An Interview With Edward Sylvan
One of the most important messages to me is the education of love. Love is a simple word yet so profound. A lot of actions that cause detriment to ourselves and others stem from the fact that we are ignorant of the different types of love. I try to include the different types in my music. Also, anxiety has been at an all-time high lately. Before creating I ask myself what sounds, cadence and words could be used to appease the cloud of anxiety.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Queenie Lasoul.
Latifah Clark, creatively known as Queenie Lasoul, is an independent artist and creative who uses music to empower and uplift her listeners. Drawing her name from Queen Latifah, whom she shares her namesake with, she dropped her first project, Before the Getaway, to rave reviews. Through hard work and authenticity, Queenie’s brand has grown. Her two biggest songs on Spotify, “Chillin in Our Ways” and “Be Free”, have 81,000 and 26,000 streams. She’s also been featured on several sites including the Frames YouTube channel and the North Star’s “These Songs of Freedom Live” segment.
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
Sure! I moved to Atlanta from Miami in 2017 after Hurricane Irma flooded my apartment. I felt like it was a calling from God. It was time for me to do what I needed and wanted to do. I spoke with my cousin and he told me- It was more than me. It’s not about me. It was about the people I could inspire using my gift. From there, I moved in with my friend Danny Lewie and we began crafting my first project, The Getway. The Getway was my escape. I lost my car that I worked hard to get at the time and it showed me how insignificant that item was because it was gone just like that. Since then, we just didn’t look back. I started making music at the age of ten with my brother. He saw us becoming child stars. But that was the beginning of me seeing that this was even possible.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career? What was the lesson or takeaway you took out of that story?
Without a doubt, losing everything I owned during the hurricane. It showed me that things come and go, but your passion and your dreams will always remain. It made me realize that I had to start living for the life I wanted not accepting the life I had.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
I would advise a younger person to always be in search of purpose. Once you find something that not only caters to your overall health but feeds the lives of others, learn about it, practice it and do your best. Also, don’t forget about the business side.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
Absolutely! Both my Mom and Dad. They are the people that helped mold and shaped me into the woman that I am today. My mom’s nurturing spirit helped grow my empathy and care for others. My father’s confidence and determination gave me the strength to know that I can accomplish something even when the odds may seem like it’s against me.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
One of the most important messages to me is the education of love. Love is a simple word yet so profound. A lot of actions that cause detriment to ourselves and others stem from the fact that we are ignorant of the different types of love. I try to include the different types in my music. Also, anxiety has been at an all-time high lately. Before creating I ask myself what sounds, cadence and words could be used to appease the cloud of anxiety.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
Love became important to me the most when I worked as a waitress at a restaurant located in a tourist area. I ran into so many people from different places and cultures. Some were nice but some were not at all. I started to feel like I do not like people and it broke my heart. Then I realized that we are who we are due to the things that we experience and how we chose to react to them. This allowed me to have more empathy, which I learned is a factor in practicing Agape love. It is definitely a practice.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
During shows, I will give the audience different mantras to repeat or actions of love to share with one another. People have expressed to me how these exercises have impacted them in a positive way. Also, I have had several people with anxiety write to me via social media from the U.S and other countries to inform me on how the music has relaxed them during the height of anxious moments.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
As far as Love is concerned, I believe we could all educate ourselves more on the different types of love and how we can apply what we’ve learned in our daily life. Sometimes it is not the easiest thing to do but I believe its worth it.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”
1. Start with your why. Why are you doing what you are doing? This question will help you continue your journey during times when things get difficult.
2. “Learn the language” I actually heard T.D Jakes say this around the beginning of my journey and boy was he right! Educating yourself on your career path from the bottom up gives you the advantage of planning, properly communicating and overcoming obstacles faster.
3. Learn the business. If you would like your purpose and passion to become your business, it is imperative to learn the business side. It’s a continuous journey but a mandatory one in order to make profit.
4. Be yourself. Spend time with yourself to learn yourself. Having a great appreciation and love for yourself becomes a charger to the power you have within.
5. Spread love.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I would start a virtual nonprofit organization that contains departments constructed by the leading issues in the world.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
“I know that I know nothing”
I believe that we only know what we think we know until we realize that life as we know it is always evolving. Also what we believe we know is really an accumulation of things that we’ve learned along the way from others who may have thought they knew. In short, everything is a continuous learning experience.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
I would love to have brunch with Jay-z. I would like to pick his brain on the industry and life lessons he’s learned along his journey.
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
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Music Stars Making A Social Impact: Why & How Queenie Lasoul Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.