Learning traditional Yoruba folk songs led to her discovering other musical genres, such as, Soul and Jazz.
Fast-forward to now and the Baltimore, Maryland resident’s 7-piece band “Janeliasoul” is fusing those influences, along with pop and Afrobeat into one infectious sound.
Lyrically, she draws off of positive self-affirmations, something she practices in her own life, on a daily basis. After her video for “Love-Hate” reached more than 1 million viewers on YouTube, Janeliasoul released her debut EP, “Self Affirmation Project.” As the album continues to gain momentum, with lead single “I am Bold” leading the way, the sky’s the limit for this Nigerian Goddess.
We interviewed with Janieliasoul regarding her upbringing, inspirations, the defining moment in music, and favorite instruments.
Where is your artistic home? What city, neighborhood or country helped inspire and inform your art?
My artistic home is a town called Ibadan in Nigeria which is where I grew up. There were a lot of festivities with music, dance and performances and I would participate in as many as possible. This is where I got introduced to the arts and my love for music.
What was the last thing that inspired you?
This whole Coronavirus pandemic actually inspired me to go into the studio and record a new song that I hope will inspire others during these challenging times.
What was the defining moment you realized you wanted to do music?
When I got my first paid gig as a backup singer in local band. I knew I wanted to front my own band and get paid for it, lol.
What medium or instrument is your favorite to work with and why?
My favorite is percussion instruments simply because it makes you want to get up and dance. The rhythm and energy of the drums, congas, djembe and other percussive instruments cannot be ignored.
As an emerging artist today, what would you say are some of the challenges you face?
So much to do, so very little budget to get it done; compared to mainstream artists. Making music and promoting it through the proper channel requires a budget that is tangible enough to make an impact. However, that kind of budget is not always available for an emerging artist and that has been one of the challenges.
Has music always been your career plan?
Music has always been a passion and something I pursued, I’m still working on it being a lucrative career.
The Fox Magazine is all about inspiration, what/who inspires you the most?
Life, in general, inspires me, I write about my experiences and what I’m feeling at a particular point or phase in my life.
How much has your style changed since you started doing music?
Not much, I try to keep the same style because I like consistency.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I am also a technical talent. I work in the Information Technology (IT) domain as a business analyst building software and web-based applications with a team of developers and other techy people.
What motto, quote, or words to live by do you use to stay motivated when you aren’t feeling inspired?
I love the quote by Robin Sharma as it helps me stay focused and moving towards my goals.
“Small daily improvements done consistently over a period of time lead to monumental results.”
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