Meet Rebecca Soul

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Soul and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has always been an essential part of my life. Being an artist is inherently risky; it’s hard to make it, and there are no guarantees. Everyone tells you to give up before you even try. I was born into a Spanish/French-Canadian family of musicians in the suburbs of Montreal. From the age of three, classical violin was my whole life until I turned 16. Everyone assumed that would be my path until I had a serious accident playing volleyball. I hit my head on a pole, got a major concussion, and broke my wrist. The nerve damage prevented me from playing the violin for months, so I started singing more.

To fund my first studio session recording my original music, I sold oranges door to door. People thought I was crazy and told me I was wasting my money. But I wrote five songs about mental health, recorded them in a studio, and uploaded them to my YouTube channel. They garnered almost a million streams. After that teenage project, I decided to take the risk of pursuing singing professionally. As I was about to graduate high school, everyone asked what I planned to do next. I told them I wanted to be a singer. Most were horrified, and some laughed. Since I excelled at school, was taking in AP physics, chemistry, and math, my professors urged me to go to med school and didn’t understand why I would pursue music. I’ll never forget how my physics professor humiliated me in front of the class, saying musicians were good for nothing and that I had wasted his time taking his class.

My parents, who had reoriented themselves into music-related professions after being working musicians for a while, were scared and repeatedly asked, “Are you sure?” My entire Spanish family thought I was making a mistake, and I often received “the look” when discussing my future. But I took the risk anyway. When you love something that much, you have to.

Singing itself is a risk, especially when you’re starting out without much experience. Performance anxiety is sky-high, and you never know how a performance will go. I’ve had both awful and amazing performances. Writing original music is also a risk because you never know how the audience will react to your music.

I took several risks by reaching out to my biggest inspirations via social media. I felt ridiculous and doubted they would respond. But many did. That’s how I got to take singing lessons with top jazz vocalists like Aubrey Logan, Stephanie Nakasian, and Camille Bertault. I put myself out there and even got to speak with five-time Grammy winner Lalah Hathaway on a video call for an hour by taking the risk to simply ask.

My Spanish grandma always says, “You already have the no.” My mom always told me to ask for what I want in life. Both statements are true, which is why my life has always been about taking risks and putting myself out there.

When I decided to apply to Berklee College of Music, my dream school, I invested thousands of hours into my audition, knowing I couldn’t afford the tuition and that a full scholarship was almost impossible to get. But I gave it my all, and the risk paid off. Moving to America to pursue music was another big risk. I left behind everything I knew—friends, family, my hometown, and my language—to chase my dreams.

In America, I continued taking risks. Currently, I am the president of the award-winning a cappella group “Pitch Slapped,” which has appeared on shows like NBC’s The Sing-Off and America’s Got Talent and collaborated with artists such as Charlie Puth and Pentatonix. Getting into the group wasn’t easy; I auditioned three times over the years. Not only did I get in after taking the risk to audition again and again, but I now have the privilege to lead the group. Risks always end up paying off, one way or another.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Music has been my lifeline and passion for as long as I can remember. As I mentioned earlier, my journey began with classical violin, which became my world until I was 16. By then, I was practicing six hours a day and serving as the concertmaster of the Youth String Orchestra at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal. Everyone assumed I would pursue a career in violin until the serious accident I mentioned earlier changed everything. I suffered a major concussion and broke my wrist, leading to nerve damage that prevented me from playing the violin for months. During my recovery, I turned to singing and songwriting as a form of expression and therapy.

As a teenager, I was struggling with severe depression, feeling like a burden to the world. My music became my savior during a particularly dark period that included a month-long hospitalization after a suicide attempt. Writing songs about mental health and uploading them to YouTube helped me find my voice. These songs resonated with many, garnering nearly a million streams and igniting my passion for singing.
Despite my initial doubts about my vocal abilities, my journey took a significant turn when five-time Grammy-winner Lalah Hathaway shared one of my Instagram videos. This exposure marked the beginning of my exciting journey in the music industry. Since then, I have had the privilege of performing on various stages, from sharing the stage with Lalah Hathaway and Chuck Rainey at Agganis Arena to performing background vocals for KJ Jennings from “The Voice to Fenway Park next month. I also got the opportunity to perform with very talented musicians in groups such as the DownBeat award-winning Advanced Vocal Jazz Ensemble at Berklee, the acclaimed a cappella group “Pitch Slapped,” (which has appeared on shows like NBC’s “The Sing-Off” and “America’s Got Talent” and collaborated with artists such as Charlie Puth and Pentatonix) and Wrecking Crew member Don Randi, who has recorded hits for legends like the Jackson 5, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley.

