Influencer Editorial Team
If life had a soundtrack, what songs would be on yours? Could you fit every high, every low, and every turning point into just 15 tracks? Would it capture the raw emotion—the heartbreak, the triumph, the joy, the pain? PREACH set out to do just that with his upcoming album, The Soundtrack of Life.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, PREACH’s journey is anything but ordinary. From basketball courts to studio sessions, his path has been shaped by discipline, grit, and a relentless pursuit of creativity. Raised by parents who taught him to be unapologetically himself while embodying kindness and humility, he’s carried those values into his music, creating work that is as authentic as it is profound.
From Jazz to Jump Shots to Jaw-Dropping Beats
PREACH’s love for music started young. His older brother’s obsession with smooth jazz planted the first seeds of inspiration. “I remember being surrounded by that smooth instrumentation—the way it felt, the way it moved me,” he recalls. “That’s probably why my brother teaching me to whistle is still one of my greatest musical skills to this day.” From piano lessons as a kid to playing saxophone in middle school band, music was always there, waiting for the right moment to take center stage.
That moment came when PREACH started making music with his good friend Dee—known as Skee in the music world. “That changed everything for me. It wasn’t just about making beats anymore; it became about exploring what I was truly capable of musically.” Their first project together, The Road Less Traveled, started as a fun experiment but quickly became a mission to create something meaningful. Two weekends, countless hours in the studio, and a whole lot of passion later, the project was born—and so was a deeper love for creating.
Shaping His Sound: Inspirations & Thematic Depth
PREACH’s influences run deep, spanning far beyond hip-hop. While J. Cole remains his favorite artist, he also draws inspiration from Kanye West’s boundary-pushing production, Drake’s melodic versatility, and Nick Grant’s razor-sharp lyricism. “The creativity of all these artists—both melodically and lyrically—has always been mind-blowing to me. Nick Grant, especially, is one of the best and most underrated lyricists I’ve heard. His ability to craft intricate rhyme schemes and metaphors is crazy and inspiring.”
But his musical roots stretch even further. Thanks to his parents, siblings, and friends, he was exposed to a wide range of sounds growing up—R&B, jazz, rock, pop, house, alternative, old school ’70s and ’80s music, and more. “I really love all music. Hip-hop may be my primary creative outlet, but my inspirations come from everywhere. There’s something special about every genre—the soul of jazz, the energy of rock, the groove of house. It all feeds into how I create.” That open-minded approach is what makes The Soundtrack of Life so dynamic, blending deep introspection with innovative production.
Despite these diverse influences, PREACH’s music remains distinctly his own. “I’m a private person. I don’t always share my personal life, but music became my outlet. Before a single lyric is even written, the beat already tells a story. I’ve been through a lot, just like everyone else. The Soundtrack of Life touches on childhood memories, breakups, hardships, and family—all in a way that feels personal yet universal.”
A Deeply Personal Album with Universal Appeal
Tracks like Cul De Sac and Church reflect on his childhood in Arizona, while Can’t Bare It was born from heartbreak. Simple Things serves as a reminder to appreciate life’s little moments. “Everyone can relate to these themes in one way or another. My experiences shaped these songs, but this project is really about all of us.”
Even the tracklist itself was crafted with intention. “The album is a journey through life—the highs and lows, the challenges and victories. Good and bad, happy and sad—they rely on each other to shape who we are.”
Inside the Studio: A Look at the Creative Process
A lot of The Soundtrack of Life was made in Athens, Greece, where PREACH found himself endlessly inspired. “I was just making beat after beat after beat—probably 80-90% of this album’s beats were created while I was there.”
Among the most special tracks? Good Intentions, a song loosely about someone he has a lot of love for and deeply respects. Can’t Bare It, which boasts his favorite beat on the album. And Eu(Dys)phoria, a track that flips an old piano melody from a song he and Skee made years ago into something brand new. “That one came together in a single day. The inspiration was flowing, and I just had to capture it.”
A Vision Beyond the Music
PREACH isn’t just meticulous about his sound—his visuals are just as intentional. “The album cover is something I’m really proud of. It shows a kid—me—floating in the sky, headphones on, blocking out distractions. But at the same time, he’s focused on the experiences and values that shaped him. It’s almost like a foreshadowing of what’s to come, and he doesn’t even realize it.”
What Comes Next?
PREACH hopes listeners connect with the music in their own way. “If even one person resonates with it, I’ve done my job. There’s so much music out there, but I wanted to put something out that felt authentic to me.”
And as for what’s next? He’s already in the lab. “I’m taking the time to enjoy this release, but I have visuals in the works for this album. I’ve also started on my next project—I just can’t sit still. If all goes well, you’ll hear it before the year is over.”
So if The Soundtrack of Life is PREACH’s life in 15 songs, one thing’s for sure—his story is just getting started.
