Classically trained musician and artist Silk had a vision. Use her many talents and creativity to write and produce music that makes a positive impact on people. As a lifelong positive thinker, Silk fully understands music’s ability to influence our emotions and the effects it has on our energy.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Silk about the new music, adapting during lock downs, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and how do You describe your style of music?
I have lived around the world. Most recently, a Las Vegas, Nevada resident.
My style of music is more pop, using what sounds good to me tone wise, whether it be drums or any other instrument. For example, while creating music, if I feel that a certain instrument will sound nice, I use it no matter what that instrument is. For me what is important is that the instrument adds something special to create harmony of sound. I have listened to a lot of pop music, so that forms the basis of what I create. However, I have been listening to a lot of club music since I started to live in Las Vegas and that does influence my music also. I feel Latin music carries beauty, so I like to incorporate that into the blend too.
How did you get here? As in, what inspired or motivated you to take on this journey through music and the music biz?
From a very small age, maybe 3 or 4, I was trained in classical music. I have always listened to a lot of pop music, with some country, jazz, and rock. My mind enjoys exploring tunes, colors, and designs (and food lol). I like mixing things to create what sounds good, looks good, and tastes good to me. I am an artist in many mediums and my music incorporates those many other forms. I used to copy master pieces (oils) and also sketch people. Fashion was always of interest too. I would draw and color different clothing styles to make something new and different. I also enjoyed writing, so I became an author, and have a talk show. That writing became a facet of my music. Since I have been on this path of arts and creativity, it naturally took a turn towards producing music. I strongly feel that being located in Las Vegas helped. I would attend a lot of music concerts and saw (finally) all my favorite stars on stage. It was all natural progression. As a child I have performed on stage singing in choirs and in classical dance performances. After school I focused on getting double college degrees and the performer in me was silent for some time, until it all came out bringing with it, the full spectrum of the arts that I had taken in. I feel that the performer just lays dormant until it gets a chance to come alive. Las Vegas afforded me the perfect opportunity and motivation to bring my learned skills, talent, and take music to the public in a way that only entertainers do. After all Vegas is the land of entertainers! Everything inside me that was budding and building, bloomed in Vegas, and I am happy for the experience.
How does your latest project compare/contrast with your previous release(s)?
To tell you the truth, I produced a few singles already, but they all got produced together at the same time. “It’s Hot” just happened to be the one I started with and finished first. The other songs are all ready. They all compare with each other only. I feel this single compares favorably. “It’s Hot” is light and the essence of dance. It’s easy to listen to and just be with the music. When you hear this track, you do not have to think too much, except to just be happy and feel light. Even if this song gives you a few seconds of happiness it’s done its job.
Were you setting out to accomplish anything specific, follow a specific theme, or explore different styles of creation?
Nice question. What I followed was beauty. What makes something beautiful? I would listen to the music as it was being created selecting the right sounds and would pass it through my mind till it hit my personal levels of what sounds good.
I selected every sound that went into the song. If it sounded right to me and my personal artist inside, I would say okay let’s use this and put it this way or that way, always looking to create something fresh, and new, and pleasant to the ear. What I feel is that every artist is an individual who carries within a style and is also a judge. He or she IS that music. It is a very personal part of them. What he or she produces is what he or she is. I am a positive thinker, speaker, and writer. This song was produced by me as the outward reflection or facet of who I am. Even the video was produced that way, a visual representation of my personal style. The theme of it all is important to me- feeling good, looking good, and being happy.
Name the biggest challenge you faced as a creative during these unprecedented times? How did you adapt? How have you kept the creative fires burning during all this?
From my childhood, I have always been able to transmute and convert negativity into positive. That’s just how I am wired. It happens automatically.
Visualize a bunch of arrows being thrown at you. Can you convert those arrows into flowers? What I do is something like that. As those arrows come at you (not you personally) if you are able to change them into flowers then what’s created in the atmosphere of flowers is something good and beautiful. That’s what happened here, but with sound, for the purpose of happiness.
What was the last song you listened to?
I went out and heard some piano being played. I also heard some classical Indian music being played. But the last song I listened to was “We Ain’t Ever Getting Older” by Fozia Williams. Before that, “Taki Taki”.
How does that song or artist affect you or your work?
“Taki Taki” has a combination of sounds. It has several singers and flavors in it, and it brings all this together well. It brings Cardi B’s particular type of energy along with Selena Gomez’s softness. Ozuna’s different brand of voice infiltrates the song and stands out – weaving through the song. Using these different sounds to create a song, bringing it all together to create music, something someone can listen to and feel good while listening to it. Think of the singers in that song, all having a particular style and yet it all came together so well. Bringing different sounds together to create a unique whole is what influenced me and my work. It is what I strive to do and where my passion lives.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? 8-tracks? Cassettes? CDs? MP3s? Streaming platforms? WHY?
Each method served its purpose when it came in. While each one was in its prime, it gave rise to the next generation each one being a step to the next. I currently prefer streaming because I can buy one song and not have to buy the album. I can download it anywhere I am, as long as I have internet. Streaming allows a song to be distributed to the whole world at the same time and is available at a reasonable cost to the average consumer.
However, I do know that when I would buy CD’s/cassettes etc., there was a sense of importance that went with it. Every purchase was deemed important since it physically was added to a collection of very colorful albums. I don’t find that sense of importance now with streaming, that happened with every album purchased in my home. Now everything is almost taken for granted which often happens with mass consumption. Of course, today musicians are able to produce more singles since they can be released and purchased more easily and quicker too. This a blessing for a musician. Overall, I would say that streaming makes music more accessible and easier so yes, it is better, in my opinion.
Where is the best place to connect with you and follow your journey?
I do ask that you be patient with me while I bring all this up to speed. I do tend to focus much more on the music itself, than what I do or am doing personally, but I will get up to speed with my social media. If you enjoy music, dancing and feeling good, then please do join me and connect, or reach out on my social pages. I would very much like to hear from you.
Social Media Links for Silk
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078560097533
I really appreciate Your time. Anything else you wish to add before we sign off?
Thank you for listening to my new single “It’s Hot”. The song is about what makes you happy personally; about you and what you find attractive and ‘what floats your boat’. Take in this song, experience it, and feel free to apply it to your own personal journey. Whatever you find hot is what matters. For example, in the song “Favorite Things” by Julie Andrews from The Sound of Music, the focus is her favorite things. It’s the same thing here. What do you find hot? What makes you happy? What would you like to see happen more and more for yourself? This song is all about you and your preferences. Just listen to the song and imagine whatever you want and above all else, feel happy. The energy contained in “It’s Hot” and its lyrics will support you and what you feel when you listen. I hope it makes you feel good.
