Hello, 7HO3NIX! So great to connect and hear your incredible new song! Where are you from and how did you get into music?
I am from Columbus, Ohio. I started writing and recording original songs around age 7 on a cassette recorder. I’ve been doing it ever since.
Why do you write?
I write for every reason imaginable. I write for the joy of it. I write to understand myself. Sometimes it’s the only thing I know to do. I write because I am.
What is music to you? A profession? A hobby? A calling?
Music for me? It is part of my identity. I am made of it. It’s my first language. It’s what bleeds out when my skin tears or my heart breaks. It’s the gift God put in me to help me navigate and communicate in this world.
Who are some of your musical influences?
Definitely Brandy. Her voice and harmonies are everything. Then of course, Whitney and Mariah… The Jackson 5, Earth Wind and Fire, Deborah Cox, Amy Grant, Toni Branton, Selena (Quintanilla), Celine Dion, Christina, Britney. I learned from all of them. But I must say hands down that my sisters are my biggest musical influences. I gained my vocal chops mastering runs and harmonizing with them all day every day as a kid. Not everyone has that. It’s really special.
What do fans mean to you?
I still get so much love for the music I put out as a teenager. I get emails, DMs, and comments from people that still believe in me and are waiting for the next song. This is been like life support sometimes. I’m so grateful. What a blessing! Now I’m trying to find my audience, so I really appreciate it when a fan shares my songs. It means so much.
What do you want people to take away from your single, Touch Me with Your Words?
I want them to fall in love with intentionally giving and receiving love. It’s a beautiful thing. I am not in a relationship right now, and I wasn’t when I wrote it. But writing about intimacy was super healing for me. It helped me understand what I want to create with someone one day.
What is your goal as a musician?
I make music for the purpose of being whole. I can only hope and trust that the wholeness I find through creating will overflow into the people that consume what I create.
Where can people find you?
Visit www.gabriellesolange.com, or follow me on Spotify or Instagram!