Nicólas Soul shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Nicólas, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
As an artist, I’ve become disillusioned with the music and entertainment industry as a whole. I recently learned about the idea of the Struggling Artist Industrial Complex and how systems are built to profit from artists staying broke, overworked, and grateful for exposure. I think many people are quietly struggling with the realization that the dream they were sold does not match the reality they are living. Creatives often feel trapped between loving their craft and resenting the industry around it, questioning whether burnout is a personal failure or a feature of the system.
A lot of people stay on the hamster wheel because they are afraid that stepping off will look like quitting instead of self preservation. The industry operates on that fear, convincing people that rest means weakness, boundaries mean irrelevance, and slowing down means falling behind. So they keep going even when it costs them their joy, their health, or their sense of self, because the scariest thing is not failing but being seen as someone who stopped believing in the dream.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Nicólas Soul, an artist and creative organizer working at the intersection of music, storytelling, and community building. Through NuRenaissance, my media company, and Renaissance Certified, my live music artist showcase, I create spaces that center artists as whole people, not just products. My work challenges the idea that creativity has to come at the expense of well being, ownership, or integrity. What makes my work unique is the focus on intention and sustainability. Rather than chasing visibility for visibility’s sake, I help artists develop their craft, clarify their voice, and reconnect with why they started creating in the first place. Everything I’m building is rooted in redefining industry norms and imagining healthier, more human ways for artists to grow, collaborate, and be seen on their own terms.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In college, one of my friends created their own major and that always blew my mind. They were able to design their own course of study, choosing the classes that made sense to them. I had always thought of college as a demo for life and seeing that taught me that if I make something make sense to the world, I can essentially create my own path. As long as it provides value and is accepted, I do not have to follow a route that has already been laid out and I can build something that is truly mine.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that no one is coming to save you. No matter how unfair life is or how justified you feel in your perspective, you still have to hustle to create your own stability. There have been a lot of unfair things that have happened to me, and each time I had to pull myself not only out of the situation but also equip myself with a perspective that allowed me to see it through and evolve into a higher version of myself. I believe God is always with me, but outside of that, all I have is me.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe in college that if I did not make it or become famous, nobody would recognize my worth. Now I understand that even if I achieved fame, there will always be people who do not see your value. Fame does not change that. You have to recognize your own worth and be confident in it yourself.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I am choosing sustainability over chasing instant visibility because I want to build a foundation that can last. I want to create something strong and independent that grows on its own terms. For me, success is not about quick wins or fame, but about how many people I can provide genuine value to and how much inner peace I carry along the way. I know the work I put in now may not pay off for 7 to 10 years, but I believe that patience and intention will create something lasting and meaningful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nrnszn.com/soulnicolas
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/nrnszn
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickoaluoch/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/nrnsznllc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAimerlavie
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nrnszn
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@soulnicolas
Image Credits
Music Neighbors
Chris Dorsey
Dalton J. Bradley
