Soul Searching: Corneille

posted in: Features • Urban

Although thus far we have focused our Soul Searching on OurStage artists, we’ve come across an artist worth branching outside of our circle for! Corneille (born in Germany to Rwandan parents) has a diverse background that shows in his bilingual music. His most recent work is his album The Birth of Cornelius, released on UniversalMOTOWN. Corneille’s music is influenced and shaped by some of the world’s best soul artists including Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Prince. We got the chance to ask Corneille a few questions about his music both past and future. Check out the short interview below.

Not many artists are able to come even close to Marvin Gaye’s level of soul, and you do a fantastic job in your video on YouTube. How do you channel that level of soul into your music? Is there anything you can attribute to your ability to do this?

Thank you! I believe that channeling any emotion genuinely through music or any performance-art form requires a type of inspiration that can’t be broken down intellectually. Sure I grew up listening to a lot of soulmusic, and the Marvin Gayes of this world have certainly influenced my art, and from listening to these gifted artists I’ve acquired some technique, but the ability to make your soul palpable to an audience through the medium of art and move something in someone else’s spirit is beyond anything I could possibly explain.

Do you have any new projects up and coming? What are you working on currently?

I am currently in pre-production for my next French album and am also starting to put some ideas together for my next English album.

If you could collaborate with any one artist or producer, who would it be?

I would love to work with Larry Klein.

Let us know what you think of Corneille’s music, and as always send your recommendations for artists to feature in the upcoming weeks!