Singer Embraces Music as a 'Way of Life' Instead of Livelihood
Singer Harmonie Soule is working towards a 2022 EP.
Image Provided by Harmonie Soule
For many musical artists – a successful career in music is the end all, be all. The goal is often to leave the 9 to 5 and make it in the industry, no matter the hurdles, rejections or the delayed destiny. What a breath of fresh air to meet a young woman, with both a world of potential and the voice to match who isn’t looking to music to save her.
Harmonie Soule wants a musical life, but she isn’t looking to the industry to save her.
Born Christina Bailey on the 11th day of November, (11:11 a time when the universe is said to be listening to you) - the native of Fort Worth, Texas has always had to be responsible and make difficult decisions. As the oldest of three girls, Bailey quickly found solace in singing. In fact, she recalls beginning the love affair with music at the tender age of three.
It’s almost second nature to assume that soulful black singers come from a gospel background, but Soule grew up surrounded by blues and jazz. She would go on to sing in the Tremble Tech High School Choir and then in the military choir for the Navy.
“I was the person who sang the cadence during boot camp,” she recalls. “It was when I left the military that I decided I wanted to sing full time.”
By 2006, Soule had a legal team, a booking team and a manager. She had positioned herself to go really far in the industry, but let her tell it – she’s incredibly grateful that God didn’t put her out there like she thought she wanted back then. She legally changed her name to Harmonie Soule that year because she was simply tired of signing contracts: Doing Business As.
She became Harmonie Soule without hesitation. Acceptance in the industry, however, wasn’t a simple snap of the fingers.
“I found myself amongst a tough crowd, where many of the artists and audiences were extremist with their view of what black soul artists should look like,” Soule shares. “I wasn’t the typical hair wrapped, loc-wearing artist. I found that I didn’t choose my audience well, because those audiences were looking to be serenaded by someone with their ideal sound and look.”
Soule gravitated to the background, singing soprano, alto and tenor.
“It doesn’t matter the sound – I can find the harmony,” she says confidently. “It doesn’t matter if it’s high or low.”
Her ability to harmonize along with her affinity for award winning singer Musiq Soulchild inspired the conception of the name – Harmonie Soule.
It was Soule’s ability to harmonize with relative ease that led to opportunities for her to share venues with the likes of Anthony David, Yahzarah and so many others. Even her vocal coach - Muhsinah afforded her many opportunities to grow and learn.
Soule didn’t always have the confidence that her powerful voice suggests. People would love the way that she sang, but she would make it a point to fixate on the one person in the audience who didn’t appear to be feeling her and it would ruin her entire performance.
Singing in the background became her thing. It is Soule’s sincerest advice to new artists – “build your confidence and if possible, cleave to your support system.”
Soule began accepting gigs in Dallas. She did open mic nights throughout DFW, Arlington and Fort Worth. It was during one performance at a Dallas Radisson Hotel that Soule was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.
The hotel had a bar and a stage that she can never forget.
“I would sing live soul music there often,” Soule says. “My good friend and a stellar gospel singer - Van Artis happened to be there one night. He presented me with the opportunity to sing background for singer Russell Taylor.”
In 2008, Soule attended a concert at Dallas’ House of Blues. Famed singer Eric Roberson was the lead performer. Like she often does, Soule was in the audience singing along. Roberson stopped his performance of hit song “Pretty Girl” and asked who he was hearing harmonizing in the audience. Everyone pointed in the direction of Soule, who’d managed her way to the very front of the crowd.
Within what seemed like a blink of an eye, Soule was singing background for artists Sy Smith and Russell Taylor. She also opened a benefit show along with various local artists for Erykah Badu at Dallas’ Black Forest Theater.
When Artis passed away in 2011 Soule retreated from performing. She simply felt the joy slipping away.
Her family is split between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Baptists, so they didn’t take her musical career seriously if it didn’t involve church. Her support system was Artis and once he was gone, she didn’t have the encouragement she needed. Soule walked away to focus on her emotional and mental health, along with her career goals.
“I didn’t want to be burnt out, trying to force the music,” Soule shares. “I also didn’t want to struggle financially like so many artists I knew from the music scene.”
Background vocalists didn’t make much money, so Soule decided to focus on her corporate career in programming. She told herself that once reached a certain position financially she could revisit music.
That corporate career has spanned more than 15 years.
Originally Soule wanted to be a doctor. She was an undesignated airman while in the Navy. Her ship (USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72) was the first ship to launch war missile during the Enduring Iraq and Iraqi Freedom during her tour of duty. She transferred to a position as a dental technician for a couple of years and decided that wasn’t for her either. After that, Soule began working in collections for Citibank. She had already been stationed in Chicago, Florida, Washington, Hawaii, Singapore, Sasebo and Bahrain.
While many of her peers focused on their work in customer service roles – Soule was curious about what corporate had to offer.
