Soulei was born in the beautiful “land of many waters,” known as Guyana, in South America, where she began singing at a very young age. Inspired by her paternal uncles’ quartet, who discovered that she had a “beautiful voice,” Soulei would often ditch playing outside in the yard to sit and listen to the group rehearse, at times singing along with them. At the age of six, she sang her first solo, a rendition of Whitney Houston’s Jesus Loves Me, at her church’s talent show. One of her maternal uncles, who was a self-taught musician, spent countless hours training her voice, often accompanying her with the guitar.

 

At the age of ten, Soulei migrated to Brooklyn, New York, where she continued to sing at numerous churches across Brooklyn, New York . At home, where she lived with her extended maternal family, she sang day and night, belting high notes that echoed throughout the halls of the four family brownstone building. When her sisters and cousins became annoyed by her constant singing, she retreated to the  bathroom, where she continued singing for hours, at times.

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In 2001, Soulei began writing songs and poems, as her love for music and art continued to grow. Music and poetry provided the release she needed, as she was very shy and afraid to express herself due her very strict religious upbringing. Growing up, she often heard the saying “children should be seen and not heard,” so instead of saying it, she wrote about it. Doing so ignited a fire that was destined to burn deep inside her soul.