anymore I would get little reminders that I must keep pressing on toward the mark. I feel deep down that all of the challenges strengthen me and my cast. Things started to slowly come together but it took 5 years for the momentum of singing beyond birthday parties, outside festivals, juke joints, fashion shows, award shows, private events, and open mics to promote my shows. I would sing at three different events in one day for several weeks leading up to my live shows hoping to network with others to get one step closer to singing on Broadway, award shows, and so on. It all paid over time. I am glad I kept going even when I did not want to go on my journey and I am more determined than ever before to record my album and tribute. I believe everything is purposeful and part of the process!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.divinevoicesmedia.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/queendivamusicworldwide
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/SOWPHT
• Linkedin: www.Linkedin.com/in/divinevoicesmedia
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/QueenDiva__
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/QueenDiva
• Other: R&B Single on Spotify “Is U In” by Queen Diva https://open.spotify.com/album/6oHQl6N6DImkR3LoVNRk8G TikTok @queendivamusic.worldwide www.TikTok.com/@queendivamusicworldwide

Image Credits
Graphic Jones for Graphic Jones Photography