A Soul Full of Music

Okay, so… not even just lately. My whole life I’ve been obsessed with old school soul and R&B music. I mean real singers. Not to throw shade on today’s music (I do enjoy some of it), but I’m an old school girl to my core. There’s just something about that era of music that feels so pure, so authentic. It speaks to something deep in me.

I love the experience of digging through vinyls at record stores, finding those rare gems, bringing them home, and placing them gently on my record player. That crackle before the sound comes in? That’s magic. From Sam Cooke’s sincerity to Aretha Franklin’s power, from James Brown’s grit to Nat King Cole’s velvet smoothness, it all just moves me.

Lately, I’ve been deep in my After 7 era. I’m in love with their sound—the harmonies, the emotion, the vocals. They can really sing, and that kind of talent just doesn’t come around often anymore. I’ve been hunting for their “Taking My Time” album on vinyl, and let me tell you, I cannot find it anywhere. I mean nowhere. And yes, I want it badly, but I’m not trying to pay a whole rent check for it either (even though, maybe… I would?).

Music runs through me. It’s how I feel, how I think, how I love. I’ve even thought about my future wedding (when that happens!) and who I’d dream of performing. After 7, Babyface, Maxwell… like, can you imagine the vibes?

At the end of the day, I’m a music girl. Deep down. I love the way voices wrap around a beat, the soul in a single note, the emotion tucked inside a lyric. It’s hard to explain, but if you know, you know.

— Becoming Herrss | Kayla Maryam ✨ 🌼