Game Changers Podcast with Quinn St. Juste
Game Changers Podcast with Quinn St. Juste
Caribbean Neo-Soul: The Lily Octave Story
Four octaves of vocal brilliance meets Caribbean soul in this captivating conversation with Li Li Octave, Dominica's rising musical star who's redefining regional sounds on the global stage.
Li Li takes us on her remarkable journey from singing Whitney Houston perfectly at just four years old to becoming what she calls the "Caribbean Neo-Soul Queen." With roots in Dominica, Barbados, and Montserrat, Li Li explains how she crafts her distinctive sound by masterfully fusing traditional Caribbean elements like Kadass, Zouk, and Kompa with neo-soul, R&B, and jazz. The result? A fresh musical identity that's opening doors both regionally and internationally.
What sets Li Li apart isn't just her extraordinary vocal range but her commitment to authentic storytelling through music. Drawing from personal experiences, she creates songs that move from expressing raw emotions to finding positive resolutions – a reflection of her own philosophy about overcoming life's challenges. When she's not recording or performing across Switzerland, Algeria, and the UK, Lily balances her career as a massage therapist, embraces her love of plants, and spends quality time with her daughter.
Her passionate advice to young Caribbean artists reveals her vision for the region's musical future: "Don't get distracted by the hype... think outside the box and don't follow the norm." Lily envisions a legacy where Dominica takes its rightful place in global music conversations through her boundary-pushing approach. With her second "Jazz and Dine" event approaching and new albums in the works, Li Li Octave isn't just participating in Caribbean music's evolution – she's actively shaping it.
Discover this extraordinary talent's music on all major streaming platforms and follow her journey as she continues to prove that authentic Caribbean sounds can resonate worldwide without compromising artistic integrity.
Hello everybody and welcome to yet another episode of the Game Changers podcast. My name is Quinn Sergis and it's a privilege and pleasure to be here with you. As usual, my next guest is a young lady who has a dynamic singing range, but not just a dynamic singing range, but she's a dynamic personality as well. She's such an amazing voice and I can't wait to showcase her talent to you Not just her singing, but her personality as well. Here is Lily Octave. Hello Lily, how are you? I'm good and you, I'm good and you, quinn, I'm fantastic. Fantastic. Like I said, even better that you actually here with me now.
Speaker 2:I love it, same here. It's a pleasure to be here, man beautiful, beautiful now for my audience, who might not know. You tell my audience exactly who lily octave is, from her own perspective yeah, so lily octave is um four octave vocal range range singer, a Caribbean neo-soul singer actually from the beautiful nature island of the Caribbean, Dominica, and I mean there's so much to Lily Octave with her vocal range, the kind of music that she does that I do You're speaking a different person.
Speaker 2:I sing R&B, jazz, neo-soul pop, and they call me the Caribbean neo-soul queen because I infuse Caribbean elements into my music and there's really not much people in the Caribbean doing what I do, so hence the name, and I've been doing this from as long as I can remember, Since I was four. Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, so let's go back. Let's go back to that four-year-old Lily. Old Lily, I was told that you did a rendition of I Will Always Love you by Whitney Houston, or the only person.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir.
Speaker 1:Depending on who you speak about. How much do you remember of that?
Speaker 2:I don't remember anything at all. Interestingly, the only evidence that I have of it is somewhere under my dad's bed, you know, at his home, on a videocassette. So he recorded that we were at a church event and it was playing on the TV and I just started to sing out and and everybody was flabbergasted, he just this and he was going to record it, and that's the only evidence that I really have of it. I don't remember the exact moment, but yeah, it was. Uh, it actually um, now, according to him, was the first event, um, the first time they actually saw me do that, you know, and with the amount of people that was that were there, they, he didn't really expect me to have been so confident. So, yeah, yeah, that was the first time. Beautiful.
Speaker 1:So you're literally doing this since you were a baby, basically.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you could say so. I can't vouch for the womb, all right, but yes, got you got you, got you alright.
Speaker 1:So I know you have roots in Dominica, barbados and Montserrat. Yes, so you are a true caribbean woman, for sure. How do you infuse those styles in your music?
