Today we’d like to introduce you to Sohil. Sohil is an East-Coast based music artist creating an eclectic, catchy blend of every genre out there. He shot his latest music video along the shores of La Jolla, San Diego and we wanted to ask him a couple of questions about his journey.
Hi Sohil, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been making music consistently since I was 10 years old. I started playing guitar and writing songs as a way to live out this dream fantasy of mine. I remember thinking it was amazing that I could escape into a world that I can create purely through music. My hobby speedily turned into an obsession. I would sometimes leave class in middle school to “go to the bathroom” and spend 15 minutes walking around the halls working on the new lyrics I made that morning. Writing lyrics and putting those lyrics to melodies were the only way I knew how to deal with difficult feelings growing up. Many people don’t know how to handle their feelings and I’m so fortunate I had music I could use as a safe outlet for wrestling with those feelings.
Fast forward to now, not much has changed. However, the sound of what I make has for sure shifted. My music incorporates singer-songwriter lyrics, soulful guitar, dreamy synths, and hip-hop drums. Think of it as a blend of John Mayer, Jon Bellion, The 1975, Frank Ocean, and Bruno Mars (not comparing myself to these greats for the record). Many of my songs give off a feeling of longing and hopefulness. I love lyrics that tell a story and paint a picture for the listener so they feel like they are sitting next to me on my couch while I tell them about a moment in my life. Nostalgia is a major theme in my life and my music catalogue is an exploration of it.
I am a chameleon when it comes to genre. I love music as a whole so one release could be a slow, soulful R&B ballad, while another release could be an electronic disco funk song. Music is music and I want to explore all ends of it!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Challenges are subjective. I enjoyed every step of the way so the hard moments really weren’t all that difficult. I was okay when I first started, and my fingers hurt playing guitar because I just enjoyed the process of learning songs. When I performed live for people and I forgot the lyrics, it hurt, but I was fine because it made me better. When I release social media content that doesn’t perform as well as I’d like, I’m okay with that because it will either help me pivot my strategy or it will help me think more creative with my posts.
I’m a human being so of course there are days that are easier than others, but I truly see music as something I GET to do; it’s not a given. I get to wake up every day with the ability to play strings, sing melodies, and craft songs that people enjoy – that’s the win! Essentially, if I love the process, the rest will come in time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I don’t like putting a label or genre on the music I make because I feel like it reduces what it is. My bread and butter are vocals, guitar, and lyrics. The production, the polish, etc. are all made to enhance what I do – create personal songs that I myself enjoy listening to. I do what feels good musically and I try not to overthink it.
I believe what sets me apart from other musicians is how I pull from all different directions. I’m not just a singer-songwriter who makes boring singer-songwriter songs. I’m not just a producer who makes trap beats. I’m not just a guitarist who rips off John Mayer. I believe I have influences from a lot of unique ends purely because of my love of all types of music. I have a unique perspective musically that I hope shows. I play guitar, I sing, I produce beats, and I write lyrics…I’m not the first creative who “does it all” but I believe that my musical sensibilities position me in a pretty unique way!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
COVID taught everyone similar things. It helped everyone look inward and figure out what truly matters. There weren’t distractions that helped us avoid what we actually want. When COVID hit, it felt like a new world, so it gave me license to try things I had never done before. I made it a point to release more music and not hold back on my passion. This meant recording and releasing music every single month, putting out instrumentals, putting on virtual performances, posting consistently on social media, starting a music podcast, and a whole lot more.
Going even deeper, the pandemic helped me get more comfortable in uncomfortable situations. If I can thrive, find happiness, and maximize my potential in the worst of times, it can only get better!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/sohilmusic
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/songsbysohil/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/songsbysohil/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/songsbysohil
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-3B2IvgucgQ_AX-p-Md05w
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/sohiladyanthaya
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/50aaIzhg9OBnvIsuuvuCnR?si=oQk6JTD7Q-qzXwZ_yFktxw
Image Credits
TrueLife Studio
Sam Darko
