Today we’d like to introduce you to Soobie.
Hi Soobie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I truly started my musical journey in Chennai, India, where I was born. Every toddler around me was forced to sign up for traditional Indian (Carnatic) music lessons. My parents were musically gifted themselves, my dad being a songwriter/composer and my mom, a singer and violinist. That inspired me to embrace it rather than accepting it reluctantly.
When I was eight, I saw my cousin play the classic piece “Für Elise” and I was enchanted by how a piano could sound so great. I started taking Western classical piano lessons right away and eventually completed the eighth-grade examination held by Trinity College, London. I simultaneously learned to play the violin since 4th grade and I became pretty fluent on both instruments by the time I completed high school. I had a penchant for Western pop music when I discovered an English music TV channel in India. Nobody in my family was a hardcore English music fan so that channel combined with my schoolmates’ interests ignited my passion for it. I soon discovered Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne and Lady Gaga, and my passion for pop flourished.
By the time I was ready for college, I discovered that my favorite thing about a song was its production. The way the beat hit, the tones used and even the way the vocals sounded unnatural at times, these were some of my favorite unnameable things about a song. So I went to a music production class for five months, messed around a bit and ended up writing a couple of songs over the tracks I produced.
Then I got accepted into Los Angeles College of Music, CA, about halfway across the world. I majored in songwriting and received in-depth knowledge about the art of performance, lyricism and music theory. The college really helped me grow as an artist to the point where I became a valedictorian. Now I have two projects out, and my latest single was released quite recently. So, there you go!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There was a bit of a struggle since the Indian society in general wants its students to become doctors, engineers and lawyers. Being an artist was seen as a hobby. I was supposed to be a chartered accountant if things didn’t work out in the music industry. I went to a sort of “backup” college, as I like to call it, and I was dreading almost every minute of it because there was very little passion in me for anything but music.
Even as I moved to the US, there were some cultural differences that made it a bit hard for me to get settled. A few months in, I got used to the American lifestyle. But one thing that has been a constant struggle is my anxiety. It gets hard for me to mingle when I’m by myself but all my problems magically go away when I’m on stage doing what I love! I am fortunate to have my friends and family’s support though. Somehow if you try hard enough, it all seems to work out.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer-songwriter and music producer. Possibly your next favorite popstar. I write, record and sing songs in pop and hip-hop genres. I use music as a way to express how I feel, so my vibe and lyrics come from a genuine place. The first thing anyone says about my song would be how smooth and expressive my voice is. Not a brag, haha! I’m proud of that and for my melodic skills. Through experience, I’ve learned that people really love it when you give them something kinda familiar but with your spin on it.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Like I mentioned earlier, I have a new single that just got released on all major streaming platforms. I made it with an extremely talented producer/DJ Aktiveight. We would love for you to give it a listen, show it to your favorite humans and pets and party on! The song’s called “Battles and Blizzards” by Soobie & Aktiveight.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bathsushimusic.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bathsushimusic
- Other: https://song.link/i/1562696509
Image Credits:
Thando Skenjana and Seth Keul