Speaker 2:okay. So, interestingly, I grew up with a lot of american style music. Um, we grew up seven of the adventists, so listening to a lot of the car. The Caribbean music was not something that was very popular in our home. I actually started listening a couple years ago, like around four or five years ago, and I fell in love with the Kadass, which is our local music.
Speaker 2:The Kadass, the Zouk Kampa. You know we have some Haitian Kampa elements and so on that we carry in the music as well, and so even some reggaeton in some of the songs as well. So we, in doing the music, at a certain point I just decided I was going to fuse some of those elements into the music, into the sound, and that's kind of birthed something in and of its own, because I carried the name Caribbean Neo Soul Queen, because there was people felt that there was nobody else in the Caribbean who could do what I was doing at the time. But when we infused the elements into the music, it became a genre of its own which was Caribbean neo -soul. So that's how it all came about. So when you listen to the songs that I've done, even some of the remixes, there's some reggaeton, there's some Zouk Kadass elements in there, beautiful, beautiful, yes, sir.
Speaker 1:So for somebody who doesn't understand music to the level that you understand it, can you explain how you actually infuse those sounds together? Or at least do your best yes, sure, um neo soul.
Speaker 2:The vocals play a huge part. How you sing plays a huge part in the delivery of the song. Right and live instrumentation, which is already very close to how we make music in the Caribbean. Right, it's with the live instruments are adding the elements was not really difficult with it, so we try to. The drum patterns is something that's very heavy in the music that's a lens to its being identified with the cadast, with the compa.
Speaker 2:And then we have the piano that does certain sounds, certain tones that we would usually use in our local music in the region as well, and of course the bass line. I'm a huge bass fan, I love a lot of bass in my songs and I'm sure anybody will recognize that when they listen to the music. So sometimes we will have a very straight beat. It's neo-soul or funk, but the bass line keeps a reggae tone and that's that's how we infuse it. So it's not. It might not be everything all at once, although there are songs that are like that of mine. But for the neo soul aspect, there are some of the songs that we just just the bass line would bring in an element, or just the drums absolutely, absolutely all right.
Speaker 1:So let's go back a little bit. Um, in the very beginning of your career, um, when did you know that you could have taken this on as a full-time gig, as something very serious?
Speaker 2:okay, so that was actually when I met my manager, um, mr Lindsay George, because I did music before, but it was more like just gigging, you know, doing a gig and not as serious. I wanted to do a lot more, but I didn't know exactly what I had to do and there were not a lot of people with that knowledge around.
Speaker 2:So when I met my manager and he's also my vocal coach, by the way we started off with the vocal coaching and then we went into actually doing the music creation and so on, because I used to write before and then registration and all these processes that come with the territory. So that's when I knew that I could do it seriously. I felt like I had a team, because there's also the Y2 Music team that manages me also the Y2 Music team that manages me. So I have an entourage of people who know what they're doing and I feel like I can go anywhere with them. Beautiful.
Speaker 1:And you know, sometimes we as fans, as people who listen, might not be able to tell how much collaboration happens behind the scenes to put together a project like that.
Speaker 2:Yep A lot of work.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:A lot of work. A lot of planning before, during and after?
Speaker 1:Yeah, For sure, for sure. Now I know that, while singing might be the most prominent thing that you do, you are so much more than that. You do so many other things. I know you're into modeling, you're a massage therapist and you have all these diverse talents. So how do you balance all those talents with the well, maybe the main thing that is singing, or you can tell me if it is the main thing or not?
Speaker 2:well, maybe the main thing that is singing, or you can tell me if it is the main thing or not. Yes, the main thing is definitely my music. It's uh, keeping me busy. How I balance everything is I have a very tight schedule and I have, um, so my the massages. It's actually um, it's scheduled, so there's set times and there's a website that helps me do that. So, and that's all through the Lily Octave website actually. So we have the booking site and for so, in between, what I would do is when a client would book for massages, I already know what's on for my schedule, so I can fit everything in around that. Yeah, so, and music, it's any time of the day, any, anyway, I know I have a client in like the next 30 minutes, and music goes on. I have something comes to my mind, I have a tune for a song and I just record it on the phone until I can get back to it and and continue my process. But that's how it. That's how it happens.
