Tribal/Club/Dance dance music were a seed planted in me many years ago and a recent “rebirth” has taken place for me. It’s a sound that is familiar yet has the aroma of something new. It’s not every day that you come across the rebirth of the club sound of New York, once frozen by the cold air and silence of yesterday. Indie artists like Deepa Soul are digging deep into your soul to nurture the vibration in your spirit that makes you want to dance. I recently came across Deepa Soul while surfing through Facebook, however, ironically she’s someone that is attached and connected to my past. She’s familiar with dear friends and an era of dance music that only a certain club-going generation can truly appreciate. The song I came across, “Feva,” is one of the blossoming tunes within the club genre.
Learn more about this talented artist:
Congratulations on your recent success with “FEVA” hitting #3 Breakout record of the week on the Billboard Club Play Charts! What do you consider some of your biggest accomplishments to date?
Thank God and Thank You!… Some of my biggest accomplishments…Oh WOW! Okay.
– Earning 3 top 5 Breakout Records on the Billboard HOT Club Play Charts!
– Being appointed the Executive Director of OUTMusic – the LGBTQ Academy of Recording Arts (LARA), then going on to be the CEO/Chairwoman.
– Being honored by New York State Senator Eric Adams with a Proclamation for my leadership in the LGBTQ Equality movement.
– Being honored for Black History month
– Keeping old friendships that span at least 20 years or more! (uh oh! I’m telling my age)
Who writes your songs?
I write my lyrics, melody and crazy enough the Bass lines and keys, then I get together with producers to build the song and add the other musical elements and BAM we have a song!
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics have changed over time?
My main topic is Social Justice, Love, Sex and Bad Love. No I think these topics are universal and its so amazing to hear artists express their experience…Music is so magical. I’m so excited that I am a musician and singer/songwriter.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music and singing?
Oh YES indeed! I spent many years hiding behind playing musical instruments. I did not like my voice much when I was young because it didn’t sound pretty like the other girls who had those nice soprano voices!
Tell us more about what guests experience when they attend one of your shows, what’s this “journey” that is mentioned in your bio?
Oh man…First let’s start off with the fact that I was a dancer and award winning choreographer for about 15 years and a musician since the age of 5. I grew up in New Orleans studying and performing music from every genre you can imagine Jazz, Funk, Soul, Rock, Zydeco and Brass Band… I was exposed to so much GOOD MUSIC growing up because my dad was a professor of music and jeez I just can’t write and perform songs from ONE genre.
So I have to take you on a musical carpet ride…and we take side paths to the land of House Music because most of my band are all HOUSE MUSIC HEADS! Which is why I LIVE for my house and dance music!
What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist and how have you overcome it?
Crazy enough…I am painfully shy. Its the craziest thing and I still can’t shake it. Over the years I’ve gotten a little more comfortable in my skin!
My designer Carmen Webber, stylist Carlton Estilio Jones, Hairstylist Karlo Ortiz and make-up artist Unique London are the ones who convince me to be more comfortable…
I read in an Out Magazine article that it took you time to come out. How has living a life where you are true to yourself changed your life?
It didn’t take me time to come OUT my mother did that for me when she outted me by kicking me on the streets as a teen. I feel AMAZING in my LIFE and I would not that anything for the journey I’ve traveled thus far! That’s why I mentor homeless and at risk young people. I champion for LGBTQ young people the most though….they are my babies!
Tell us more about the kind of work you do as CEO/Chairwoman of LARA the LGBTQ Academy of Recording Arts?
I advocate for the advancement of OUT recording artists in the media and music industry by working to build recognition of Queer Music Culture as an integral art form.
OUTMusic/LARA has been in existence for 23 years and we are very close to the OUTMusic Awards becoming an equivalent platform to be celebrated in the media and music industry as the mainstream music awards shows.
I am most excited about the 25th Anniversary coming in 2015 in New York in which the completion of our music documentary film “For Which WE Stand (One Queer Music Nation In The Visible) will capture the moment! The film is directed by award winning director Sean Robinson and the award winning filmmaker and stage director Paul Warner will be directing the stage production of the OUTmusic Awards.
What music do you listen to when you are having a bad day? What about on a good day?
Oooohhh I don’t do the “bad days” oh no no no…I usually meditate to re-charge and re-focus. But I love listening to songs that inspire and make life fun! “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind and Fire, “Fire” by Ohio Players, Jill Scott “Blessed”, “Let’s Do It Again” by Mavis Staple “Candy” by Cameo, “Moving On Up”by Curtis Mayfield, “Heeeeyyy Yah” by Andre 3000, “Beautiful People” by Barbara Tucker, “They say I’m Different” by Betty Davis.
What’s your ultimate direction for your performance career?
I want to bring back the dynamics to live performance like back in the day when musical geniuses played LIVE. Long gone are the days of the bands!
The direction of the mainstream music industry will do away with the LIVE Funk, Rock, & Soul music, its up to us to keep it alive…
I understand you’re gearing up for a live album recording in spring 2014. What can we expect from this project?
I can’t tell ya too much but I will have my full live band the Love 4 Soul Orchestra….15 piece band…. 🙂
What does living in your truth mean to you?
Living my life exactly as I AM! I’m proud to be Black, I’m AM proud to be a WOMAN! and I AM proud to be a Queer Music Artist because I love singing songs to women and about women!
