Today we’d like to introduce you to Axelle Goldie.
Axelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is Malak, but I go by the stage name of “Axelle Goldie”, I am a Singer-Songwriter, Actress, & Graphic Designer, who has also dabbled in Event Coordination. I opted to use a stage name as I do not like how Non-Arabic speakers pronounce my name as “Malik”, which is a completely different name than mine.
I chose my stage name after stumbling across a variation/similar name on my friend “Plural Staxx’s” laptop. I immediately fell in love with the name I saw and found a way to adopt it by adding a feminine touch & meaning to it.
The name Axelle originated from France, I grew up learning French, so I immediately found it fitting & feminine. Axelle means “daughter of peace”. As for Goldie, I had light goldish hair as a child, so it is a token to my childhood.
I am a First Generation Immigrant. Born in Cairo, Egypt I came to the US when I was Eight years old. My family abandoned a stable lifestyle to give us a life of endless opportunities in the US. We settled in San Diego, and the city has been my beloved home ever since.
Although my family lived check to check, & worked many odd jobs, they refused to let this affect our quality of life. They chose “Scripps Ranch” to be our 1st home, enough though it was way out of our budget, they always pulled miracles to keep us there as they viewed it as a safe community.
Ever since I was as little as Three years old, I had been fascinated by Music & Film. I came up with my 1st song ever at the age of Five years old, my Grandpa had tested me by saying “Ok if you want to sing show me what you can do”, on the spot I freestyled a song about my love for him. It is a moment he still remembers.
When I moved to the US, I didn’t know where to showcase my love for singing or acting, I would spend hours making up tunes in my room, and recording them on tape recorder & later voice memos (Which I still have some of). As for acting, I would often beg my brother to act out scenes with me in exchange for candy or video game playtime together.
As the years went on, I felt hopeless, as if my dreams would never blossomed outside of my bedroom/home. But it all changed one day when I stumbled across a local artist “Ladotee’s” music on Facebook. I became inspired not only by his music but by what he was doing for his career. I managed to get in contact with him, with hopes of learning more about the music industry & recording process. After a few months, I was eventually added to his team/roster of artists “Stone Age Camp”. From the get-go he believed in my ideas and my ambitions. I began doing various jobs for The Camp, such as assistant management, I learned to Design to provide us with Cover Art and helping with Event Coordination/Promotion. I also began going to the studio frequently, and after months of holding it in, I became comfortable enough to showcase my Singing-Songwriting skills to my peers. If it weren’t for these experiences with “Stone Age Camp”, my career may not have taken off as fast as it did.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, I am consistently learning, and managing my anxieties. As an immigrant to the US, I was constantly looked at as being different since my arrival, it wasn’t until I reached my late teens that I began to feel accepted. As for being a young woman, in a male dominant industry, during my start, I often felt overlooked, underestimated, and taken for granted. Being vocal around certain people who were older, & sometimes the opposite sex was something that was not always very accepted. I came onto the Art & Music “scene” very abruptly, and was not welcomed by some of the more seasoned folks, I had to fight to be heard & respected. However, I’m so grateful for those moments, as they taught me lessons, & molded me into the woman that I am now.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am mostly known for being a Graphic Designer & Event-coordinator. Those two aspects began to outshine my music when I took a 2-year hiatus from releasing music. However, I see myself as Singer-songwriter first, as it has been my passion longer than anything else. I am recording consistently, with my EP “Cigarettes & Stolen Whiskey” set to drop this upcoming Fall, it is a collaboration between “Kory Winter” & I. My Event endeavors came from my desire to provide local artists a chance to perform as there were so little opportunities being given to them. As for Graphic Design, I had always had an interest in aesthetics, but I solely began that journey to provide myself, & my friends with Cover Art. From there, I began to develop my skills, and by God’s will it eventually turned into my own business.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was quite shy, goofy/playful, very caring, & super sensitive. I tried to keep to myself due to severe bullying. My dreams of being a Singer or Actress kept me hopeful my entire life. My troubles seemed to fade away as soon as I would get home from school, I would indulge in hours of singing, acting out scenes, or just watching film/listening to music (24.7). Early on, I knew what I wanted from life, and I still hold onto the same aspirations, morals, & beliefs. I hoped to inspire the world or even just my community one day, by doing what I love most. I always wished that other kids would dream big and hold onto that belief. As a child, I never wanted to be a Singer, etc. just for money or fame, but to help my community and touch peoples lives. My ultimate dream/interest was to help as many people as I can, in whatever way. Nothing has changed, as this is how I still feel. Only time will tell, but regardless of anything, I am so proud to know that I am trying still.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soundcloud.com/axellegoldie
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/axelle.goldie
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/axellegoldie/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/axellegoldie
- Other: www.instagram.com/goldiesarchive
Image Credit:
(1st) Photo shot by Adrian Blevins & the last (4) by Alberto Figueroa
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