Speaker 1:Everything is scheduled yeah, yeah, and I was going to ask you about that you know the process of writing songs as well. Um, what sort of things do you draw inspiration from my life?
Speaker 2:experiences I I find it difficult to write songs that I cannot relate to, um, although it's a bunch of storytelling, and I have written songs for others where it's just um imagination, it's raw imagination. Just this is something that could have happened. It's sad, it's oh, it's lively and it's inspiring. But for me, most times my life experiences, at least that's what I put into my personal music beautiful, beautiful.
Speaker 1:So you tell your story through your music. That's what I'm yes. That's right. Beautiful, beautiful. I love that. You know, and these are the songs that people can really relate to, because you know, sometimes, even if they might not actually have that experience themselves, authenticity sells. You know people who believe that. You know. Okay, this thing is real, it's coming from a real place, it's coming from somebody who understands life and it's going through an experience.
Speaker 1:And even if I can't relate with that experience maybe not now, um, maybe I know somebody else who has gone through that experience right I really like the fact that you you take you know the reality of life and utilize it in the art, because often art imitates life True.
Speaker 2:True, very true yeah. Absolutely, it's a reflection of things that have happened, yeah.
Speaker 1:Absolutely All right. So we're moving on to a segment of the podcast that I really like. It's called the Quick Eaters. Now, the Quick Eaters is a segment with rapid fire questions. Oh yes, as quick as you can answer. I will not judge you if you take extra time. I will not put you to a timer, but let's see how well you can do, how quick you can do. All right, no problem, all right, let's go. So first quick question when you're not creating music or modeling or doing the 10,000 other things that you do, how do you unwind or reconnect with yourself?
Speaker 2:I was saying that I love nature and I love long walks. Yourself, I was saying that I love nature and I love long walks and that's, for me, how I reconnect. Also spending time with my daughter. That's that's how, what helps me unwind, yeah, so, apart from the busy day, that, any time that I get to spend, even with my plants I'm a plant lover yeah, this is that's what helps me to reconnect beautiful, beautiful all right, give me three words that describe your music inspiring, um positive, um motivational and yeah, these.
Speaker 1:So that's that's me. Yeah, all right. So inspiring, motivational. And what these? So that's that's me. Yeah, all right. So inspiring, motivational. And what was the other one? Again Positive, positive, all right. So, yes, I like that a lot and I could tell I mean, you know, just just from the type of individual you are obviously the music will be just like you. So, yes, yes, for sure final question, so final rapid fire question. Who would you like to see on this podcast?
Speaker 2:huh, well, I I know there's dukes I have not okay I've not seen him on on theirs yet, but I don't know if he has been but right, right.
Speaker 1:So so he has been here, but I need to do a solo. I need to do a solo episode with him. Um, it's very soon, so, yes, definitely, I will get him on here for sure for sure, for sure. So, dupes, she called you out. You know, bro, you have to come. She called you out and mecca absolutely.
Speaker 1:mecca definitely needs to be here. Mecca has never been here, but he definitely needs to be here, absolutely alright. Alright, but he definitely needs to be here. Yes, absolutely. Time you're rich? All right, all right. So we're quickly moving on to the back end of the interview. What message or emotions do you hope that your listeners take away from your music when they listen to it?
Speaker 2:Definitely that overcoming motivation, inspirational aspect of it. That that is what I hope that a lot of the listeners take away from it, because there's some songs that if you listen from the first time it might come off as angry and and probably bitter, but then when you get to the end you realize it is not harboring these emotions, it's a matter of I'm going to do something positive about it.
Speaker 2:It's not just having, having it or feeling it, it's what you do about it. So I hope that they really take that part away from the music and find ways to keep inspiring yourself, keep growing, keep making yourself happy, feeling on top of the world. That's one of the songs that I have written. Glory is another one. This is all just looking deep within and bringing out everything positive that there is about you beautiful, beautiful.
