Today we’d like to introduce you to Echol Remix.
Echol, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey in music began humbly. Being from a small town in Louisiana (Shreveport, LA) with not a lot to do, church was one of the main things that brought everyone together, so I got my start in music singing in the Sunday Youth Choir at 4 years old. Immediately I knew music was something that I wanted to do and start a career in, so I started working right away. Throughout my teens I began entering (and winning) as many talent shows that would have me, just to perfect my craft. I even found out how to create my own CDs in bulk, and began releasing my own music independently at 15, selling them to my high school classmates and throughout the city after performances. My talent even caught the eye of a local magazine (AMPS Magazine) and our city’s newspapers (The Shreveport Times and The Shreveport Sun).
After graduating high school, I realized the next step to further my talent and career in music was to go to college and study it! In 2010, I graduated from Bossier Parish Community College with an Associate of Science in Telecommunications with an emphasis in Sound Recording Technology, and a few years later in 2014 I graduated from The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with an emphasis in Sound Recording Technology and a concentration in Vocal Performance. Immediately after graduating I began looking for work in music and landed my first gig in Musical Theater for a production of Shrek The Musical in Fort Worth, TX produced by Kid’s Who Care Musical Theater.
Shortly after this role, I landed a role in 2 productions with the Shreveport Opera Company one being the world famous Carmen! Since then, I’ve continued to grow my brand as an artist and songwriter under the name Echol Remix and I’ve grown my streaming catalog to include many independently released albums and singles that have been streamed all over the world in many different countries. With that said, my journey has landed me here, in this great city Houston, TX where I’ve grown so much as an artist because of the high level of talent that already exists here! Since landing here, I’ve performed all over the city in many different venues as I continue to grow and establish myself as a local artist in Houston!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Early on I grew up in poverty and suffered abuse from my father, so often times music was my only outlet and the only thing that gave me comfort. Also, along my journey, I moved to Atlanta, GA for the first time in 2015 to pursue music (where I got the opportunity to write for some major label artists), but after a few months there I had completely ran out of money and could not find any consistent work, so many nights I went hungry and without basic necessities and even had to sleep on different friends couches just to have a place to stay for the night. After my first failed attempt at Atlanta, I tried again in January 2020 and then a few months later the pandemic happened which left me in a similar situation as before without work or opportunity…finally after that, I settled here in Houston with family and decided to make this my permanent home. Needless to say, this all taught me the importance of having a solid plan.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an R&B/Soul singer-songwriter and a classically trained baritone vocalist. I’m most known for my live performances, I believe this is because I seek to connect with my audience on a spiritual level every time I get on stage.
I’m most proud of my music catalog that I’ve built from the ground up, independently. Throughout the process of releasing my own music, I’ve learned everything I could about music business to be most effective; not just songwriting and engineering, but, copyright registration, publishing administration, creative directing my own music videos and photoshoots, styling, marketing and negotiating deals.
Perhaps my single most known work is my debut album “Soul Reincarnated” that told my story of life and love with songs like “So Wonderful”, “Can’t Get Enough” and “Member of Society” just to name a few.
What I believe sets me apart from others is my vulnerability, and the fact that I’m not scared to do things on my own terms musically. I’m not very concerned with following the trend when it comes to my creative approach, and I believe in following my heart and letting God ultimately guide me during my creative process. I believe “the song” is almost like an entity of its own, that wants to be born and tell a unique story through me…I’m just the vessel.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I actually ended up catching Covid and I believe I became more in tune with myself and closer to God. I say this because during my time of having Covid, I had to quarantine in a room by myself for 10 days, which forced me to take a closer look within and work through a lot of childhood trauma and other deeply rooted issues I’ve ignored for so long. It was like, once I identified areas of improvement and healing, I had no choice but to come up with a plan and lean closer to God. Once, I finally tested negative after the whole experience, I was left feeling revitalized and as if I had a new outlook on life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @echolremix
- Facebook: @echolremix
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/echolremix
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/echolremix
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ps87cCXXYncWjPFQrUYIX
Image Credits
36 Vision Productions
Jarrett Warren
Cavante Moore
David Dunn
