Star Apps: SoMo
SoMo, aka Joseph Somers-Morales, became a YouTube sensation covering Chris Brown and Drake. Then he became a chart sensation (No. 1 on iTunes, No. 6 on Billboard) with the release of his self-penned, self-titled debut album. Now he wants to write hits for others. I chatted with SoMo about the baby makers, his dirty thoughts in the studio, and the app that makes him feel close to his writing partners.
SoMo wants to write for the artists he used to cover.
(Credit: Republic Records)
When did you discover that you could sing?
I knew my whole life. My dad's a musician, so I grew up around it. It wasn't really ever did I want to sing, or did I get pushed to sing? It's just what I did.
Were you the kid that was always asked to sing at family events?
Oh yeah, even when they wouldn't ask, I would still sing. I think I have some old videos of me just singing different songs like "Wheels on the Bus" when I was a baby. Ever since I can remember, I would just sing, and people would say, "Oh, you're a good singer." But I never thought of it as much more than a hobby -- and then it became a career.
Who's your musical inspiration?
I'm really just inspired by anyone who makes music, because they love to make music. One of my biggest vocal inspirations is Musiq Soulchild. He's relatively known, but he's never been mainstream big. But I feel like to the R&B and soul world, he's one of the top people that you hear about.
Your music is incredibly sexy. How do you imagine that most people are listening to it?
[Laughs] People often tell me that a lot of the songs that I make are used in the bedroom as baby-making music. I take no offense to that, because I'm a very sensual person, and we all have to do that to keep the human race going. So if I can be of help, it's all good.
Do you think about that when you're in the recording studio?
It depends upon what I'm singing about. But yeah, I put myself where the song would take other people. So if I'm singing about a woman, I'm obviously singing the song in the actual way that I would want to sing it to the woman in the bedroom.
When you do meet and greets, what's the craziest thing that a fan's ever said to you?
Probably that I've saved their life or helped them get through a hard time. A lot of my songs are sensual and sexual, but I've done so many different kinds of renditions that a lot of times the fans say the positivity in my music has helped them. For me, that's incredible, 'cause I never thought it would get this big and that I'd have this kind of effect on people's lives.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years I see myself still making music. Hopefully by then I would have written for a lot of famous people. I am a songwriter and pride myself in being able to write R&B, country, and rock. I try to see myself being an incredible songwriter.
What are your top five mobile apps?
1. Dropbox is essential as a songwriter and producer, just 'cause it's really enabled me and other people who make music to share and do things without having to be in the same room. Me and the producers I work with, we send Dropbox files back and forth, and it's like we're in the studio together.
2. YouTube, because it's allowed me to get to where I'm at. By now I've posted over 100 videos of songs.
3. Netflix is my next one, because I get a lot of inspiration from the storytelling of movies and TV shows.
4. Notes. It's where I write all my songs, right on my iPhone. I just freestyle and jot it down in my notes.
5. Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, 'cause I post the same thing to every social media. It's a great way for me to contact my fans.