Speaker 1:So you want them to truly embrace the positivity that your music that's it really brings out yes, right absolutely, and I think you know the world will be a better place if more of us at least have that approach to life. You know, everything will not be perfect, everything will not be nice but, if we do have that approach to taking care of things, then I think the world will definitely be a better place yes, it sure would now speaking about.
Speaker 1:You know the challenges faced. I know that you would have had challenges navigating the music industry and trying to stay authentic to your roots, your caribbean roots. Not just your caribbean roots, but your beliefs and all those things. What are some of the challenges that you have faced and how did you navigate through them?
Speaker 2:well, the challenges that I had faced really were opportunity. This was one of the biggest challenges that I've faced because the type of music that I do yes, it's true that eventually we added Caribbean elements in there, but opportunities for neo-soul and jazz in the Caribbean is not, as it's not a lot, you know, compared to boyo and soca and reggae. So this was the biggest issue, but overcoming was definitely what we did, which was actually infusing the music elements in there. So now they get something that is authentic, which is the neo-soul, with something that they're familiar with and that opened some avenues to be able to be a little more flexible and to get a little more leeway with events and so on. Of course, we're really aiming for St Lucia Jazz, you know, just throwing that in there.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, yes, a hundred percent, a hundred percent. Can't wait to see you here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and jazz and Creole here, but we did that recently this year. That was I'm grateful to DFC for giving me, because this is the biggest platform that we have in Dominica for what I do and I'm grateful for them doing that, and that also led to some of the events happening where we could actually use the music there and, of course, overseas. There's a lot of opportunity overseas and we've traveled a lot this year to switzerland, algeria. Um, we did beckway when we were in manchester and liverpool, so it's yes, so it's there's a lot of opportunities um, overseas now happening and we're trying to bring those connections that we've made worldwide to the region and from the region back out. So we're trying to to represent both ways.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure, for sure, as you should, as you should. You know we need to, we need to and I guess, with the type of music that you do, you know, know, it's a best of both worlds. So it's bringing the international to the Caribbean, but when you're outside of the Caribbean, you perform outside of the Caribbean. It has that Caribbean feel and a Caribbean vibe.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:That Caribbean, you know, sound that the outside world craves. Because the outside world really craves caribbean music. Yes, whether it be reggae, soca um, dancehall, it doesn't matter what caribbean music, they really, really crave it. So that balance I think is very, very unique and I, I, I love really, I really really love that element about your music thank you, yeah, because you you're saying that and it reminds me of really dance up in there.
Speaker 2:You know, yeah, we did a cut-ass version of Bob Marley's Baby Don't Worry and Three Little Birds, so it was very interesting. They'd never heard it like that before and they were dancing up in there. So, yeah, they really do love our music. They want it.
Speaker 1:So connected and invested in you. You I'll stay with you, what you're holding inside, just give me your hand. I'll stay for you and I only hope that you know it gets bigger and better from here, for sure thank you, thank you absolutely okay.
Speaker 1:so when it's all said and done, when you finally hang up your boots and when your career does come to an end, what would the legacy that? What would your legacy? I'll take that again, yes. So when it's all said and done and you come to the end of the career you know you're chilling on a yacht somewhere. You have retired, it's all over what would you want your legacy to be?
Speaker 2:my legacy. Really, I would want people to remember me for having bring, having brought more elements or the the genres of carib Caribbean music that were not widely known to the entire world in a different way. I think that Barbados has a Rihanna and Trinidad has a Nicki Minaj and Jamaica has, like everybody, but Dominica has not had. Dominica has a lily octave. So that's what I want to. I really want them to see.
Speaker 1:That's what it is, absolutely.
Speaker 2:That's the effect that I would like to have, and for everybody to remember the music that I've made, which I hope will be timeless. I hope that people would enjoy it for years and years and years to come.
