ImmaSoul | XO.006
xtraORDINARY Series
ImmaSoul
ImmaSoul | Interview
<b>Immasoul can you tell us about who you are?</b> <br></br> Well, i am a soul singer and I was born in Chetumal, México. I am 27 years old and i recognize myself as an Afrodescendant woman and artist. Loyalty is the most important thing to me, and i try to surround myself with people that share that in common with me. I believe in dreams, and that everything is possible if you are willing to sacrifice and work hard for it. I often think about the future, but i like to live in the present, and not take it for granted. The present has taught me that there is no future without a past, and as a young women of color, i strongly believe i have a responsibility to create social awareness through my art. <br></br> <b>Tell us also about your Garifuna background?</b> <br></br> I have always known i was an Afrodescendant woman from my Mother´s side of the family, but to be honest i was not aware of how important it was to recognize it, and even how to do so...until i got myself involved in a project that uses music as a platform to raise awareness on racial matters. It has changed my life and my perception on things, it helped me realized and appreciate my Garifuna roots that come from a great grand father and a great grand mother from Honduras and Belize. <br></br> <b>Your website declares that you are a Caribbean soulstress singer, and composer, how did you get involved in Neo Soul?</b> <br></br> I grew up in a family with people that appreciates dancing, so i have always loved music because i have always loved dancing. When i was young we moved to Cancun, this was back in the early 90´s when Hip-hop music exploded and Cancún being the party town it is, was majorly influenced by it. Also i am the 4th girl out of a family of 5 sisters, so growing up i always listened to what my older sisters would listened too, which back then was Lauren Hill, Salt-n-pepa, Aaliyah, Ashanti, TLC, Snoop Dogg, Tony Braxton, you name it….These were my jams growing up, so when i went to music school…my musical influences were very clear, and at the time i also started discovering Erykah Badu, Ledisi, Jill scott etc…So these helped me indentify how i wanted to pursue music. <br></br> <b>How do you approach song writing, and what inspire your songs?</b> <br></br> I think it is important to share your experiences in this world with people, people can identify themselves in your music. But writing about my personal experiences in love for example, just felt empty. I wasn’t satisfied, so i didn’t start creating original music that i was proud of, until this year. Meeting new people and musical projects helped me grow as an artist and as a woman, so i naturally started concentraiting my attention on sides of the music that used to be invisible to me. Now i have come to a point where i feel a responsibility and a compromised on creating social awareness through my music. It feels valuable and meaningful, and as i walk by, im always writing lyrics in my mind. <br></br> <b>Your passion is certainly music, is this your only passion?</b> <br></br> I feel passionate about everything that helps me turn off my mind and just enjoy the moment, dancing, painting, spending time in the wilderness are all passions of mine, but music tops it all. <br></br> <b>What are you working on at the moment?</b> <br></br> Right now i am working on my first EP, which is a 4 track mini album that is inspired as a result of an encounter with myself questioning pretty much everything that surround me, including my own identity. I wrote the lyrics and melodies and i have been involved in the production process with great musicians that have tag along on this journey with me. I feel very fortunate and excited for what the future holds for me. <br></br> <b>What are your plans for the future?</b> <br></br> I want to be able to construct a solid understandment of a political context on decolonization and race equality, so i can bring awareness and empowerment to the caribbean culture in general. <br></br> <b>Tell us your thoughts about the future of Mexico?</b> <br></br> As Nelson Mandela once said: “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom” I hope for change, i hope for freedom, i hope my generation has the courage to take action and make the change we desperately need. <br></br> <b>Who are the Mexicans who inspire you?</b> <br></br> First names that came to my mind are my sister Karen and Bocafloja. She is an activist that has fought stronger than anyone i ever seen for the rights of the Mexican people, she has fought to make Mexico a better country, a land that at list can provide it´s people with a free birth certificate. she is a person of action and in my family we are proud of what she has accomplish. Bocafloja, is a recognize spoken word and multidisciplinary artist in latin america. I have never met someone with such strong political views and knowledge of racial relations and critical pedagogy. His music and work talks about what anybody wants to talk about, and this has inspired me to take the path and the interests that i have taken since last year. He is also a person of action, and he has become a special person in my life. <br></br> <b>You are from Chetumal, Quintano Roo, what makes this place special?</b> <br></br> I think It has a different vibe from the rest of México because of its location on the caribbean coast line, and its proximity to the boarder with Belize. It has this magical caribbean vibe, that makes it so special and beautiful. i love that. <br></br> <b>How would you like to change the world to be a better place?</b> <br></br> Equality, If we look carefully we would realize that our system is based on inequality. It would be beautiful if one day our future descendents can live in world where opportunities and life chances aren’t based on the color of our skin, sexual preference or genre. I hope the day comes where we treat each other fair and value the world we live in. <br></br> <b>Do you think art can make a difference in the life of ordinary people?</b> <br></br> I strongly believe that art can move the world, Art inspires people it can even change lives, it changed mine. Art can be a platform to help us evolved as humans, to make us aware, to give us strength and hope. <br></br> <b>Are you a fan of reggae music?</b> <br></br> I have always liked reggae cause it´s representation of the caribbean diaspora. When i listen to it, it gives me strength and makes me feel courageous, and even though i don’t listen to it as much as i listen to hip-hop, R&B or soul, I will always have respect for music that has a political and social commitment. <br></br> <b>Who are your favorite reggae artiste?</b> <br></br> Bob Marley, Cultura profetica & Mo´Kalamity and the Wizards.
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