March 31st-April 1,
2017
Getting to know the “Soul Tree Collective” by Melodi Tyson
It’s
your girl, Mimi, and there is absolutely nothing like listening to good
music. Imagine with me… Soul Train
meets the incredible music scene we know and love in Austin, Texas. I’m talking about Love, Peace, and a whole
lot of soul!
Music
lovers it’s time to embrace an awesome group of soul-filled youth on the
scene ranging from ages 10 to 18.
You will enjoy and totally groove with the kids known as the “Soul Tree
Collective.” Before I met the
members, I was wondering what exactly Soul Tree Collective was. I
learned from Swift, one of the organizers, that Soul Tree Collective is a
nonprofit Texas company that supports the musical endeavors of young
students in the Travis and Williamson Counties. Soul Tree Collective is
dedicated to keeping Classic Soul and R&B music alive in Texas.
These
hard-working kids definitely have a whole lot of love for soul and R&B
music. Witnessing their hard work
made me realize that music has truly influenced our generation to live in
peace and harmony with each other.
|
Austin Urban Music Festival
A blog for:
“Soul Tree Collective”
|
Soul Tree Collective’s, practice dance floor flows
with professionalism and dedication. During this choreography session, the
music was booming. Within a few minutes, you feel exactly where they are coming
from; a place of deep love for soul music.
We tend to connect with groups that can properly
execute familiar songs, often recalling the first time we enjoyed the rhythm or
the lyrics. During rehearsal, I noticed
that the group rehearsed several vibrant songs, adding their own hip flavor. When
these kids blend their unique sound with the songs of yesterday that we know
and love, it was pure magic!
We thought the readers would want to know that they
dedicate four hours every Saturday to intense rehearsals. This totally looks like fun, but each member
remains focused. I asked each about
their motivation. Collectively they basically said they loved the music their
parents loved, R & B and soul music.
They also felt this genre of music communicated “love” and a positive
message that transcends all audiences.
I now want to introduce you to Jayden, Joshua,
Kameron, Kya, Kylie, Leslie, and Taj members of Soul Tree Collective (2017).
Is it hard to perform in
front of a lot of people?
Kameron:
No, I’ve been doing this a long time.
Leslie:
At first, but it becomes easy.
Taj:
Sometimes I get nervous, but I actually like to be in big crowds.
For kids that are kind of shy
like me, what advice do you have for them?
Jayden: Just show the audience who you are, be
yourself.
Joshua: For kids who are shy, practice in front of
family and remember you’ve got to break out of your comfort zone in this
business.
Kya:
Just be yourself.
What instruments do you
play?
Joshua:
Oh, I play the piano, drums, and I’m learning to play the guitar.
Kameron: I play the drums.
|
Other than Soul Tree
Collective do you have any other projects you are working on now?
Kylie: I’m currently doing some voiceover work for
a cartoon called “Heaven’s Adventures.” I play the character, “Heaven.”
Most of the group chimed
in on this question. So how long have you been singing?
Jayden: All my life.
Taj:
Since I was 4.
Joshua:
I started to kind of help out with a family situation. But, I’ve been singing since I was 6 years
old.
Leslie:
Singing? Since I was about a year old.
Kylie: I started singing when I was 7 years old.
Twitter Kyliegirl414
|
Do you have a stage name?
Kya: I go by Kya Monee.
Jayden:
Legit Cool Kid.
Taj:
Superman
Kameron:
Ms. K.
Joshua:
King Bakes
Leslie:
I use my name, Leslie
Kylie:
Kylie P.
Wanna
keep in touch with members:
Facebook
Soul
Tree Collective
Kya Monee’
Kyliegirl
Taj Johnson
Instagram
Kya_Monee’
Lesliemc1414
Youtube
Kya Monee’
Kyliegirl414
Youtube@JoshuaB Soul Singer
|
Well, there you have it Austin Urban Music Festival
lovers. This is an awesome group that
has worked with some of the most vibrant performers like, TreeG and the
Peterson Brothers. These two performers have thrived after their Soul Tree
Collective days. You can expect great
things from each of these young performers.
Get ready to dance, move, and groove to with the Soul Tree Collective.
That’s What’s UP!
