Michelle Marie Van Sickle aka Michelle from Da Soul is a believer in Christ first and a dynamic bilingual musical artist that can Rap and Sing. Her sophomore album ‘To Live Is Christ’ is currently on sale and displays her versatility. She is also involved in ministry and is a Pastors wife. Michelle is one of the few Hispanic females making moves in the male dominated world of Hip-Hop. @DaSouth got a chance to ask her a few questions for DaSouth Latino’s first interview in a series of upcoming editorials. Enjoy!
DaSouth Latino:Tell us about yourself and explain how using Hip-Hop to communicate truth became something you do.
Michelle from Da Soul: Well for starters I am 25 years old, married for almost 4 years, Puerto Rican but I was raised here in Texas. I became a Christian at age 12 and started a Hip Hop ministry with my cousin at age 13. At age 15 after my cousin joined the military I decided to form a duo with my older brother JC, titled “Ben-Ami,” which is a Hebrew word for “son of my people.” We performed together for 6 years and in that time released an album entitled ‘Inside of my Mind’. We did a tour in El Salvador, New Mexico, performed in Puerto Rico and all over Texas. My love for hip-hop truly started with a love for words…I have always been a lover of poetry and writing. When I realized at thirteen that hip-hop is poetry with a beat I fell in love with it and ran with it. Hip-Hop in my opinion is one of the very few genres where you can express so much more in the same length of time. Hip-hop is story telling so it has given me the opportunity to share God’s truth with many people.
DaSouth Latino:What is “Da Soul”? Is that a group? If so, are you going to release another project with them anytime soon?
Michelle from Da Soul: It’s funny that you ask that lol…the truth is I kind of adopted that name because it “just happened,” lol. Da Soul is not a group. When I released my first solo album in 2008 it was entitled “From Da Soul.” In the Latino market it has always been custom on every song on your album to state your name, the producers name, and the name of the album. Michelle is such a common name so in every song I would say “Michelle…From Da Soul,” and I think people thought that was my artistic name (and it went together) when it really wasn’t. So anyhow, 4 years later people cannot disassociate “From Da Soul” to my name so I have resolved to keep it…I figured it has a ring to it! Lol
DaSouth Latino:How is it being an artist in a group? What are some of the things you have to press through when you work with a collective?
Michelle from Da Soul: In comparing how things were when I was in a group with my brother to being a solo artist now, I can say confidently I have more of a creative liberty to “experiment,” and branch out now (if that makes sense.) The music industry is constantly evolving and as you mature your music will evolve as well. Looking back I dont know if collectively we could have done that successfully. My brother is an amazing man and vocalist, but as we matured our goals in life were different and we are ok with where God has us now. In working in a group there are advantages…it is a blast! In a group you have constant accountability and you have another brain working creatively alongside of yours to make good music. Some of the challenges are personality differences, schedules, some songs fitting for one of us but not the other. All in all it was a great experience that was so necessary in the molding and shaping of the artist that I have become today.
DaSouth Latino:You recently released a new record called ‘To Live is Christ’. What are you trying to convey through it?
Michelle from Da Soul: ‘To Live Is Christ’ is an album that speaks a lot about struggles and seasons of chiseling my character in the past 4 years. The main point I want to convey is the only true reason for living is Jesus Christ. People will never understand the sufficiency of Christ until they have understood the insufficiency of everything else. I used to chase the wind for many years and was always left discontent. I tell people I was a Martha (Luke 10) who was busy doing so many things that I forgot that the most important thing is to be a Mary, spending time at the feet of Jesus. Unfortunately this is something many people struggle with understanding as well.
DaSouth Latino:On the album ‘To Live Is Christ’ you had Hip-Hop heavy weight Manny Montes feature on it. How is it having such a respected artist on your project?
Michelle from Da Soul: It was such an honor. I have been a fan of Manny Montes since I was a pre teen lol…so to hear him on the album is still surreal for me. I was so blessed that he took the time to record for the album after coming home from being on tour. I will always be a hiphop head so it felt good (even at 4am lol) to just spit bars, no bells and whistles, just hip-hop.
DaSouth Latino:Who else would you like to work with?
Michelle from Da Soul: In the Latino market I would say: Triple seven, Alex zurdo, Funky, Redimi2. In the English market: too many to mention lol but definitely andy mineo and suzy rock are up there for me. However the Lord leads.
DaSouth Latino:We noticed that a lot of your records are influenced by your Hispanic culture. How is Christian Hip-Hop on the Latin side compared to the American side in your opinion?
