LeVelle: Bringing Love Back In Focus

Soul singer LeVelle is making waves in the music industry with his latest album “Promise To Love.” Featuring collaborations with esteemed artists such as After 7, Anthony Hamilton, and Raheem DeVaughn, LeVelle aims to bring back the essence of vintage traditional love music. With a positive message and a desire to spread love and self-acceptance, LeVelle’s talent and passion shine through in every track. The album, released under the SRG/ILS Group, is now available on all platforms, allowing listeners to experience the mesmerizing sounds of LeVelle’s soulful voice.

In a recent interview with the soulful crooner, we talked about his commitment to bringing authentic music to his listeners and explained, “Staying true to who I am and not being a follower but being a leader by standing for what I believe in is important to me. I’m in a great spot right now.”

LeVelle, is the kind of artist who paints with love as his canvas, while captivating hearts and souls with every note he sings. Through his soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, he weaves stories of love, passion, and vulnerability that resonate with listeners on a profound level. LeVelle’s music is a testament to the power of love, reminding us that it is the greatest force that connects us all. With each performance, he creates a world where love reigns supreme, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who have the privilege of experiencing his artistry.

During our discussion he reminisced about some of his most memorable experiences as an artist thus far. He also spoke on how his respect for women, true love, and romance heavily influences the music he makes.

For those who don’t know, can you tell us about your musical journey and how you got started in the industry?

I got started on both sides of my family, on my mom’s side and my dad’s side. I was musically inclined either through playing an instrument or singing. So, singing and music has been in my life all my life. I started out as a drummer, then singing with my cousins in a gospel group, watching my cousin Michael Boykin and the way the people would take to him. I saw that and I said, “I want to be like that one day.” So, he was my first idol. So, I did get my shot in singing with him one rehearsal and discovered that I could actually sing, because my primary instrument at the time was drums.

What inspired you to bring back traditional love music and focus on spreading a message of love and positivity?

My upbringing, and then I came across an incident where there was a lady that was going through a lot of depression and domestic violence, and she felt like no one cared, and her kids got taken away. Her husband had left her, so she tried to commit suicide. And one day I was out working when I was doing a job delivering meals to the elderly, and the guy ran up to my truck and said, “Man, I can’t swim, but can you call for help? There is a lady drowning in this lake.” And so, I immediately jumped out of the vehicle and jumped in the water and saved the woman, and that’s when I discovered she had been going through a lot with domestic violence and mental issues and depression. So right there I was like, “I want to give back to my community and my world.” Getting back to real love, getting back to respecting our ladies and just trying to help young men, and young ladies by just trying to be a good leader, showing love, giving love, and helping someone else along the way.

How did you choose the artists to collaborate with on your album “Promise To Love”?

For me it’s just about love. It’s just about caring for others. Raheem DeVaughn, he’s a great guy, and at the end of the day, his message is love. When we can get back to that which is love, other things come with that, like respect. We can get back to being better men and better women. So, dealing with Raheem DeVaughn, After 7, Anthony Hamilton, and Zacardi Cortez, the message that we are trying to bring back to the listening ears and the community of people that listen to music is some good positive music versus killing and drugs and sex and being disrespectful to our ladies, and then being disrespectful to ourselves. We have youth that are listening to us. So, the guys that I’ve dealt with, we’re just trying to bring a positive message back to the music industry. We may not touch the whole world, but if we can touch a few along the way, then that’s the ultimate goal.

Can you share any memorable experiences or stories from the making of your album?

Most definitely. I would probably go back to working with my right-hand man, Jayshawn Champion. He is the little brother of Jason Champion of Men At Large. The way Jayshawn writes, he’s a tailored guy just for me because of what I stand for, and he helps bring out the best delivery that I could give the world. But I would also like to share this moment with me and Anthony Hamilton on “Fell in Love.” He had a concert in Atlanta, Georgia at Wolf Creek, and he got done about 11:30 that night. I came to the concert to support him, but when he saw me and I saw him, this brother, even with working all day, he left the concert, and we went to the studio. He cut that song that night, and 24 hours that brother did not sleep because we were in the studio from 1:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the morning, and he had a 6:00 AM flight. So, to be in the studio with him and watching him work and his writing ability and how he was so in focus, how he was so engaged with the movement, that was a great, great, great experience and a special moment for myself, just being there with him. He did that right after his concert.

What do you hope listeners will take away from your music?

I want them to be encouraged. I want them to be able to say, “man” … The ultimate goal is when I get emails and people that’s on Instagram and Facebook when they hit me up and say, “Man, I was really thinking about divorce, but when I heard the song “Fell In Love”, there was some words in there that took me back to remembering when we got together, and it made me want to work harder to save my marriage versus leaving my marriage.” So, when we get those kind of emails and texts back, that’s the ultimate goal. Just keeping families together, keeping guys focused on doing the right thing.

