We all have heard of gifted people – individuals with multiple talents that make them stand out from the rest. It is as if their talent shines bright in them. Of course, having a skill, a gift, is a blessing, but it’s also about hard work and determination. Even gifted people need to put in tremendous effort to achieve their goals and dreams in life. As they say, there are no shortcuts in life, and it is unfair to give full credit to luck for people who have attained success in life, no matter what their profession. One thing is sure that if you set your heart and mind to what you want to achieve, there is nothing that can stop you from doing that. For instance, you can be a great, versatile actor and be an equally successful chef, or you could be a race driver and have a great sense of art as well. Yet, if you want to prove your mettle in any field, you need to consistently work on your skills to master them.
This is precisely what we learn from SOULFLVR’s life journey. The 43-year-old is a music composer and a successful DJ who was a great pilot as well. His love for music began when he was still a kid. At the age of 11, he started DJ-ing for school parties, and by the time he turned 18, SOULFLVR pursued it professionally and took up the job of a DJ at a local club. It was there that he realized he had a knack for making people groove to his beats. He was able to make instant connections while altering his playlists to get the party rolling, as per the mood of the crowd.
During this time, he explored different genres of music and transitions from dance numbers to R’n’B and urban music. Soon, he started producing his own tunes, mixing different beats and experimenting with genres to create a fresh sound and feel. SOULFLVR knew that music was his true calling, his passion; hence, he enrolled in a private school to study sound engineering and music production. After graduation, he got employed at the local TV station as a sound engineer for live shows. He worked there for years and was even promoted to head of the audio department, yet the 9 to 5 routine was making him depressed. He felt the need to spread his wings, try something new and expand his horizons.
This led him to take a totally different turn in his life career-wise, and he joined the school to become a commercial aircraft pilot. For this, he regularly had to commute between Düsseldorf, Germany, and Dallas, Texas – USA, for flight lessons, and the best part is that he did it with complete dedication. Once he gained experience flying corporate aircraft as a commercial pilot, he felt alive again. However, SOULFLVR wanted more from life. So, he decided to quit his job at the TV station and pursue making music again.
With this, the commercial pilot invested most of his savings in a music studio and established one in the basement of his house. He started working all day long to create music, mixing it and producing new beats for his audiences. The DJ gigs started coming his way again, and he was ready to take them on with his new music and revived enthusiasm.
SOULFLVR understands that these days most of the DJs are younger than him; however, he is quite content with where he is at this point in his life. He is amongst the breed who doesn’t stop doing what they love and keep pushing through regardless of their age. He knows if he is good at DJ-ing, gigs will continue to come through, no matter his age.
As a DJ, he understands people better and knows how to set a specific mood -whether at a club or some intimate party. Some of his numbers are for leisure listening, while some are meant for festivals etc. Each approach needs a specific sound, and SOULFLVR tries his best to adapt to what the crowd wants to listen to. He aims to make people forget about their issues through his music and just have a good time.
The most important lesson he learned from his pilot training days was to ‘never quit.’ SOULFLVR believes that flying an aircraft and producing music has similarities, as both need complete focus and attention. No matter how harsh the circumstances may seem, he motivates others to move on and never let go of things they love. You may think your goals are impossible to achieve, and there will be people who may demotivate you, but train your ears and mind to become accustomed to the criticism. If you really want to pursue your dreams and have the ability to do so, you can even achieve the impossible.
Playing at different festivals and gigs, and regularly posting new songs on his social media, the journey for SOULFLVR has just begun. And after every hit release, he says that the best is yet to come.