Michelle from Da Soul: The Latin side is a smaller market so opportunities in my opinion are made a little more readily available. The Latino market has opened many doors for me throughout the years that I am extremely grateful for. The down side of the Latino market is the piracy on our music; it has truly become an epidemic. Also a lot of artists in the Latino market stay “small” creatively because there is a fear of taking risks. The Latino artists that have managed to break through these barriers and take risks are thriving in this market, and its showing. The American market is extremely competitive and is composed of so much talent that you really have to raise the standard on yourself as an artist if you want to survive in it.
DaSouth Latino:I have heard people say that Spanish Christian Hip-Hop is behind. What do you think can be better on the Latin side of Urban Christian Music?
Michelle from Da Soul: I think the Latin side perfected the art of Reggaeton, but when Dance Music hit the industry they didn’t know how to evolve. So whenever they finally stepped into the “now” of the industry, the American market had already been doing it. I think not being afraid of risks is one thing that could better the market, but then also I think studying what is out there and perfecting/modifying your craft is always going to keep you ahead of the game. I was so blessed to have Obed El Arquitecto work on my project because this man has no fear of taking risks. He pushed me hard on this project and I am so grateful for it.
DaSouth Latino:Is it hard being a Female in Christian Hip-Hop? What are some of the challenges of being a female in Urban Music?
Michelle from DaSoul: Sometimes it can be, but I can say truthfully (I hope my heart is heard here) I don’t blame people for second guessing my artistic abilities because I am a woman. Let’s face it there are very few women in the Christian hip-hop movement that are a force to reckon with. In some cases there is just a lack of talent, I know that sounds blunt but it’s honest, or there is talent but the artist has never been coached on how to make themselves marketable. Too many women in this market feel as if they have to lose their femininity to make a name for themselves and that is not the case. You can be effective.
DaSouth Latino:Who is Michelle off the stage?
Michelle from DaSoul: Michelle off the stage is a wife, a friend, a sister, an aunt and a mentor. I am huge on family and friendships. I am head over heels for my husband lol….people may laugh and think I’m crazy but I tell them I am a wife first. So if it comes down to recording a track in the studio or cooking dinner for my husband, the studio waits. I will be married until I die, I’m not rapping forever. Lol! I am very down to earth, I live a great life because it’s a simple life. I’m content with good food and a movie, or a good read, walking our dogs, or hitting the gym. Whatever works for the day lol.
DaSouth Latino:What are some of the responsibilities and challenges you face being married to a Pastor?
Michelle from Da Soul: Being a Pastor’s wife is one of the greatest privileges I have ever had. My husband is the Youth Pastor at our church, Calvary Chapel San Antonio. My responsibilities are helping with event planning (i.e. purity conference, youth camp), mentoring our girls, and really just being that support to my husband, in helping him keep his ducks in a row. Some of the challenges in being a Pastors wife is your life is on display 24/7…so you truly have to live above reproach. I always think I would never want one of my girls to see me as a stumbling block to her in her faith. Being in any position in leadership means you will have fans and haters lol..But you press forward and do exactly what God has asked of you to do. People might think this odd but I tell them my heart gets to break over God’s people all the time…to be trusted with God’s children is a huge privilege.
DaSouth Latino:Who are some of your musical influences?
Michelle from Da Soul: Lauryn Hill, Manny Montes, Alicia Keys, Alex Zurdo, Emile Sande, Jaci velasquez.
DaSouth Latino:What can we expect from you musically in the future?
Michelle from Da Soul: Apart from the album but still related to music I will be releasing a behind the scenes documentary on the day by day process of recording the album. Aside from that I am trying my best to offer you guys good music to vibe to but that will bring conviction and spark a change.
DaSouth Latino:Anything you would like to share with us that we haven’t mentioned yet, a testimony or something God has showed you recently?
Michelle from Da Soul: Well another goal I hope this project achieves is more opportunities to minister to young ladies that have been victims of sexual abuse. I am a victim of sexual molestation from the age of 11 to age 13. My heart is for these girls and I want to offer them hope and I pray I can do so through my testimony and through the words on this album. Now that I am fully healed from the emotional scars, I feel I am in a position to help these girls in their healing process.
DaSouth Latino: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us! We appreciate your contribution to the movement. God Bless!!!!
To Stay Updated on Michelle from Da Soul follow her: @michy4mdasoul
Also you can check out her album ‘To Live is Christ’: iTunes link
