An Interview With Sulene

Cover Image by Spencer Kohn

Sulene’s latest EP he•don•ic is an honest look into topic many are afraid to discuss set to an upbeat dance tune. The South-African born artist writes, records, and produces her own music in the comfort of her Brooklyn apartment. With a majority of her lyrical content in this EP centered around her previous experiences of addiction, hedonic pleasures, and depression, Sulene says that the entire creation process served as a difficult and therapeutic experience. Read all about it in our latest interview.

It’s great to hear that despite the difficulties of the world being in quarantine for the past year, you were still able to create such a stellar EP! Has this extended pause in what was our “normal” lives helped your songwriting process?

Thank you for the kind words 🙂 I would say in a way that it did, yes. For the last year I’ve basically just been at home every day so that opened up a lot of time to write, and more importantly to experiment. Once I kinda had nowhere to go and no plans, I had more time than usual to just mess around with instruments and pedals and sounds. I think it helped me dive even deeper this time ‘round.

Did you have that moment, when finalizing he•don•ic, where you felt that no question about it the EP was complete? How did you feel? 

For sure. I produce, mix, and master my music so once I call it done, I really want it to be done and not have to listen to it anymore haha. The only time I’ll open up the session again is to make a radio edit, usually. The last song I finished was “diner coffee” and it just felt right when it was done. I felt really excited!

I loved the decision to use what you perfectly describe as a “gothic disco party” vibe to each track rather than having a somber instrumental. I felt that it helps those who relate to the message behind each track not feel as dejected. I’m interested to hear why you decided to have this 80s synth-pop dance sound juxtaposed with such vulnerable lyrics?

That’s really awesome to hear — and that’s a great way to put it. I didn’t want those who relate to this message to feel dejected at all. I wanted the listener to still feel cool and vibey and dark and like they’re in a club even though the lyrics are about overcoming addiction and dealing with depression. I think it’s cool to confront your darkness and want to do better. There’s nothing wrong with that. When I wrote the first few tracks of he•don•ic I was still playing a lot of shows, and part of my encouragement to write them as dance tracks came from the thought of performing them live. It felt empowering to be singing about wanting to be better and overcome difficult things while stomping out a fat beat or riff on stage.

What was your favorite song on he•don•ic and which was the hardest one to write?

My fave is “photo booth”. The hardest one to write was “whiskey.weed.sex.candy.” It was the first one I wrote and I was really fighting with myself because that song was opening up a door to something darker in me and I was scared of the lyrics. And it was like, once I was able to step through that door and was brave enough to finish the song, then the rest of the record came a little easier.

I learned that writing these songs was a “hard and difficult process”. Did you feel a sense of release writing these tracks, or does it feel more like now that these personal stories are out in the open you feel more secluded?

A bit of both. I’m very proud of the record and the writing, I stand by the message. I sincerely hope others find it empowering to know there’s someone out there dealing with the same stuff they are, if they’re relating to the themes in the record. Now that the record is out there I do in all honesty feel quite vulnerable.

I mostly feel vulnerable about it with people who know me, because the stories and lyrics are really revealing and I tend to be sort of private about these topics I’m singing about haha. But I think I’m starting to settle into the vibe that it’s out there now and you know, life’s too short to be all shy and hide yourself. I’m here to speak my truth for the short while I have on this earth so imma get a bit of a thicker skin and get to it.

Is there any advice you’d like to give to your audience?

Trust yourself. Don’t let others speak for you or tell you what’s best for you. Trust your instinct, be good to yourself, and take care of your mental health.

Sulene

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