HJ Soul is an acclaimed RnB/Soul Singer Songwriter. He began his professional career with a soulful sound that started with cover songs, and he now writes his own songs about the story of his journey. The release of his first critically acclaimed EP ‘Soul Desires’ was very popular with its new contemporary RnB sound, especially with the track ‘Fantasy’ which was able to get a lot of momentum with listeners. He then released an EP in April 2022 called ‘Desired’ and this EP epitomised the soulfulness that he admired from the 90s RnB era of music. He has been consistently grinding to complete his new album that’s out this year 2022 called ‘All In The Mind’ and the album has many songs that raise awareness for mental health which is a relevant topic of today. The newly released single called ‘All In The Mind’ will also be a song that’s included in that album. He will be releasing another EP called ‘My Love’ this summer, and will also release more soulful singles later this year as well.
Where are you based?
UK
How long have you been making music?
Not long ago at all, and I started taking it seriously in the last few years. I knew in my soul that it was something that I had to pursue, and I always thought that there would be a moment in my life where I would take this journey.
What genre would you consider your music to be?
RnB/Soul
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I’ve always thought to pursue a career in music as I just didn’t feel my purpose in life was known before starting a career with it, and that my destiny wasn’t complete, and I definitely felt that something was missing in my life. I did always know that I had the ability to start a music career and call it fate if you like, there was a particular day where something was telling me that I had to start this now, it was like a spiritual intervention and that meant a lot to me because I am very spiritual. It was an enlightening moment for me, and from that day I knew that I needed to take this path in life and that music was all I wanted to do. It’s very interesting as having this ambitious and courageous mindset helped me to write a lot of my songs as well, as some of my songs talk about my journey, and the divination that my soul found to take this destiny and make this my life.
What are your biggest musical influences?
I’ve been influenced by the charm of the 90s RnB era of music, and my music including my EPs and the new album that is out this year ‘All In The Mind’ improvises the sound of that era, with a more contemporary RnB style to sound relevant for the sound of today’s music. My biggest musical influences include many talented singer songwriters that include Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Boyz II Men and Brandy. I also enjoy listening to the classic soul from the 70s as well, including many of those wonderful soul groups. These singers inspired me to create the musical sounds that I’ve improvised in my own music along with a contemporary style for it sound relevant to today’s music, and to also convey the soulfulness that derives from me having an old soul.
Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
Independent
What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
There’s been many hurdles in my music career so far, that actually inspired me to talk about in the words of some of my songs. There’s a lot of times where I’ve thought what is the use of this consistent grind with making music if it doesn’t get any recognition, and also its a journey that not many people can help you with and you have to kind of go your own way with it, and I’ve felt that I’ve had to have a tremendous amount of faith and courage, as well as persistence and endless ambition to continue with this career. I feel in my soul that this journey was meant for me, and I’ll continue to be even more patient to complete this destiny and take this path that I’ve always thought I would take and complete it. By the way listen to the song ‘This Journey’ from my album ‘All In The Mind’ that is out this year 2022, and I’ve also got an official music video out for this song as well at my YouTube page ‘HJ Soul’ and this song talks about this journey.
How many songs or albums have you released to date?
I’ve got an EP out called ‘Soul Desires’ with the track ‘Fantasy’ getting the most recognition with its contemporary RnB sound that completely fits in well with the culture of today’s RnB. I’ve also got an EP out called ‘Desired’ that was out this year April 2022. I’ve got a single out called ‘All In The Mind’ which was out this year in April 2022, which will also be in the ‘All In The Mind’ album. I’ve also got a new album out in 2022 called ‘All In The Mind’ which also includes the single ‘All In The Mind’. I’ve also got more singles out later this year in 2022 for more of those soulful summer feels.
Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
The album ‘All In The Mind’ which is going to be out near Mental Health Awareness Week this month, really talk about raising the awareness for mental health which is an important topic of today. The songs consist of words that tell an emotional story, that it is in every way possible to get through and mental health struggles with courage and faith, and that the words in the songs will help people through time where it is difficult. The rest of my music including this album really improvises that 90s RnB sound which is a time of music that I enjoyed listening to very much, especially with the fashion and style of clothing as well as the soulful sounds in the music which made it feel like it was a really special time to be alive. I’ve improvised from that era of music and acknowledged the soul in the music around that time with those nostalgic timeless sounds, and that has helped me to make music that sounds relevant today from that era of soulfulness.
Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
I will also be releasing another EP called ‘My Love’ this summer, and will also release more soulful singles later this year as well in 2022.
