There’s an intimacy to Felisha George’s sound, and it’s not just because she locks eyes with the camera for most of her Listening Room performance– it’s just there. You might feel like you already know her from seeing her on Netflix’s music competition series, Rhythm + Flow, but this artist is just getting started. Check out her performance below, along with more from Felisha George on balance, collaboration, and inspiration.
Hi Felisha George! What’s your go-to album at the moment?
I’m really loving IDK’s new album USEE4YOURSELF. It’s a really vulnerable piece of work but still super catchy and exciting to listen to. I can also relate to so much that he talks about in the album surrounding family dynamics as black folk. The whole album has been on repeat since he dropped it. I have a lot of admiration for musicians who are still challenging themselves to create music about themselves. It reminds me to continue to do those same things.
Can you describe your music style in six words?
A sonic exploration of soulful, allusive, duality.
Name an accomplishment you are most proud of.
I’m proud of myself for knowing when to rest. I’m proud of myself for never giving up and knowing when to take breaks. I know that may seem like something that isn’t necessarily an accomplishment but for me it’s a huge accomplishment. Being a darker skinned Black, queer woman rapping about self liberation can be such a lonely road. Not everyone is always willing or wanting to listen to the music I create because it can be too thought provoking and even triggering for some folk. I know that having conversations about black life, black death, liberation and healing isn’t for everyone. It can bring up things that people may not be ready to unpack. I’m constantly trying to find the balance of writing about how I feel and taking time and space to process.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a live album right now. I realized during the pandemic how much I love the live sound. It’s so full and vibrational and that’s what I want people to feel when they listen to my music. I’m really taking my time with it, and allowing myself to live fully so that I can bring my experiences with me to the studio when it’s time to write or record. The past two years have been such a roller coaster for me and I’m learning so much. I’m allowing these experiences to lead me to my next body of work.
Are there any specific albums or artists that have had a big influence on your music career and style?
I’ve always felt really connected to Left-Eye, even beyond music. As an artist I felt like she was working toward the balance of being a creative being, while also living a human experience. I loved her cadence and where her voice sat in a song, to me it felt so reminiscent of what light looks like. Whether she was rapping, telling a story, or doing an interview she was so captivating to listen to. I felt like she had so much to give to the world and although music was her platform, she was the actual gift. Her energy had a huge influence on the artist and person that I’ve become and hearing her stands for me as a reminder of myself. I took time to find my cadence, and my rhythm because of her. She inspired me to make my voice the melody so that even when there’s no music playing my voice is the song. I also learned the value of shadow work through her documentary of her time in Honduras, it made me question a lot of things in my life and through that I began truly exploring what healing looks like. I honor the work that she was doing, and continues to do.
Dream collaboration and why?
I think my dream collaboration may always be Lauryn Hill and 9th Wonder. If someone put the three of us in a room to make a record I’d be the happiest person in the world. Even if the song doesn’t come out lol I’ll listen to the song every day on my own. I just wanna go bar for bar, with Ms. Hill over anything 9th puts together and I’m almost certain it’ll change lives.
If you could play a Sofar show anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you want it to be?
I’d love to do a Sofar show in Germany. A huge population of my fan base is out there and I’d love to be able to share space with them in the Sofar environment.
Who are three rising artists you’re excited about right now?
Three of my favorite artists right now are Cookie Kawaii, Piff Marti, and Londynn B. I think Cookie is preserving and amplifying a really important part of Jersey culture with the music she’s making right now. I think Cookie isn’t new to this, she’s true to this! Growing up in Jersey and going to house parties and dancing to club music until the sun came up was a ritual. Cookie speaks my love language, it’s just inspiring to see her now taking our experiences and making them visible, as an MC I can appreciate her deeply for that. I’m really excited for her and look forward to everything she does next. I met Piff at BET when they brought back Freestyle Friday. He was super dope to share space with and also extremely talented. His honesty is inspiring and growing up with a lot of black men in my family, I appreciated his sincerity towards me. Sometimes men get intimidated, and they are unwilling to just give me my respect or see me, but Piff from day one was always super relatable and genuine. He shared a song with me after that day, “Wake Up” which you can find on all streaming platforms and it really touched me probably more than any song I had heard before. I love when I can meet artists that remind me of myself in some way shape or form. That’s why my relationship with Londynn B is so important, her music is extremely liberating. The sound of her voice reminds me to be free, bold and unapologetic. With her being a queer black woman, I honor her life and her legacy. She tells her story a lot through music and just talking to her is a part of my personal reflection. I feel like since I’ve met her and been in conversation with her I’ve learned that my circumstances and my story don’t stop me from growing. I’ve learned that I can create anything from the fire that it’s inside me and I’m glad to be in community with so many dope artists who serve as a reflection and reminder of that work I aspire to do and the woman I know I’ll become.
Check out Felisha George and other great artists at a Sofar near you! Or check out out Listening Room YouTube playlist for more great videos!
