Conversations with Solace Taylor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Solace Taylor.

Solace, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a multimedia artist and owner/designer of FEEDTHEPOET® apparel. FEEDTHEPOET® is an independent streetwear brand using ART to promote social/racial awareness and self-love. I was born a ward of the state and with a hole in my heart (Atrial Septal Defect). Interracially Adopted at 3 days old in 1980 by family teachers at Boys Town, Nebraska.

I was blessed to have open-heart surgery before age three. Excelled in academics and athletics all my life. Had full-ride scholarship offers from almost every division 1 football program in ‘99. Played for the #1 team in the country as a true freshman. On pace to leave/declare for the NFL after my junior year of college. THEN, I suffered a career-ending neck injury.

I graduated with a degree in Sociology. Since I still had my scholarship for five years, I started my first year of a 41-hour master’s grad program for Special Ed with an emphasis in behavior disorders. I was thriving academically but was unfulfilled and reeling emotionally but felt like I couldn’t share it with anyone. At that point in my life, I also did not have the words to describe the feelings of unrest in my soul. I could not sleep at night, I literally felt like I was having a midlife crisis at age 25.

At night I would still say my prayers and count blessings. One night after I finished, a thought occurred to me. “If my creator is omnipresent, and they see me giving thanks for gifts given I’m not using, is that a sin of omission as well as a lie?” I got out of bed, wrote that question down, and was able to sleep for the first time in literal years. That night I found Solace in my pen and have not put it down since. I knew I had a lot of soul-searching and self-work to do but I knew I was on the right path because of the peace and relief I found in being able to express myself. This led to me writing my first book of short poems and my journey as a creative.

I worked at a group half the week and the other half I spent working on my craft building up to a solid 35-minute live spoken word set mixed in with acapella singing and a few rap songs.

I started to get a buzz around my city and state by age 29 and was booking gigs as far as Hawaii. THEN, the incident at group home happened.

I was beaten unconscious by one of my clients while driving him to the bank. Was left with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD from the assault. I subsequently was fired for not being able to return to work within the 12 weeks disability period. I could not finish sentences or communicate effectively during this time period but I was able to remember my rhymes and was still being booked for shows.

I had a lawyer and filed a lawsuit but that was not helping pay rent or for therapy or meds or food. In a Maslow’s Hierarchy sense, I went from fightin my way back to the top, back down well below the bottom rung.

At that point in time, for my live shows, I would right hundreds of little positive mantras and put them in a decorated “FREE TIP” jar. I was using the process to center myself and pay it forward in terms of vibrations intentionally placed in the atmosphere. My merch box I decorated with markers, construction paper and the phrase “FEED THE POET”.

At that point, I was down to one meal a day and was evicted from my apartment. I slept on friend’s couches and biked or skateboarded to my shows or to therapy or other appointments. I survived like this til age 31 then I went radio silent. I needed time to heal and me being stuck in survival mode was not allowing for any progress.

Fast forward to age 35, I trademarked “FEEDTHEPOET” and started my journey as a clothing designer and building my brand as an artist.

I now paint poems, design clothes, and have published multiple books and musical projects.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It’s never a smooth road when you are a trailblazer.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
MUSIC
I recently released a music video/single, “HEAVY HITTAZ” starring the Bronze Bomber, Deontay Wilder, in the video. It’s a revolutionary/heavyweight boxing-themed anthem.

“HEAVY HITTAZ” is the first single off the unreleased music album “GAME-N-ARTS” by me,@thepoetsolacetaylor. The single features @backbone_dungeon_family available on all DSP’s. Backbone is from the world-renowned @dungeonfamily who includes #grammy award-winning @outkast @bigboi and @andre3000, @goodiemob @ceelogreen, @gippgoodie, @tmogoodie, and @khujogoodie, also @sleepybrown and a host of other star artists.

This project is a full circle moment due to the fact Backbone is my favorite emcee out of the Dungeon Family. It’s important to me to seek out those who have impacted my life and give as many flowers as possible while we share this common space called Earth. #fromtheheartland®

BOOKS
I also recently published and released two new books.

WHITEWASHED paperback – “WHITEWASHED”, is a four-part multimedia art installation by @thepoetsolacetaylor infusing fashion design, digital collage, and poetry, to examine the ways in which society has consistently changed the narrative, facts, and have in fact, re-written AMERICAN history.

WINDSPRINTS 2.0 hardback – is a collection of short poems created to condition one’s heart for the long run. Short bursts of energy thoughtfully wove into one 30+ page poem.

FASHION
Clothing-wise, I have styled and done business with professional athletes and music industry legends such as @officialdoodlebug, 1/3 of the #grammy award-winning trio Digable Planets, @joefatal from @themainsourceband, and many other pillars of the culture.

Out of all the things I create, being able to create a pathway for our youth to find their voice and sense of self is by far the most rewarding.

My latest youth-art collaborative piece was between seven years old artists Felicity M. and myself. She drew a beautifully detailed picture of a butterfly and asked if I could make her a dress with the butterfly all over it. So I turned her pic into a pattern and designed a dress. #sow.reap.repEAT.

Contact Info:

• Email: solacetaylor@gmail.com
• Website: https://unitedmasters.com/m/thepoetsolacetaylor
• Instagram: @thepoetsolacetaylor
• Twitter: @thepoetsolacetaylor
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/rxeWRw0Xv6o
• Other: thepoetsolacetaylor.bandcamp.com