Artist Spotlight

Premiere: S-EM-C Exclusive Interview with Honk Magazine Reporter

S-EM-C Exclusive Interview with Honk Magazine Reporter

S-EM-C is an independent female hip-hop artist, en-route to making it big in hip-hop. Have seen the rapper accumulate a growing following and hundreds upon thousands of streams online gain her attention home and abroad.

After years of positive response from independent releases, she is promoting her second studio EP “Here” on her own self-managed label. Already a lyrical genius in her own right, ‘Here’ will focus more on the vibe and attitude-driven delivery of the message.

We had the chance to talk with female hip hop artist in an Interview, S-EM-C talks more about her music, career and company. We also discussed when she started, tips to help you grow in music and where she is today.

Hello There,

1. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Hi. My name is Sophie Steele (or S-EM-C) and I am a songwriter, artist, music industry professional and media company owner. I originally got into the entertainment space as a rapper and after years of trial and error I learned about the backend business structure of releasing music. After spending around $20,000 on my own career, I was finally able to figure out what worked and what didn’t. Once I did, I started to take on clients so that I was able to apply my skills to benefit other creatives. Now my company helps indie artists and creatives of all kinds monetize, structure, and market their brands.

2. Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

The most interesting story?

There’s too many to count. I think that the most interesting aspect in the creative industry is watching things go from just a thought to a huge collaborative project involving many people in many walks of life. It’s also always amazing to find out how small the industry really is. We all know the same people.

3. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The funniest mistake I made when I was first starting was not knowing my numbers and working for literally $8 sometimes.

I learned you gotta know the score to win the game.

4. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I continue to build my business Kopius Media and provide clients with digital assets on a daily basis. I am also working on a project for a jazz client called The Urban Groove Experiment and we are eventually going to transition into the non-profit space to help underserved communities. I’m working with an indie rock band “Louder Than Quiet” , their label Black Magic LLC and CEO Denver Delaney , which also includes a holistic healing brand , so I’m learning about all the plant medicine. I recently published a book under a pen name (shhh.) And….I’m learning a lot about crypto so in short, everyday is an adventure.

5. Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

Everyone I meet is interesting in their own way and I try to draw inspiration from every interaction. The people who are around me on a daily basis and in my network building are so inspiring and I look forward to changing the world with them.6. Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

Drink water, eat well, sleep, come up with a routine of some sort and remember, you’re playing the long game. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and you really have to keep that in your mind at all times because this game comes with some crazy challenges and only the strong survive. Create a long term marketing strategy and save up so you actually have a budget. Oh, and use Javoe Rokour for your marketing needs, mention Honk Magazine for a special discount I negotiated for you guys reading this today.

7. You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?

Knowledge is power. Quality is key… and never say no to a promising opportunity. Trust your gut, your eyes will always deceive you.
8. Can you share with our readers any self care routines, practices or treatments that you do to help your body, mind or heart to thrive? Kindly share a story or an example for each.

Everyday I wake up and do affirmations, a gratitude journal, study, drink water and read. I think these four things build a great foundation for any type of career. Also, practice personal hygiene… if you can’t take care of yourself, what makes you think someone is going to hand you an opportunity?

9. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1. There is no limit to what a weak minded person will do when they are intimidated by your greatness.

2. Trust your gut, most people are full of sh*t.

3. You are rare and unique, stop trying to shrink yourself to fit in.

4. Stop playing the short game.

5. Bet on yourself.

10. Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Be at cause, not at effect” is essentially saying, take life by the horns, make it what YOU want it to be. It’s relevant because that’s how I live my life and try to inspire others to do so as well.
11. None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

First and foremost, I have to give it up to my fiancé for always holding it down and believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Javoe Rokour has been an amazing business colleague and a pleasure to work with. Jerome Grace and Bass Gods for helping me fill in the gaps on the backend business side of things (book a consult with him ASAP) and Denver Delaney for helping me realize my vast skillset. Slice IX for putting me on the crypto wave. Ace Drucci for introducing me to the admin side of things and getting me my first major backed release. Chris Thornton of ULOV Entertainment for my mixing, mastering and visual assets. All my clients, friends, supporters and haters. Really, it has been a cumulative effort of many small interactions that has built me into who I am today and I am so grateful to have experienced it all.
12. You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I’m working on a movement now that will ultimately inspire people to be who they truly are and teach them how to re-program their subconscious patterns and get out of their own way.
13. We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. :-)I’d love to speak with14 How can our readers follow you online?

Text my community number : 3306255454

www.instagram.com/s_em_c

https://www.facebook.com/sophie.marie.5

www.s-em-c.com

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Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

Connect with LAST ALEX! on Spotify