Story & Lesson Highlights with Honest Lee Soul

Honest Lee Soul shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Honest Lee Soul, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Fear. Fear is an emotion we all experience. When it becomes debilitating, it’s dangerous. It can keep you from making progress. So many of allow fear of being hurt, or fear of failure to keep us stuck in place.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We’re Honest Lee Soul, a funk and soul band founded by Rahsaan “Wordslave” Eldridge (lead vocals/percussion) and Cullen DeChant (guitar) in Annapolis, MD. Other members are Kirk Myers (keys), Reggie Maddox (bass), and Devin Brown (drums).

We’re proud to have been voted Best Blues Band by the MD Music Awards in May of 2024.

In 2025, we won a Rammie Award for Local Show of The Year for our August 2024 show at Rams Head On Stage.

We’ve released 3 full length projects, several concept and live videos, and are currently releasing and writing new material.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up, there was a misconception that being a successful musician meant being rich and famous. So the belief was that not being rich and famous meant you didn’t “make it”.

The reality is that the definition of success is subjective. There are so many working musicians who are not rich or famous, but they make a living, support families, and live fulfilled lives. We get to play music we write, music we love and people resonate with it; people support it. We’ve grown from busking at the docks in Annapolis to an award winning band that’s expanding geographically constantly evolving creatively. We’re not rich and famous, but we’re doing what we long, and growing. That definitely feels like success.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Ask more questions. Ask ALL the questions.
What are you afraid of? Understand why you’re afraid. Learn as much as you can to prepare, and do it scared.
Keep going; Sometimes your path won’t look like you wanted or expected it to, but you’re going to do great things and have wonderful experiences.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies bands tell themselves is that they aren’t worth more. Of course they aren’t literally saying that about themselves, but constantly accepting gigs that are below value sends the message that it’s ok to underpay. Often the entertainment budget for venues and promoters is below a band’s asking price. Sometimes it’s because they undervalue entertainment, sometimes they really just can’t afford it. Bands have to make a cumulative decision that considers all factors, not just the money. For certain gigs, even if the pay is lower than what you’d like, it could still be worth it depending on the other factors. But the lie is in the failure to advocate for yourself. Always ask for your price. Let them tell you no, or where they can meet you. Sometimes that means walking away, and maybe it’s revisited at another time, but always advocate for yourself.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
When we’re locked in and vibing on stage; when people are dancing and singing along to our songs; when they’re smiling and we’re smiling and we’re all feeling free from whatever’s troubling us, even if it’s just for an hour or two; when people come up and say how your show resonated with them, it’s hard not to feel like you were born to do it.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Briscoe Savoy
Ali Chaturbhai

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