Muse LโArtiste founded the all-female record label Powher Sound and is a producer, singer, songwriter, and member of the Recording Academy.
On August 27, Powher Sound just released the album โHerstory.โ The first album with a wide range of genres that was entirely produced and performed by women. In an effort to support female musicians and have a positive effect on the music business, Muse LโArtiste worked with a variety of female artists.
Additionally, she has collaborated with a number of well-known musicians, including Femi Kuti, Manu Dibango, Uhmeer, Walter Cosby, Vitaa, and others. Check out her single โGroove Theoryโ and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you guys come from and how you got started?
MUSE LโARTISTE: I was born in Paris and my parents are from Cameroon (Central Africa). From a very young age I was introduced to a rich array of music, from African music, to Soul and R&B by way of classical music and French classics from the 60โs. I started reading music by the age of 5. Shortly after I started piano lessons and I fell in love with it. By age 11, I started producing Hip-Hop tracks as I grew up in the 90โs, I was heavily influenced by this genre. Then when I got enough courage, I went on singing as well.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
MUSE LโARTISTE: Iโd say both. Piano lessons were central for discipline, for knowing whatโs what. That was the basis for everything for a long time for me. Everything I was producing or writing was through that lens. When I started detaching myself from it, I realized that there was a land of possibilities and sounds that I hadnโt explored. I got equipped, slowly but surely. When I moved to Los Angeles 12 years ago, I was spending a lot of time in professional studios. I was observing a lot, taking all that information in. Then I was going back home, got into my DAW and reproduced what Iโve learnt, everyday.
ย 3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name โMUSE LโARTISTEโ?
MUSE LโARTISTE: There are a lot of influences but Marvin Gaye and Whitney Houston will always be at the very top of my list. They are just part of my musical DNA. Each one of their songs is connected to at least one moment of my life, and thatโs what music is all about. In terms of genres, I connect with African music like Makossa and Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, R&B and Neo-Soul.
When it comes to my artist name, my other half picked that one for me.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
MUSE LโARTISTE: Well I had various musical phases. Iโve embraced Hip-Hop at an early age. Iโve always liked to work with people who think that lyrics matter and Iโve always had this love for words combined with this love of justice. So for me thatโs key. I generally want to appeal to peopleโs better selves, help them reflect and elevate them despite the hardship. With my sound, I always try to incorporate feelings into it with the chords Iโm using, the melodies, the different sounds, because I always try to connect it with someoneโs soul. Of course Iโm all for strong beats, but I always try to go beyond that.

ย
MUSE LโARTISTE:
When I was a kid, I was literally spending my time imitating my favorite artists. The way they sing, the intonations, the attitude, the moves, everything. Then there was this long phase of trying to understand who I was as an artist and as a producer, which are two different processes. It takes years, Iโm not gonna lie. Iโve learnt a lot on tour, sharing the stage with World Music legends like Manu Dibango, or Femi Kuti. I was very young. But I lived those experiences to the fullest, taking advice in, simply learning how to be an artist. The transition to Hip-Hop was easy as for me I was just going back to my first love but Iโve never been one that restricts herself. Music is music at the end of the day.
6. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?
MUSE LโARTISTE:
Art in general has this huge power to impact the society in a massive way. Narrowing it down to music, music has always been political, massively impacting on culture. And for me, music is by essence spiritual. Blues, Rock, Soul, Hip-Hop, Reggae, even Pop music where we are led to believe that itโs just light and fun. We tend to remember artists who have broken barriers, whether itโs politically, culturally, spiritually or sexually.
You hear a lot of artists that tend to say music is a therapy for them, thatโs why theyโre making music. To be successful, this therapy has to work for others as well. I make music for the world, because weโre in this together.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
MUSE LโARTISTE:
Music is part of my DNA, so itโs already been giving me back everyday because it makes a huge part of who I am. But I make the difference between my love of music and a career. Each music professional has to define what success means for them. As for myself, I know that I still have a lot more to achieve.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
MUSE LโARTISTE:
Three case scenario: 1. I am led by inspiration at the most inconvenient times, whether itโs in the middle of the night, or in the shower where you canโt take your phone and record yourself. So I end up repeating melodies in my head over and over again until I get a chance to record.
2. I sit behind my board or my piano and I just start jamming until I get this ah-ha moment.
3. I hear some tune and I jump on my DAW and create something entirely different.
I will generally start with the core melody and build around that unless I have a dope drum and bass beat that comes to my mind.
9. What has been the most difficult thing youโve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
MUSE LโARTISTE: There have been some very tough moments no doubt, and a lot of women in the music industry, and women period, have faced those as well. However life experiences, good and bad, made me become the woman that I am today.
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
MUSE LโARTISTE: Iโve recently became a member of the Recording Academy (Grammys) which is an important step in my career. Iโve also launched an-all female label, Powher Sound, which seeks to amplify the role of women in music.
Iโve produced โGroove Theoryโ, our first single thatโs been released recently and performed by Dallas-based rapper La Bell.
But most importantly, Powher Sound is about to release โHerstoryโ, the first multi-genre album entirely produced and performed by women from all around the world. I believe this is an important step for the music industry. The reason why is because itโs never been done and itโs long overdue. Itโs about making a statement regarding gender representation within the music industry as well as celebrating women in their diversity. Bringing all these talents together, allowing them to tell their stories, putting their messages across, it was a beautiful journey. It wasnโt without its challenges but Iโm very proud of it. From Grammy-winning artists to up and coming ones, itโs been incredible to work with such diversity of talent.
โHerstoryโ will be available for streaming on all platforms at the end of August, so make sure to check it out and be part of the change.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK
