We had the opportunity to sit down with the amazingly talented Faron Rashelle to talk about her rise to success, inspirations, and future.
Lesi Wilson: My name is Lesi and I’m a writer with Give it Gas Magazine and you are the beautiful Ms. Faron Rashelle. I’ve been listening to your music over the last few weeks and it’s amazing. We are wanting the fans to know a little more about you so let’s get started. where are you from?
Faron Rashelle: I was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. I live in Maumelle right now but was born and raised in Little Rock.
Lesi: What musical influences did you have growing up?
Faron: My family has a strong background in church. Just being around people in the choir and at church when I was younger. My parents, really my whole family, know how to sing or play instruments, so just being around music because of my family and church really influenced me.
Lesi: What church did you sing at?
Faron: I used to sing at Greater Christ temple when I was little, First Pentecostal, and my dad’s church.
Lesi: Were there any artist that inspired you to start singing?
Faron: Not from the start, but like I said when I was little, I was around it at church. Those were the first artists that I saw. Different church members first initially inspired me, but other artists that I like are Mali Music because I think he has an amazing voice and he’s very talented… Oh! I like Kim Burrell, there is NOTHING she can’t do. She’s an amazing artist and I used to listen to her a lot when I was younger.
Lesi: When did you realize that music is what you wanted to do?
Faron: When I was little, probably first grade when they start asking you “what do you want to be when you grow up”, I would say “Oh I want to be a singer but that’s probably not going to happen so I’ll probably end up being a teacher”. I knew I wanted to be a singer then, I just didn’t know it could really happen and so one day we started working on music and here we are now.
Lesi: Do you ever get nervous performing and how do you deal with that?
Faron: I would say I get nervous right before we get on stage. When you’re standing on the steps and they’re announcing your name, that’s the most nerve-racking moment for me. When you go out there you have to change, you have to go into performance mode and now I’m no longer nervous. I’d tell myself “We came here to put on a show, let’s enjoy the moment, let’s vibe out, let’s all have fun. Everybody came here to be entertained and enjoy this moment so let’s make it worth their while!”
Lesi: Right! What is your creative process?
Faron: As far as writing music?
Lesi: Yes, how do you get into the groove of writing a song?
Faron: It comes in different ways. One of the main ways is when I’m driving. Lyrics will just drop in my head, or I’ll be playing instrumentals off YouTube to inspire lyrics and remember different situations that have happened, and a couple of lines will pop in my head. If we’re having a studio session, the lights will be low, the colorful lights are on and we just vibe to the music and sometimes things come in that way. But the majority of the times it’s when I’m driving. I’m able to write best when I’m sitting in the car by myself because I think a lot when I’m in the car by myself.
Lesi: Your first song I heard on Apple Music was Unworthy. What was the inspiration behind that song?
Faron: That song was written by me and the Producer K.G. He was in college at the time and we were having a studio session and he was like “the vibe I’m getting is ‘have you ever been through a bad break up?’ I’m like yeah, I have. So, he just starts playing chords with the music and we just created it based off what we felt at that moment. I could feel it and the words just came. That was a long time ago around 2017.
Lesi: What was the inspiration behind your project Overdue?
Faron: It had been a long time since “Unworthy” came out and I was like “I need to go ahead and do it now” I didn’t want to just leave it there and have done that one song, I wanted to put a whole project out. For some reason, lyrics had just been coming in my head often, so I was like “I need to do something with this”, “I’m feeling so inspired and motivated”, “I need to put it out”. We worked on the project kind of quickly because really most of all the songs were already written. I got serious, I put a date out to the people that were working with me. I asked them “Hey do you think we can make this date?” and they said “Uh, that’s kind of soon but we can try” and so we just worked really hard to meet that date. I think that really helped us and just really motivated us. Just setting a date and having a goal to reach made me feel “We are really putting out this project” and we just did it and I’m so glad that it happened.
Lesi: I’m glad too, it’s very well put together. Kill ‘em, is especially a great song.
Faron: I appreciate it!
Lesi: So As a woman, what’s the hardest thing about being in the industry and how do you deal with it?
Faron: Sometimes you need more help to get more exposure, so you need to meet more people and you need to work with more people. It hasn’t happened to me, but sometimes as women, you’re put in the positions where you’ll be around someone who may be interested in you and they know you need something from them, so that makes it awkward. We have to be like I’m here to do business so let’s do business. This is business and I am very serious. I didn’t come to play games with you, so let’s not waste time. I have a date I’m trying to meet so let’s do this and get out. If it’s a problem we can go somewhere else, you know? We’re helping each other because I’m always going to shout out whoever helps me. I don’t have a problem letting them know a job is a job. I think it’s a good thing though being a woman in the industry. To accomplish those types of goals knowing there are a lot of people who want to do it but don’t actually do it. I feel like personally just putting out my project inspired a lot of other people, that’s what I’ve been told. As a woman in the industry just doing anything positive is always a good thing.
Lesi: Right, I get that. What part of your career are you most proud of?
Faron: I’m most proud of how I can adapt and that I’m not close minded as far as trying different sounds or trying different things. A lot of the songs on the project are completely different from each other. I feel I’m open minded enough to where when the team brings an idea to me, I’m not scared to try it. That’s a good thing, especially with music changing. It’s a good thing to be able to adapt and not be afraid to change and just be open to different suggestions and sounds.
Lesi: What does your average day look like?
Faron: Right now, I’m still working a day job, so while I’m at work I write because ideas and lyrics just pop in my head. I’ll listen to instrumentals too. Now, it’s not as effective as when I’m driving but sometimes lyrics do pop in my head. After that then I usually go to the studio and have a session, a gig, or band rehearsal.
Lesi: If you weren’t singing what would you be doing?
Faron: I’m heavily involved in my sorority right now, so times that I’m not doing music I’m doing things for them, like working on a project for our conferences. That’s what I’d probably be doing but I really can’t see myself doing anything besides my music… That’s what I feel like I’m supposed to do. That’s what I enjoy doing.
Lesi: What sorority are you in?
Faron: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, INC.
Lesi: So, I want to try and keep it fun because we want the fans to know the real you. With that being said, if you were a superhero what would your superpower be?
Faron: Oh my gosh, I don’t know! I feel like everyone says they want to fly, that would be fun. I think to be able to read people’s minds, maybe? I think that would be neat because if I’m at a show I can sense the vibe quickly and know what they want to hear and what direction I should go in. It would be helpful because I could always perform what they want.
Lesi: That would scare me so much! If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be?
Faron: This probably sounds off the wall, but I like Tory Lanez. I would actually LOVE to collab with him! I feel like there is nothing he can’t do, and I would love his motivation. I was listening to his music a lot too before the project came out and I think that motivated me more because he just sounds hungry.
Lesi: Right and you know he doesn’t put himself in a box.
Faron: Exactly! That’s why I feel there is no style he can’t do. I think he is so talented! I would love to be on a project with him one day in the future, that would be awesome!
Lesi: Can you describe your artistry in 5 words?
Faron: I would say original, relatable, soothing, calming, and genuine.
Lesi: I absolutely agree! Can you tell us what’s on the way from you?
Faron: Right now, I’m working on releasing more music. Hopefully that will roll out real soon. Also further developing my craft and working on visuals, so I’m excited on what’s to come.
Lesi: Thank you so much for making it here to talk with us!
Faron: I appreciate you having me.
You can stream Faron’s EP, “Overdue” on all streaming services now and be on the lookout for the visuals to her song “I Got You”.
https://song.link/FaronRashelle
instagram: @faron_rashelle
facebook: FaronRashelle
twitter: @faron_rashelle