What is it like for you to be doing your typical everyday things and have fans come up and ask you for pictures in the grocery store or just being out and about?

Well, I get fussed at a lot because I’m a people person, so sometimes I don’t look at it as my job. I look at it as me just being open to my community. So, it’s a beautiful thing just knowing that people are recognizing and going for the work that I am putting out to help change lives. So, it’s a wonderful feeling just knowing someone else along the way respects what you do.

Just listening to your music, you can feel the passion behind the lyrics, and the power in your voice. How has your personal life influenced your music and the emotions you convey in your songs?

My upbringing, my grandfather and my grandmother. I was a grandbaby’s child. So out of our family, I’m the first grandchild, so I got spoiled a lot. But just watching my grandfather get up every day at 5:00 AM, go to work, take care of home, take care of my grandmother in the home, and the love that they shared with each other and how dinner was cooked, grocery shopping on Saturday’s vas done, and clothes were washed. When he got home, his plate was fixed. Just watching them, that was my upbringing. And so, I grew up to learn respecting the elders. So, stuff like that just carried on with my life, and that’s what I put out. They were my big impact on who I am.

How do you stay true to who you are? How do you balance staying true to traditional soul music while also incorporating modern elements into your sound?

I would definitely say staying true to who I am, staying true to who I am and not being a follower, but being a leader and standing for what’s true, and what I believe in. And I believe in not in my time, but God’s time, things will get even greater, because I’m in a great spot right now. Things are happening, and people are acceptive of the music. It’s just think they need more of us just to keep pushing and keep spreading that good love music, good positive music.

Can you describe your creative process when writing and recording new music?

For me, it’s everything to stay organic and to stay true to who I am, and everything that I sing about, I’ve experienced it. And I have people that are close to me in my life that have went through lots of things. And so, I just try to stay within my heart, because if it’s coming from my heart, which is a good place, then the people that are listening to it can receive it, and maybe it’ll touch their hearts. So, I just try to pour in all of me, so you get the best of me.

I have read that you have been inspired by artists like Sam Cooke, Al Green, and Gerald LeVert. Are there any other artists or musicians who have influenced your style and sound?

Absolutely. Dave Hollister, Anthony Hamilton, Frankie Beverly, Maze, and The O’Jays. The list just goes on.

We all can use encouragement, and we have all been inspired by the words and ideas of others. What’s a quote or a life mantra that has resonated with you in the past or even right now?

It’s simple. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you want love, you have to show love. People have to know that it’s okay to love you. And how do they know that if they don’t know you? It’s what you show them.

What advice do you have for aspiring musicians who want to make a positive impact with their music?

Just keep pushing. Stay true to yourself. Stay organic and keep pushing. Work very hard and get in every door that you can get in. A lot of doors will be closed, but you have to just keep pushing. And really understand the meaning of working for this. It’s not giving. You have to put in the work.

What can we expect from you in the future? Any upcoming projects or collaborations we should know about?

Right now, we have “My Journey Continues” out, and then we have “Promise To Love” out. So, the mission for the team, the label and myself now is just really getting out to the fans as much as we can and putting the face with the songs and getting out and touring. And for me, it’s about engaging with the audience, the fans, and just getting out there more.

We know what we see that people share on social media, the news or on other platforms, but we don’t see or know everything and that’s a good thing. What is something your fans may not know about you that you wouldn’t mind sharing?

I pretty much share myself with the fans. They know I love them. I’m a big loving person. I’m an outgoing person. It’s hard for me to turn away from a family member, a fan, a friend. I’m there because I’ve seen so much on the negative side that it drives me to stay positive, and it drives me to never let down your guard on being open to the people that make you who you are. Frankie told me something. He said, “LeVelle, don’t focus on being famous.” He said, “Famous people come today and are gone today.” He said, “But focus on your fans and gaining their respect and love because they’ll keep you working a lifetime.”

What’s a typical day in the life of Levelle?

Music, music, music. The family. I try to put in the time with the family, but also, it’s important to get in the calls, shows, tours. I try to stay focused and busy with social media because that’s the new wave now. So, you have to keep your fans up on what you’re doing until you come to their city. So, at the end of the day, it’s just keeping myself open to what I do.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I just want to send a big shout-out to a couple of the artists like Charlie Wilson for believing in me. In 2019 I was blessed to tour with him. He gave me a job before COVID hit, so all of 2019 I was out touring, being the background singer and the lead singer with Charlie Wilson. Just want to send him a big shout-out. Big shout-out to Anthony Hamilton, After 7, Raheem DeVaughn, Zacardi. And big shout-out to my former manager, Joe Douglas, that kept pushing me. He passed away. I have a great team now with Craig and Sean over at Music Matters and Michael, and so just big shout-out to those that are believing in me and keeping this journey going.