In Conversation with FaceSoul at Levi’s® In Session

Fresh from a night celebrating Black artistry in Notting Hill, we got time in with FaceSoul moments after his Levi’s® In Session Live performance at UNDR – part of Levi’s® In Session project, an initiative spotlighting Black musicians through a series of intimate live performances and films that centre culture, creativity and connection. Stepping off stage with the same quiet sincerity that defines his music, he left a set that wasn’t just heard it was felt. We caught up with him shortly after the show to talk about vulnerability, identity and the journey shaping the man behind the music. 

Your music carries a raw honesty that people deeply connect with. Where did that approach to vulnerability come from in your own life?

It came from Faith, there is a famous quote. Come as you are, to life as it is. My approach stems from realizing that being myself is the most powerful thing I can do. Especially as an artist I’ve found sincerity is the strongest tool I’ve got. The more honest you are in what you’re expressing , the more people feel it. 

Black artistry is at the centre of this new edition of Levi’s® In Session films. How do you see your work contributing to that wider narrative, both musically and spiritually?

I’m  honored to be amongst them. For me, I look at my work as a contribution towards showcasing the beauty in life despite the hardships. And themes such as resistance and faith, I believe are deeply tied into my values as a black artist. Also the fact I have walked this path as a child of the diaspora I believe paves the way for others to know it is possible too. Kind of like the 4 minute mile!

So much of your artistry explores identity, home, and emotional truth. How have your early experiences shaped the artist you are today?

Growing up in London and figuring out who I was in all that noise was an intense journey. Never feeling as though I truly fitted in! I was soft hearted but grew up in a rough environment so very early on I knew I needed to know how to stand up for myself. Then in my later teenage years I connected to faith deeply and began studying Islam, this is where I found so much of my core values.  Throughout my life I’ve experienced such a desire to grow beyond the road map life had set out for me so from 19-20 I began travelling. Visiting countries like Malaysia, and experiencing new cultures blew my mind open.

Your music blends tradition, modern soul, and personal reflection. How do you keep your heritage alive while evolving into new sonic worlds?

The way I keep my heritage alive is through my core values. There is a prophetic saying that the best of mankind are those who benefit mankind. I always ask myself in every song I’ve ever written and every piece I ever make, is this of a benefit to somebody in some way, form, or shape? And as long as it meets that line of being of benefit, the rest is open for discussion! I still want to be as dynamic as possible as an artist. I’m excited to explore different emotions and find a way to communicate them in a way that can feel helpful to somebody.

Levi’s® celebrates changemakers and those pushing for progress. What moment in your journey made you realise your voice carried weight?

When I released Ysra. That  record came out right in the middle of Covid someone played it to their dying father, others wrote to me  about their own battles with grief… and it clicked. The pieces of music I had made in isolation weren’t  just my own therapy anymore. It was beneficial to others also beyond me, doing its own work. 

When you meet young people who look up to you, what part of your journey do you feel is most important for them to hear?

I feel the part that is most important to hear is the power of having a dream. I was a delusional Somali kid singing his heart out dreaming one day he would get to be on a stage. No one else around me even studied music, but that dream kept me passionate. Then there were the countless  open mic nights and singing in the street just to get over my nerves and just wanting to be heard. These moments shaped the man and musician I am now and I hope young people make sure they enjoy those early moments.

If someone watches your Levi’s® In Session film for the first time, what do you hope they walk away understanding about Facesoul not the artist, but the man?

That despite the difficulties I’ve experienced in life ( as we all have) , I’m still truly grateful to be here at this point in time on earth. I feel blessed by the many hands that have shaped my life and have given me the opportunity to be here. and I am a man that wishes to pay it forward!

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