Speaker 1:that's the legacy beautiful, beautiful, yeah, and I guess well, with the elements that you utilize, you know just the caribbean vibe and the international vibe, but also what you speak about in your music, because I think that I mean as much as I do like instrumentals, as somebody who observes and loves music. The message often comes in the words and what you are saying, what you are trying to portray and what you are trying to keep with the audience, and just you know the, the messages that you do portray um can have a lasting legacy, because you know being positive will be a necessity, regardless of what time in history we existed. It could be now.
Speaker 1:I like how you put it, it was so in the past, yes, it's so now and it will be so in the future. Yes, so that timelessness, like you said, you know, that longevity, I can definitely see it, you know, being been seen in your music for years to come thank you, thank you so?
Speaker 2:much. I received that absolutely all right.
Speaker 1:If you could give a piece of advice to young aspiring Caribbean artists, what would it be?
Speaker 2:It would be. Don't get distracted by the hype. Okay. And don't, because there seems to be. There is a stigma that you have to make music a certain way for you to be accepted, and I want, I want our original artists to think outside of the box and not follow the norm for the region. Right, because I'm. Everything has a time and I want us to diversify the amount of me, the way we make music. So there's a time for sexy.
Speaker 2:I have some sexy songs there's a time for for you know the aggressive the, you know. But let's, let's think outside the box and we can keep. We have some clean songs, have some, you know it doesn't. You can mix it up because there are people out there who are really looking to invest in artists who can appeal to different audiences and who can perform in higher paying gigs. Opportunities, events, but the music has to be a certain way. Events, but the music has to be a certain way, and so I want them to believe in yourself and the creativity that you have and also diversify your song. Don't be afraid to speak on different topics. You don't have to be the same, you know. You don't have to be sex all the time.
Speaker 1:You can make it, yeah for sure, for sure you must switch it up and you know it must show your versatility because, like I said, like I said, you know, caribbean people are so many more things. We are not just, yeah, you know, one genre of music, one sound, one vibe, one kind of consciousness, but we are so much, much more than that. And I think, you know, different people bring different elements to different things. True, must truly embrace who we are as caribbean people, and if we do that, then I think not just the music would be better, but you know our whole caribbean culture and our whole point of view of life, I guess yes, definitely, definitely absolutely final question before we come to an end what is next for Lily Octave?
Speaker 1:okay, well, two octaves, two questions. What is next for Lily Octave? And secondly, um, where can we get your music?
Speaker 2:ah, no problem, okay. So what is next for lily octave is a lot more music, that's for sure. We have um jazz and dine, which is a lily octave event, and well, so lily octave and white music event on april 6th. That's going to be next year. This is the second edition of Jazz and Dine, and at every Jazz and Dine event we bring original music, an album, a live album comes from it, so we can expect another live album. Of course, we'll be working on studio recordings as well, studio albums, but a lot more traveling. So we'll never know. Lily Octave might be coming to somewhere near you. Yes, and my music can be found on all platforms. That's iTunes, spotify, soundcloud, just name it. Deezer, oh, anywhere, just name it Deezer and anywhere. It's all over YouTube and all, just name it, it's there so wherever you stream music, you can get Lily Octave that's right that's correct.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, yes, absolutely, lily Antu, thank you so much for coming on to this podcast. I really enjoyed our conversation. It really inspired me in my own way. Absolutely, yes, absolutely, lili Antu, thank you so much for coming on to this podcast. I really enjoyed our conversation.
Speaker 2:It really inspired me in my own way, but I hope that you also enjoyed it and had a great time here. I did I did. This was actually very nice. Thank you so much for having me. It was a pleasure speaking with you. You're awesome, yeah.
Speaker 1:Thanks. Thank you so very much. Okay, guys, so this has been yet another game changers episode and to thank you for coming on to listen. Remember to like and subscribe. Game changers is wherever you get your podcast. Same way, lily's music is wherever you can get music. Game changers is everywhere you can get podcasts. So remember to like and subscribe and follow and also download the episodes so you can get podcasts. So remember to like and subscribe and follow and also download the episodes so you can listen on the go. That's right, this has been yet another episode. I want to thank you for coming on and until next time, stay hungry and I'll see you then. Thank you.