1. Hello, please introduce yourself to our readers and give us a background of where you are from?
Hi, I’m doing business “SelfMadeSilu” and I’m from Albany, GA. I am currently serving in the U.S. Army starting in 2014 and has done operations in multiple war zones including Syria and Iraq. I represent anything that can be considered prosperity, positives vibes, respect, and humbleness. I don’t represent a hood or group but a mindset of the law of principles and the sensitive ambitious people.
My original business name was “S.I.L.U.” which stands for (S)tephanie (I) (L)ove Yo(u) which my mother’s name. I decided to change it to have a better way of popping up on everyone search engine first. I decided to dedicate my motives to my mother for what she’s sacrificed to take of me.
2. Talk to us about what inspired you to get into the music business?
What inspired me to get into the music business was being able to lift my voice in the military when calling cadence. It definitely gave me the ability to create my own cadency of lyrics and voice inflection, my love for poetry, and being around all my family members and one of them either would sing or freestyle. I want to share my soul driven lyricism to the community to show people it’s ok to be yourself and not fit in with the crowd. I’ve always been different in a way from every crowd. I never wanted to fit in with anyone what so ever.
3. Thinking back to your childhood, what was it like growing up in your city?
Growing up in Albany, Georgia was both fun and later realize that life wasn’t what it seems. As a kid you think you got it all figured out until reality hit you. As a kid growing up there was very mediocre considering the highness of the crime rate and low based Success Level. Reality kind of hit me as a kid when I used to catch my mother crying from not being able to make the bill payments and not being able to give us what we wanted all of the time. As a kid seeing my mother starve herself trying to feed me – which is what I lectured on my song ‘P.T.S.D.’ – and my brothers and sisters really takes a toll on a child’s mind. That’s a lot to take in as an adolescent. I remember days that I only got to eat at school and still reported to football practice. It really felt like my stomach was touching my back.We were born right in middle of gang and drug affiliation. The violence of that is either going to humble you or you’re going to end up 6ft under or in concreted confinement. Most of us just wanted to be part of something considering the absence of particular people. Some of us did things to make sure their families were fed. I personally feel that anyone that’s a product of that type of environment is poisoned mentally to continuously be malice towards people that’s around them. In my song ‘Section 8 Boi’ I lectured that “I was playing 2k with the same person that kicked my door and left it empty.” Thats very true. There are more robberies and burglaries in poverty dominate neighborhoods than middle/upper class communities. I had to leave because I noticed that you can let someone bite your hand off and they will try to get more out of you. I had to get out of there and have no plans to return.
4. Who would you say inspired you in the music business and why?
I say that the military and my mother are what inspires me to do what he do and stay positive. The military considering that they encourage leadership, character, and responsibility, including their rhythmic way of having voice inflection when marching. My mother inspires me because she has always been by his side.
5. What music are you currently promoting today?
Well I currently release a single month just to give my true fans something to rock to and also to show people that I can make hits that people can relate to. I’m pushing all songs but single that I’m giving my uppermost focus and investing into is my single ‘Mixed In My Thoughts’
6. Since you’ve been in this business how has your music evolved throughout the years?
Actually I started doing music back in 2012-2014 but I stopped because I didn’t have the funds and I felt like I was trying to fit in with the wave instead creating a wave. I literally took 5 yrs off from doing music until I felt more mature and original in my lyrics. I decided to to start back doing music when I was in the middle no where in Syria waiting for conflict with the enemy and taunting other countries to start with us. I don’t know what it is. I’m thinking it was God, Allah, Muhammad…whoever it was instilled me with a gift during that stressful moment of my life and I wanted to pursue into showing the maturity of my lyricism and voice. I will forever be original.
7. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in this music business?
The biggest lesson that I learned is that you can’t pay for streams and likes and expect to true feedback and royalty collections.
I did business with @viralexecs which end of being a fraud digital marketer
I did business with DJ Spinrilla which is another scammer. All of his stuff is fake and he takes your money and doesn’t do anything to show for it but ask for more money. I got all my money back from him though. Thank God.
I really don’t understand how people feed off aspiring artist when they know for a fact most of us trying to avoid being mixed in violence.
8. Do you have a project you are currently promoting? If so what is it called and where can our readers find it?
I released my Album called ‘Mixed In Emotions’ on New Years Day 2019. On any project that I release I always want to show my diversity of making any type of song theme. My singles will always have somewhat of then same theme to it, but will always be different in its own way.
My singles will be fierce, painful, and optimistic. I like to show the pain then end it with overcoming from it mostly. You can go stream it which will be blessing to me and I will gladly appreciate it and dishonor any boasting that received from it. Your acknowledgement is what matters.
9. Break down your definition of Grynd?
“Grynd” to me is having consistent “un-frictioning” focus towards life to achieve success from your goals. Meaning that whatever is blocking you, slowing you down, from doubt, self-doubt etc you stopping that friction by applying pressure with your work ethic by going against the grain that life brings.
10. What else are you looking to accomplish besides the music business in the future?
The content of my grind is to create business opportunities to put my family in place for success. If they don’t take it serious that’s on them. I won’t be giving out no hand-outs. They can go in any corner and hate me. I don’t care. Why would I give you money when it’ll be better to show you a way to get it?
11. Where can fans find you on the internet in the future?
Fans can find me On IG & Twitter @SelfMadeSilu
And my website:
https://www.selfmadesilu.com/
They both have all my contact info if anyone needs to contact personally
12. Any Shout outs?
Shout Out To My Mother, my Grandmother, My Engineer Badd Guyy, my young cousin BDP Darrio, and to other artist such as Juno Carter, TheMorningAfter, TheRealBlo, OffiIcialTonio, and MegoDaDon, also to all the people that’s out there pursuing some type action to gain any type of valuable end return.
Shout Out To My Friends Bryce, Devon, Ray Ray Lewis, Marcus Oval, Chad, and Ronnie Wilson
Shout out to all of the CEOs that I studied like Birdman, Pierre Thomas, and Coach K for giving me the idea of long term consistency.
Shout out to the artist like Derez Deshon, Kwony Cash, Slim Dunkin, Lil Wayne, Drake, Bryson Tiller, Plies, Rick Ross, Gucci Mane & PeeWee Longway for giving me the idea of being original will get me further long term than trying to be part of the wave.
