Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Vaughn.
Caleb, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
“It’s your boy S.O.A.P. The son of a preachaman! My music is clean. My God is King, and I rep him when I’m on the scene!” When you’re a preacher’s kid, you get well versed in church culture, and as the oldest child there are many unspoken expectations for following in the footsteps of your parents. I am always a little different than my parents in church. Even though we were never allowed to listen to secular music in the house, I would always gravitate toward “urban” gospel music. The likes of Mary Mary, Dawkins and Dawkins, J Moss, and Kirk Franklin, who began blending the sounds of the streets with gospel music was music I loved. On my 13th birthday, I was gifted my first Christian Rap album “Moment of Truth” by Da’ T.R.U.T.H., and over the next three years, I would absorb as much Christian rap as I could.
When you’re a preacher’s kid your parents have a lot of pastor friends, and one of them heard I knew a lot about Christian rap and “Rhythm and Praise,” and I had a library of about 500 songs and in 2008 I was asked to bring the music to a block party this church was having. And for the first time at 16, I first did my intro/drop, and that began the career in ministry for DJ S.O.A.P.
Twelve years later, S.O.A.P. Has preached, spoken at youth conferences, hosted a radio show, co-written for budding artists, emceed conferences, performed spoken word and rapping at many events across the northeast and most recently has writes a blog “The SOAPbox” and has written three books “Quarterlife Conversation,” “Face to the Future” and “Unicorn on a SOAPbox” .
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The birth of S.O.A.P. ironically came following conversation with my dad (my Pastor), where I was frustrated with the lack of “excitement” with the youth group of the church. He told me not to try and come around when it got exciting. We didn’t know I’d be the excitement to come.
The challenges I’ve had were always, in fact, initially some shows people would just kind of look at me while performing. I just had to get to a point in those early days that if I’m hype all alone on the stage to keep going.
Only one time ever did I try and “get on” and that was after performing some time at my own church, I sent emails out to pastors at churches in my city. One youth pastor at the largest church in my city responded and I began to come weekly to the services. Eventually they let me get on stage in front of 300 high schoolers and from there I’ve always gotten bookings I’ve the subsequent 10 years by word of mouth. I’ve done over 200 events.
Please tell us about your work.
The aim of the ministry of S.O.A.P is to excite, encourage, inspire, and uplift people as they pursue their purpose. S.O.A.P. Is a communicator through different means to reach the audiences he’s in front of. Whether it’s engaging with something, he’s written or rocking out when he’s on stage, and you will go higher who you are and move towards maximizing yourself!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My parents (pastors Micheal and Sheila Vaughn) have been consistent in their encouragement of me over the years. Pastor Luke Thomas of The Father’s House was the first Pastor to give me a large stage, and I learned so much about production working with his staff and performing on that stage. Pastor Daun Nicholas was the FIRST person to ever book S.O.A.P. Without her idea all those years ago there would likely be no S.O.A.P. today Pastors Joe and Pam Huggins were the first Pastors to invite me to minister at a conference, and after being connected with them, my network and skills went to another level. I was flown out and was given VIP treatment as an unproven 20 year old. My siblings, Shekinah, Zoe, Zachary, and Samuel, have all been part of my support system through these years, and Zachary and I have collaborated on more than one occasion to perform together on stage.
Pricing:
- Quarterlife Conversation $7 (Amazon 8.99)
- Face to the Future $7 (Amazon 8.99)
- Unicorn on a SOAPbox $10 (Amazon 12.99)
- All three bundle $20
Contact Info:
- Website: Speaksoapbox.blogspot.com
- Email: cvaughn1992@yahoo.com
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