Slique: Rhythm and Ghetto Soul

Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:44 Written by  Frances Moffett

R&B singer Slique has been making club goers step in the name of love with his recent hit “Your Body.” But he’s intent on showing not only his city—Chicago—but the world that he can do more than make you move your feet. Get to know Slique.

 

GlossMagazineOnline: What inspired you to become a singer?

Slique:
I think growing up listening to Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder as a kid and realizing that I could actually sing those songs. I grew up in a fairly instrumental family—my father is a musician. Of course we all sang in the choir. It was just there.

GMO: How long have you been a singer professionally?

Slique: Since 1999. I used to sing with a group. We had an independent deal that gave me the opportunity to tour and open for different artists. And then eventually I branched off and continued to open for artists in order to perfect my craft.

GMO: How did you come up with the name Slique?

Slique: Slique is something that my family always called me. It just kind of stuck with me. It means my music, my sound, my look, my style.

GMO: You’ve written, arranged and produced music for other artists. Is there one in particular that you prefer?

Slique: I think I enjoy all of the above. They all balance out very equally with me because I write all my songs and I love to sing them. I don’t have to sing all of them, and that’s where other artists come in, but it’s pretty much a well-balanced love for all three.

GMO: Throughout your career you’ve opened for some pretty impressive artists.

Slique:
Yeah, it’s a really long list! R. Kelly, Tyrese, Jaheim, Floetry, and Brian McKnight are just a few.

GMO: How have those experiences helped you with your own shows?

Slique: Practice makes perfect. When you can actually be in front of a large amount of people where they really don’t know you, it kind of puts you in a position where you have to show and prove yourself.

GMO: “Your Body” is a hit. It’s being played all over, especially in Chicago. Did you think it would take off the way it did?

Slique: I always knew it was a good song, but you never know what to expect with the music business. I couldn’t say, “Yeah, I predicted it from day one.” But I can say that me, coming from the heart, if I feel it, somebody gots to feel it! I’m glad it’s steady climbing the charts and more people are catching on to it.

GMO:
Tell us about your debut album.

 

 

Slique: This is my first solo album. I’ve been working on it for a while now. It’s a variety of good soul music. I got some hip hop incorporated in it with a little old, bluesy gospel feel. So it’s a real versatile album, really soulful. That’s why I call it R&G, Rhythm and Ghetto Soul. It’s pretty much just me on the album with the exception of a few Chicago artists like Teefa and Young Static. Just straight Chi-Town.

GMO: Explain what R&G is.

Slique: R&G is basically my music. I grew up in the ghetto and I write my music from my heart so anything that comes out of me is just what I call ghetto soul. It’s that gutta, it’s that soul. It’s not blues, it’s just ghetto soul. Then you gotta have a little rhythm to make that all coincide.

GMO: In addition to the album, what else are you working on?

Slique: We’re in the process of promoting so the fans who hear the music can actually get to know who Slique is and put a face to the music. I’m definitely out here performing and promoting and then at the same time constantly in the studio, writing and doing the things I love to do.

GMO:
How do you think growing up in Chicago has helped you create your style of music and shape you as an artist?

Slique: Wow. It has helped tremendously. This is one of the soul cities. We get a variety of music. We’re not just limited to what the South listens to or what the west or east coast listen to—we get it all. The history goes on and on. It definitely really impacted my music. My mom would play ZZ Hill and my dad would be listening to Steely Dan and Donny Hathaway, and just me and my era coming up listening to Michael Jackson and New Edition, NWA; it’s everything that I’ve ever counted it to be…it’s just the soul city.

GMO: What do you hope to do with your music?

Slique: I want to inspire. I really want to be a part of not letting R&B and soul music get lost and wither away. I really want to inspire other artists as well as up and coming R&B artists, in addition to hip hop and anybody who listens to music, just so they can remember that before any kind of music was here, rhythm and blues was here. I just really want to keep that going.

GMO: What are some of your future plans?

Slique: First and foremost, I definitely want to create my own label and bring out new artists and possibly do some artist development. I want to help those who really love and have a passion for this music. I really want to help others.

For more of Slique and visit his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/slique96.

Frances Moffett

Frances Moffett

GMO Editor-At-Large Frances Moffett is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. She has worked with GMO since its inception. With a love for journalism and all things writing, she is currently pursuing her master’s degree in public relations and advertising from DePaul University. Frances is also an editor at the country’s largest association management company and has written for a variety of publications, including Jet magazine, The Chicago Defender and The Chicago Reporter.

Frances can be contacted at Frances@glossmagazineonline.com

Follow her on Twitter: @FrancesMMM

Website: www.glossmagazineonline.com

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