In Conversation With Payoh SoulRebel
There are voices that don’t just sing – they tell stories. Payoh SoulRebel is one of those artists whose music and mindset are deeply intertwined. His songs are rooted in reggae but reach far beyond – with a sensitivity to language, sound, and the spaces that connect people. In conversation, he comes across as a thoughtful musician who isn’t driven by volume, but by presence. A dialogue about inspiration, sonic spaces, and the art of staying true to oneself.
Which came first: your voice or the urge to say something?
My voice is the one that I was born with but my music comes from the urge to express myself and show people my own way to see the reality.
Reggae is more than music – it’s attitude, history, resistance, prayer. What does it mean to you personally?
For me Reggae is a pulse, a rhythm and a way to talk about reality with love and respect.
When you start writing a song – what drives you: an inner rhythm, a feeling, an observation?
Both. It depends on the moment. Sometimes it’s a vibe, sometimes are some chords in my imagination or a chorus, some others are just the urge to tell a story…But usually it’s an e-mail asking me to voice a riddim (LoL).
Your music sounds rooted but also like it’s reaching forward. How do you stay connected to where you come from – and where do you open up to new things?
I listen to every kind of music, every genre ,f rom reggae to metal passing through synthwave, hip hop, postpunk, flamenco, classical or jazz. Every one of them give me tools to find new way of expression and I work in all of them singing and composing,but reggae roots is my home and the genre where I began to sing.
There’s warmth and clarity in your voice. What do you want to convey – comfort, anger, hope?
Most of all, comfort and hope, there is to much anger in this world and I want to let the people know that they are not alone, that’s why I sing about my day to day and my worries, to share my issues in order to give some relief to the people who is in the same circumstances than me.
How does your relationship with music change when you’re alone with it – in the studio, late at night, with no audience?
It doesn’t change. Music it’s inside of me every time everywhere , in my headphones or buzzing in my skull. Sometimes comes to me when I’m dreaming and when I wake up I close myself in the studio to record what I’ve dreamt.
What kind of space – physical or mental – does it take for music to become honest and real?
I think it’s not a question of space but the reason you are into music, I mean, if you make music with a commercial purpose (money, sellings…) or just for fashion there is no physical or mental space for music to become honest. We musicians make music the same way we eat, drink or breath it is a physiological need ,a way of expression for our soul.
What role does community play in your work – both in creating and sharing music?
I work with many musicians and producers all around the world so community play a main role in my music, but there is a space where I work alone and do music just for me to push my limits and exit of my comfort zone.
What’s more important to you: that people dance or that they really listen? Or do the two go hand in hand?
There are moments for each one and there are times both come together, it depends on the message you want to give.
How do you deal with silence – in music, and in the life between songs?
I don’t know what silence is… my mind it’s always buzzing full of ideas. Also I have an 8 years old child so when it’s not my mind, is my wife or my son buzzing.
Is there something you can express through music that you could never fully say in words?
Of course, music adds a considerable number of layers to the spoken word: The tonality, the rhythm, the intensity etc.… My mum use to say “It’s not the lyrics, it’s the music”
Looking back at your songs ten years from now – what do you hope will remain?
I’ve been making music as a professional since 2004 and I keep the people who I’ve worked with. They’re still my friends and my family. The memories of the places where I’ve travelled to record or play my music, many friends between the audience (I’ve got no fans but friends that comes to my gigs) and of course, thanks to the social media my music will remain on Spotify, YouTube and all these platforms for the future generations… and the vinyls, cd’s and all this stuff …As Bender said once: ¡Remember meeeee!!!
Thank you for this interview! Forward ever!
Interview: Christian Boeke (07/2025)
