Some conversations take place in the light of day. They are easy and safe. And there are those that are born in the darkness, when the world falls asleep and you are left alone with yourself.
Michael Soul is an artist whose geography of life reads like a map of eternal search. Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, London, America. But the true journey happens not between cities but between versions of yourself. From the one others want to see to the one you decide to become.

An interview with Michael Soul is like a friendly invitation to a conversation, with a glass of wine and the truth that people usually keep to themselves. Here there is only a voice that has learned to sing in order to survive. And, in the end, to fly up.

Welcome to the late night conversations!

Hi Michael! I’m really excited to talk with you on Soundville. Your story is full of bright highs and struggles, both external and internal, as well as remarkable music. Michael, for those who are hearing your name for the first time and are just discovering your music, tell us about yourself. Who are you as an artist, what path have you traveled, and what shapes your creative work?

First of all, thank you very much for the opportunity to share my story. Michael Soul is a multi-genre artist with a very unique voice and a dark aesthetic. I’m originally from Belarus, and I’ve lived in Ukraine, Poland, London, and now I’m finally in the USA. My music is about being true to yourself — about me and my life. My true goal is to make my listeners brave, encourage them to be fearless, have fun, love themselves, and stay true to who they are no matter what.

Your journey included participating in The Voice and Eurovision, two projects with huge audiences and certain format constraints. How did this experience influence you and your relationship with the music industry as a whole?

These were competitions, so we immediately understood that we would face comparisons with others and criticism — which naturally leaves a mark on any creative person, especially at such a young age. I’m quite a competitive person, and I’ve always been curious to test myself, try to win, and challenge my limits.But no one talks about how hard it is after losing, how difficult it is not to fall into a depressive state, and how much strength it takes to keep moving forward. Not everyone can go through this and not lose themselves in the process.Also, audience attention is something every artist strives for, but it comes with the first haters, who make you start looking for flaws in yourself. All of this is an endless experience that shaped me and made me who I am today. A huge positive, of course, is the opportunity to perform on huge stages, enjoy working with professional production teams, realize large-scale ideas, and test myself in new ways.

This is a question that might seem simple, but the answer is always individual. What does music mean to you? Why did you choose this path, and what drives you to keep creating?

To be honest, this is the most difficult question of my life, and I’ve always had different answers and thoughts about it. Looking back over the years, I realized that I simply can’t live without it. I don’t see myself doing anything else, and I can’t give up music. I’ve tried to stop singing and stop writing, but music always found its way back into my life, or something always brought me back to it. It’s an endless flow. I just love singing, and I always will. I’m here to give my voice to people.

Your new project “late night conversations” brings together tracks written at different times, from 2021 to 2024. When you work on a project for so long and invest so much of yourself into it, the relationship with each track becomes complex. Is there one among the five tracks on “late night conversations” that you have a special connection with? If so, why that one specifically?

I’m pretty sure it’s “fly”. I wrote it last, and there’s something beautiful about endings — when you feel a sense of completeness and understand that this chapter is over and a new one is about to begin. Remember that feeling when you’re reading a book and there’s just one sentence left before a new chapter starts, finally revealing what happens next? That’s the feeling this song gives me. In “fly”, I let everything go, I let myself go, and I can no longer — and no longer want to — hold on to the past. It’s about liberation, about the possibility of feeling happy. I rarely write major, bright songs — my whole aesthetic is completely the opposite — so maybe that’s why it feels so close to me, because it’s so different. What can I say, I love an underdog. 

…”late night conversations.” This title speaks of something intimate, of conversations held alone with yourself in the darkness. What does this project represent for you? Is it acknowledgment? Liberation? Exploration? Or something completely different?

When I first heard all five tracks together, the title came to me immediately. Each track sounds like a story you can only trust to your closest people — stories that you usually share with your best friend over a bottle of wine, sitting on the kitchen floor.So by releasing such personal material into the world, I make every listener my close friend. Now everyone has the opportunity to spend time with me on the kitchen floor over a glass of wine — just by putting on headphones. And of course, it’s also liberation. When you keep such stories inside, they eat you up and don’t let you move forward. By acknowledging them, by speaking them out loud, you free yourself, and they start living their own lives.

You openly talk about the fear of being misunderstood, the worry that you’ll be judged or that no one will want to listen. That’s a very honest admission. How did you work with these fears during the process of creating the mixtape?

I feel that as artists we have the power to say things that others might be afraid to say. Maybe they don’t know how, or they’re afraid to admit it to themselves. Through melodies and rhymes, we create a world where we can speak everything that lives in our minds.Each of us fears judgment, fears not being heard, fears who we really are, or fears being ourselves. By expressing this through songs, I work through it in myself. While creating the mixtape, I really wanted the songs to give people the opportunity to feel heard and understood — to say that I’m going through the same struggles too. Don’t be afraid — together, it’s not so scary.

“late night conversations” opens with “am i the monster”, grunge rock with a vintage tone, and closes with “fly”, pure gospel with layered choirs. These are radically different sonic worlds. Tell us about how you choose the sound for each track?

This album is my opportunity to show my range as an artist and creator, as a songwriter, and also to experiment and give freedom to my inner artist.About 90% of the material on the album was created and produced by me, which naturally gave me full artistic freedom. I was literally able to showcase all the genres that inspire me. If you look at my playlist, you can find ballads from Yebba, jazz from Ella Fitzgerald, and sexy rock anthems from Muse. This is all me — and all this music is a part of me. So why not? 

“am i the monster” explores identity crisis, the feeling of being out of place, and the question of how the world perceives you. It’s a question many people ask, but everyone finds their own answer. What does this question mean to you now, and has anything changed since you wrote the song?

What a question though! Since childhood, I’ve had a dream that probably will never come true — though I won’t say for sure. I’ve always wanted to see myself through someone else’s eyes. The problem is that absolutely everyone perceives the same things differently. Someone looks at you and sees the most beautiful being on the planet, while someone else can’t understand why people find you attractive, because in their universe the standards are completely different.Still, I’m genuinely curious to know how people see me, how they perceive me and my voice. Regarding the question in the track, the main question is “Am I the monster?” And of course, I can answer — no, I’m not. This track was my reflection and a way to show others that it’s normal to think this way and ask yourself such questions. In my view, it’s a sign of a healthy mind.

Among the sources of inspiration for “daddy,” you mention Adele, Yebba, and Jorja Smith artists with very powerful, emotionally charged approaches to vocals and storytelling. What specifically in their work resonates with you, and how does it influence your own voice?

Probably the way they so skillfully use their voice to tell stories. There are many people who can sing, but don’t know how to tell a story with their voice — and vice versa. These singers can turn a complex vocal passage into a super intimate and honest moment, and it doesn’t sound like they’re trying to show off or prove themselves. It’s a gift when vocal technique doesn’t distract from storytelling. This was important for me in the track “daddy”, which turned out to be very challenging both vocally and emotionally.

You’ve given the world very personal stories that you were once afraid to tell. It seems that “late night conversations” is the culmination of a certain period in your life. Now, after everything you’ve been through and the release of “late night conversations,” if you could go back in time and give advice to yourself, what would it be?

Thank you for this question! To be honest, the advice is very simple. Don’t be afraid! Relax! Be 100% yourself and believe that you can do much more. In 2023, I didn’t know how to use Logic Pro, and in 2025, I wrote an entire album, producing all the tracks myself. What was stopping me from doing it earlier? Fear, lack of self-belief. So if I could go back, I would say — you are more than you think! Don’t overthink, just do!

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