Independent artist Semaj the Poet has been slowly building a name for himself as an artist that creates music with a refreshing take on feel-good sounds. Fans have been drawn to his smooth vocals and relatable lyrics, and his take on the hip hop and funk sound are sure to enrich the music scene.

With songs like “Waves,” “Saturday,” and “Like That,” Semaj the Poet keeps on giving his audience music they can shamelessly dance to.

The singer shared, “My music definitely sets a vibe. It’s for people who need a good serotonin boost, who chase summer and love a good beach bonfire. The songs I put out are perfect for anyone who enjoys life.” In addition to this, there is another reason why Semaj the Poet’s music is so uplifting. He said, “I lost my mother a few years ago. And at the time, I was hesitant about experimenting with my music. But her passing helped me let go of any apprehensions I had. So now, I refuse to write a song that I don’t think she would have danced to.”

His mother was not the only significant influence in his career choices. Semaj the Poet actually expressed a love for music from an early age because of his father. As the son of a preacher, Semaj The Poet was taught to play the piano. From that point, his passion for music grew. He began writing gospel music before branching into musicals. And like many kids his age, he soon explored rap. “I immersed myself in rap culture all through high school and a bit of college,” he recalled. After he was fascinated with rap, he began exploring pop and funk.

Semaj the Poet’s latest single, “Lemonade,” leans into that funky identity. Listeners probably will not be surprised to find themselves dancing to this song or picturing a sunny day on the beach. This single is sure to be on everyone’s feel-good playlist.

Seeing how Semaj The Poet explores different genres, it is no wonder that this artist refuses to box himself into one specific kind of style. He shared, “While I do rap, my style is very multi-faceted. I can easily move from rap to pop, funk, electro-pop, and even country. As an artist, I go where the music takes me. And it has been a beautiful journey so far.”

Semaj the Poet embraces his multi-faceted personality even outside of music. He is used to people seeing him in a certain way, only to surprise them with who he truly is.

“They see me and think I’m just like any hood rapper. But in reality, I am a huge geek. I love Disney movies and anime. And I enjoy working out to Native American flute music. My varied interests play into the versatility I wish to impart on my music,” the artist said.

After finding a sound that felt like home to him, Semaj the Poet has kept on creating heartwarming and happy music. He said, “My goal is to bring people together in the name of joy and good vibes. I make music for the bad days and the good days. I want to bring the best out of everyone who listens to my music and empower them to dance like nobody’s watching.”He is an independent singer, songwriter and pianist and his latest single, “Lemonade,” is available right now on Spotify and other music streaming platforms. To find out more about his work and get your heart dancing too, visit his website or follow him on Instagram.

Not everyone can say they have come out of a series of tragedies stronger and better. However, singer-songwriter Andrew Neil is one of the incredible few who have triumphantly beaten the odds.

The one-of-a-kind recording artist has recently been named one of Music Observer’s Top 10 Artists in 2021 alongside some of the biggest names in the music scene, such as Drake, The Weeknd, and Olivia Rodrigo. The impressive singer has landed on the publication’s highly-coveted list because of his extraordinary journey and deeply inspiring music.

The talented man’s journey as a musician had quite an unconventional start. He started composing songs after sustaining head injuries following a car crash in 2009. Somehow, the melodies and tunes come naturally to Andrew, and he simply plays what he hears in his head. Even without having any formal music training, he was able to impressively teach himself how to play the guitar and keyboard as he wrote songs.

However, the musical prodigy suffered another setback when he was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder and schizoaffective disorder. However, being the resilient individual that he is, Andrew Neil has found a way to express his mental health struggles through music. 

After a particularly concerning psychotic episode in July 2013, he was then incarcerated for 7 months before being found NGRI and committed to the state hospital system, where he stayed for three years. Fortunately, he was allowed to bring his guitar and a battery-powered recorder. During his stay in the institution, he was able to write and record 70 songs. 

Wanting to share his awe-inspiring story with the rest of the world, Andrew decided to release an album that features the songs he made while in the hospital. He curated 11 singles into his first album called Code Purple. Surprisingly, Andrew Neil made history by producing the only album wherein all tracks were created and recorded inside a state mental hospital. 

Since then, the musician’s career took off. As he continued writing and making music, he had released two albums Merry Go Round in 2018 and Freak in 2019. The latter was even finished while the artist was undergoing intense chemotherapy sessions to treat his Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer. Thankfully, he was declared in remission in November of 2019.

More than his natural prowess and admirable dedication to music, what makes Andrew Neil exceptional is his ability to inspire others. Much like how music has saved his life, the singer pays it forward by making a profound impact on the lives of his listeners. 

Unlike most of today’s music, his songs do not follow a specific formula to make it popular. Instead, his songs are made with a genuine intention to connect and relate with people. 

Andrew Neil has proven many times that he is a dedicated musician committed to his craft, and no amount of adversity or hardships can make him stop pursuing his passion. His latest album, Sunny Side, was released on all digital streaming platforms on June 15, 2021. The artist is looking to an extremely limited vinyl release of the album in October 2021.Learn more about Andrew Neil’s journey by checking out his website. To know more about his music, check him out on Spotify.