What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is SoReal, and I’m originally from Tampa, Florida.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
The name “SoReal” came from the idea of authenticity and emotional honesty. I’ve always wanted my music to feel genuine, reflective, and grounded in real experiences instead of manufactured personas. As my artistry evolved, the name started representing not just honesty in lyrics, but honesty in storytelling and emotion overall.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
My musical journey started with writing lyrics as a way to process emotions, experiences, and internal conflict. Over time, I became more focused on building immersive experiences rather than simply releasing songs, which led to the creation of the SoReal Cinematic MusicVerse and the Through My Eyes series. Today, my focus is on combining music, visuals, and narrative storytelling into a connected creative universe under Black Crescent Records.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
One of the most interesting parts of creating “Glass Hearts (ACT II)” was realizing how visual the song felt before the video even existed. Certain lyrics immediately created scenes in my mind, almost like moments from a film. That made the creative process feel less like building a song and more like directing an emotional sequence.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
I want my music to remind people that vulnerability, self-reflection, and emotional honesty are not weaknesses. A lot of people carry pressure silently while pretending to be emotionally fine, and I try to create music that reflects those hidden internal struggles honestly. More than anything, I want listeners to feel understood.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
One challenge was balancing atmosphere with clarity. Because my music is cinematic and emotionally layered, it can be easy to overcomplicate production. I overcame that by focusing on intentional restraint — making sure every sound, pause, lyric, and visual element served the emotional direction of the song instead of distracting from it.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
The Weeknd would be an incredible collaboration because of how cinematic and immersive his work feels. I also think J. Cole would create something powerful because of his emotional honesty and storytelling approach. Beyond music artists, I’d eventually love to collaborate with visionary film directors and composers because I see my work expanding further into cinematic experiences.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
Over the next year, I see the Through My Eyes series expanding significantly through new acts, visuals, press features, festival submissions, and larger cinematic storytelling projects. I’m focused on growing the SoReal Cinematic MusicVerse into a recognizable creative identity rather than simply chasing quick trends or viral moments.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
The next major step is ACT III, “Chemical Solution,” which pushes the psychological and cinematic direction even further. Beyond that, I’m continuing to build Black Crescent Records as a platform for long-term storytelling, creative ownership, and immersive artistic experiences.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
Website: https://iamonlysoreal.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@i_am_only_soreal
Instagram: https://instagram.com/i_am_only_soreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@i_am_onlysoreal