“As a dental tech, I experienced a lot of racism,” Soule shares. “During an interview, one dentist in particular asked to take a picture of me to see if I would fit in with the all white team. I never heard back.”
Soule found Citibank to be quite depressing, because everyone was trying to meet a quota.
“We would have to let people know they were going to lose their homes,” Soule explains. People would call crying. I once saw a 60-year-old coworker fired because of budget cuts. I didn’t want that to be me.”
One day a supervisor asked if anyone on the floor could run a report. Not knowing how to run any such report, Soule raised her hand and volunteered. They gave her one week to complete the task. The young woman went and bought books and didn’t sleep. She ran the report and two months later, began at DeVry University. She had no idea what she was doing, but got it done. She wrote a code that pulled data from banking database systems.
After that launch of faith paid off, Soule would go on to work for top banks around the country. She reached her financial status gap as a senior analyst at Citibank, so she moved to Chase. When she heard rumors of potential layoffs – she headed over to Bank of America as a manager. Each position was a step up on the corporate ladder.
To her disappointment, Soule was laid off from Bank of America and that dismissal inspired the original tattoo that rests atop her chest:
Life is Simply the Thoughts that You Allow Yourself to Believe
She began to study law of attraction. Her mindset had always been: The worst is going to happen so deal with it, but Soule was ready to change that.
Music never left her.
Soule has always found herself singing at parties or gatherings in her home.
“I would basically sing on demand,” she laughs. “The truth is I really wanted to be successful at something, but when it came to music I got stage fright and severe anxiety. I didn’t realize until after I stopped performing that I was having real panic attacks.”
Learning more about mental health became essential for Soule.
Moving to California in 2016 really made Soule want to get back into music. The Bay Area music scene is simply amazing. She found herself attending more concerts there than she ever had.
“The freedom of expression as an artist in Oakland is unparalleled,” Soule says. “The Bay Area was all about doing art the way one wants to do art.”
Soule was inspired. She began to work with Valerie Trout, a jazz artist and music teacher in the Bay Area. She impressed upon a rejuvenated Soule music history – sharing with her background stories of Nina Simone and others.
“I found myself thinking - I can love my voice and still be good at this,” Soule admits.
Today, the 38 year old is a very successful Corporate Information Technology (IT) leader for VISA and is often recognized for her work. The company has selected her to speak on behalf of black women and technology on numerous occasions. She also works with student interns from various colleges around the country – specifically those in marketing and IT.
Her return to the south gave her further reason to sing again. It was a promise she made to her sister, who was murdered. Soule settled in Austin, Texas about five months before the pandemic began. Trying to affirm only the positive after her sister’s tragic death has definitely been a struggle, but she has two nieces and two nephews depending on both her guidance and her strength. Her military background and her structured lifestyle help her to stay on all four children about schoolwork and priorities.
Soule spends a great deal of time on Interstate 35, traveling back and forth from Austin to Dallas. Soule and her mother share in caring for the four children.
Because of the time she arrived in Austin and the impact of Covid-19, Soule hasn’t been able to explore and learn Austin as much as she’d like to at this point. She has, however, noticed a rise in African culture. While there isn’t a huge R&B and soul artist presence –Soule did have the opportunity to perform background for Russell Taylor at Austin’s South by Southwest Festival (SXSW).
In late 2020, Soule attended a virtual concert for one of her favorite artists - PJ Morton. She paid extra for the opportunity to chat with him afterwards. Morton told her that if she releases new music and works hard, he’s sure the two will work together some day soon.
That was all the motivation Soule needed.
She’s writing more, harmonizing more and networking more. And she still loves her position in the corporate spectrum. How can the two worlds coexist?
Soule is simply not money driven, but career driven. She has found her place in the corporate world. Not only is she comfortable – but also she is happy.
“The roles and responsibilities that I have – all of it is unheard of for people like me,” Soule says. “My mom had me at 16 and struggled with addiction while I was growing up. I’m proud of myself for finding success in the corporate world and I’m still going to pursue my dreams in music.”
As the world tries to upright itself from the pandemic, Soule is back to attending live shows. She positions herself near the stage and notices everything.
“I see when bands recover from a missed note; when background singers and even the lead singers are nervous and shaky,” she says. “I like to see everything. I want the entire experience.”
The goal is to complete an EP by mid-2022.
It is important to note that June is Black Music Month. Soulversations, a platform that sheds light on soul artists, musicians and singers is also on the horizon. Taylor is the host. Soule will be singing background for Taylor in Indianapolis in early July.
While there are still some jitters and obvious emotions looming – Soule understands her purpose much better this go round.
So many people love the attention more than they love the music. Soule really enjoys her job. There is no pressure on the music. She has seen artists crumble because they aren’t pumping out music. She works for her family and is happy being able to provide.
“I had to ask myself - do I want to be a famous singer, or a singer? So many people want the notoriety and such,” explains Soule. “I’ve always thought that if music is for me, the opportunity to make music will never leave.”