One of the most significant challenges I faced was dealing with imposter syndrome. Before applying to Berklee College of Music, I applied to a small college near my hometown for a musical theatre program. Despite it being a relatively easy program to get into, I was denied. This rejection made me doubt my abilities and worsened my imposter syndrome. Many times, I didn’t pursue opportunities because I didn’t believe I was good enough. Therapy has been incredibly helpful in overcoming these feelings, but imposter syndrome is something I still grapple with.

Another major challenge was dealing with sexual assault during my studies at Berklee. This traumatic experience left me with flashbacks, overwhelming guilt, and a significant loss of self-esteem. However, it also fueled my creativity and inspired some of the songs that will be featured on my upcoming EP.

Being an immigrant also added layers of difficulty. Learning English later in life was challenging, especially since I grew up speaking Spanish and French. Navigating life in a country where everything is in your third language can be tough, but I love the challenge and plan to stay in America for the rest of my life. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and the resilience I’ve developed through these experiences.

I think what really sets me apart from others is my versatility and refusal to be boxed into one category. I am a vocalist, songwriter, violinist, entrepreneur, vocal coach, and arranger. My music spans pop, R&B, and jazz, reflecting my diverse background and interests. I am happiest when I am creating, and I approach each project with joy and gratitude. Every morning, I write three things I am grateful for, reminding me of the opportunities I have and the hard work that has brought me here.

I am most proud of how I’ve handled the last few years, living on my own in a new country and overcoming significant obstacles. I want the world to know that my brand and story are about resilience, versatility, and joy. My art is constantly evolving, reflecting my journey through different genres and roles, always driven by passion and gratitude.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am not living in Los Angeles yet, but I plan to probably move to the city in May 2025. I’ve only been once, but I have to say I would take my friend to the Observatory, to Santa Monica beach and I would probably see a concert at the Hollywood Bowl! I would also definitely take them shopping for records at Amoeba Music, I absolutely love that place!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to thank Michael Kalisky for recommending me for this interview. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my best friend and roommate, Jordan Liban, for her constant support, love, and encouragement, as well as her parents, Lisa and Jay. They have welcomed me into this new country and truly become my second family.

I also want to give a special thanks to Berklee College of Music for believing in me. The full tuition scholarship they awarded me is the reason I am here today. They believed in me when I had trouble believing in myself. I’d like to thank my Berklee vocal professor, Cassandre McKinley, for always believing in me. Her support is priceless. Jacques Schwartz-Bart, late Jarritt Sheel, Jackson Schultz, Brian Landrus, Rob Hochschild and Ryan Suleiman are also professors I’d like to thank for changing my perspective on life and music through their amazing classes.

I am also grateful to my parents and my sister Léa. She once handed me a picture of myself with a note on the back, telling me she kept it to give to me when she felt I was “making it” as a singer. She gave it to me when I got into Berklee and told me she always knew I would make it. My grandma also deserves my recognition, since she is a constant source of unconditional love and support, and even though she lives a continent away, we call every single day and I don’t know where I would be without her.

I’d also like to thank all the new friends and connections I’ve made in America, as well as my best friends from Canada, Félix, Shaïma, Florence, Angélie, and Violette, for sticking with me through the years. I miss them so much every day and I feel extremely lucky to get to have them in my life.

Website: https://rebeccasoul.wixsite.com/monsite

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccasoul_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccajalbertgonzalez/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY5PTuP6DjEsEz0MGULdc5A

Image Credits
Wesley Verge Bobby Waters Daniel Robert Hefetz