The Roots of Hartford Soul

Discovering Hartford Soul

I first came across the words Hartford Soul on a t-shirt my friends Lynn and Will made at Phat Butterfly. And let me tell you, it felt like divine timing. I was right in the middle of reinventing myself and trying to figure out how to define my sound. When I saw those words, they stopped me in my tracks. Hartford Soul. That was it. It felt perfect. It felt like me.

My Sound: R&B, Neo-Soul & Jazz

If I had to describe my sound, I’d say it’s a blend of jazz and soul with touches of R&B and a little hip hop flavor. Basically, neo-soul. From the beginning, I was drawn to this style because it felt like home. The grooves, the storytelling, the freedom to improvise, all of that made me feel seen as both an artist and a person. Neo-soul gave me space to be soulful, experimental, and grounded in community all at once.

That mix is why I call my vibe Hartford Soul. As a Progressive R&B and indie soul vocalist, I love creating music that is rich, layered, and connected to real life.

Hartford’s Jazz Legacy

Hartford has always had a deep jazz history, and being from here means you are surrounded by it. The city has trained some incredible musicians who carried on Black American music traditions while also pushing them into new directions. A lot of that influence comes straight from the legendary alto saxophonist Jackie McLean. He played on stages all over the world with artists like Miles Davis and Charles Mingus, but he also planted roots right here in Hartford.

McLean founded the African American Music Department at the Hartt School of Music, one of the first of its kind in the country, and co-founded the Artists Collective, a cultural and educational institution that has supported generations of Black artists and musicians. Because of his vision, Hartford became a true hub for jazz education, culture, and innovation.

Mentorship and Musical Growth

When I was first starting out, I worked with musicians who had studied under Jackie McLean and trained at the Hartt School. Their jazz sensibilities shaped everything we did. In those early neo-soul sets, the improvisation and harmonic depth they brought added layers of cool that made our sound stand out. They pushed me to listen differently, stretch my phrasing, and take more risks as a performer.

I also studied at the Hartford Conservatory with renowned jazz vocalist Giacomo Gates. Learning from him sharpened my ear and gave me a deeper understanding of phrasing, storytelling, and vocal technique. Those lessons still show up every time I step on stage, whether I’m singing a ballad, an original song, or a high-energy soul anthem.

Around that same time, I was also part of Eight to the Bar, a swing, boogie-woogie, and rhythm-and-blues band led by Cynthia Lyon. Performing with Cynthia was like a masterclass in swing. I learned how to blend and my ear got better. Cynthia’s leadership and vision showed me what it takes to keep a band tight and create a joyful, unforgettable live experience. That chapter made me a more versatile performer and gave me tools I still use as an independent soul artist today.

Defining Hartford Soul

All of those experiences, along with the influence of incredible pop, soul, and R&B vocalists I grew up on, built the foundation of my sound. For me, Hartford Soul is where genres and stories collide: the raw emotion of soul, the groove of R&B, the edge of hip hop, and the sophistication of jazz. It is music that honors the past while speaking to the present moment. It is personal, but it is also rooted in community.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

I am especially proud that I never had to leave Hartford to reach my musical goals. I did not move to New York or Atlanta, even though many artists feel they have to in order to be taken seriously. Maybe things would look different if I had, but the truth is, I am Hartford through and through. Everything I needed was already here: the teachers, the musicians, the venues, and the community. Staying rooted in this city shaped my sound, my perspective, and my entire vibe. Hartford Soul could not have been created anywhere else.

Hartford Soul is more than a style, it is a whole vibe. It reflects the city I come from and the music community that raised me. Every time I perform, I carry that history with me. Every note is connected to the mentors, musicians, and audiences who have been part of my journey.

For me, Hartford Soul is not just a phrase I saw on a t-shirt. It is the sound of my story, the foundation of my artistry, and the hartbeat that keeps me moving forward.