Souleye (hip Hop Artist)

Mario Treadway (born May 3, 1980), better known by his stage name, Souleye, is an American hip hop artist and rapper. He has independently released ten albums, including his latest, ''Hunting Teardrops'', which was released in March 2021. Among others, he has performed and recorded with Bassnectar, BLVD, and his wife, Alanis Morissette.

Early life and education

Treadway was born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, to a father of claimed partial Native American ancestry and a mother of Italian descent. He began rapping in high school, from which he graduated in 1999. Treadway went on to attend Western New England College for a year before leaving school. He had an older brother who died by suicide.

Career

In 2001 he began writing, performing and traveling with a loosely knit collective of conscious hip hop artists called the Transcendental Alliance; in 2003, he released an album titled ''Soul Sessions'' with underground hip hop artist Campaign.

In 2003, Treadway's best friend was diagnosed with cancer. After his death, Treadway retreated to Mount Greylock in Massachusetts. In the woods alone, he wrote the album ''Flexible Morality''. In 2004, his brother died by suicide, and while cleaning out his apartment Treadway discovered that his brother had affixed a sticker which read "Music Matters" on the ceiling where he hanged himself. Given the same sticker by his brother years previously, Treadway embraced "Music Matters" as his mission statement and released ''Universoul Alchemy'' that same year.

In 2006, he teamed with producer Samuel "Sleepyhead" Pohner in Asheville, North Carolina, and as Souleye & Sleepyhead, they released ''Intergalactic Vibes.'' The album won a new music contest sponsored by ''Relix'', and as the contest winners, Souleye and Sleepyhead performed on the weeklong Jamcruise 4. While there, Souleye freestyled with Michael Franti, and was invited to play with Bassnectar. Following the Jamcruise, he performed extensively with Bassnectar. Souleye wrote and recorded the song "Amorphous Form" on Bassnectar's album '' Underground Communication''. In 2007, Souleye joined the San Francisco-based electronic band BLVD, with whom he recorded the album ''Music for People''. He toured with the band until 2009, and subsequently began performing once again as Souleye.

He met Morissette at a meditation gathering in a Los Angeles residence in 2009, and they were married in 2010. Treadway opened Morissette's 2012 "Guardian Angel" tour and has since collaborated with her frequently. He released the album ''Iron Horse Running'' in 2013 and ''Identified Time'' in 2014.

In 2015, Souleye released his album ''Shapeshifting''. The full-length featured focus tracks, "The Victim" and "Labeled". The music video for "The Victim" premiered on Yahoo Music and "Labeled" made it to the Top 20 Official European Independent Music Charts.

On November 11, 2016, Souleye released the debut single, "Follow Your Heart", to his forthcoming album ''Wild Man''. Following up to his first single, Souleye released "Snow Angel" featuring Alanis Morissette in January 2017. The music video premiered on Fuse TV and has been reviewed and featured by The Huffington Post. The album was produced by Crush Effect and was released in September 2017.

Personal life

Treadway and singer-actress Alanis Morissette married on May 22, 2010. Their son Ever was born on December 25, 2010, their daughter Onyx on June 23, 2016, and their son Winter on August 8, 2019.

Discography

Albums

*''Hunting Teardrops'' 2021
*''Soul School'' 2019
*''Wildman'' 2017
*''Shapeshifting'' 2015
*''Identified Time'' 2014
*''Iron Horse Running'' 2013
*''Music For People'' (with BLVD) 2008
*''Balance in Babylon'' 2007
*''Intergalactic Vibes'' 2005
*''UniverSoul Alchemy'' 2004
*''Flexible Morality'' 2003
*''Soul Sessions'' 2002

Guest appearances

*VokabKompany& Stephan Jacobs - "Me Against Me" single 2013
*VokabKompany - "Let it Fly" single 2013
*Apaulo 8 - "Youthful Inheritance" from ''Infinite Possibilities'' 2011
*Lila Rose - "Magick" from ''Osmos Your Sonica'' 2009
*MiMosa - "Delivery" from ''Hostilis'' 2009
*Random Rab - "Clarification of Meaning From a Rose" 2009
*STS9 - Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist from Peaceblaster ''The New Orleans Make it Right Remixes'' 2009
*Seventhswami -"Escape Artist" from ''Here For Now'' 2009
*On The One - "Love Addiction" (remix) from ''Love Addiction'' 2008
*"Shine" from ''The New Kong'' 2008
*Breakbeatbuddah - "Mind Check" from ''Mind Bombin'' 2007
*Lynx - "Just One Step" from ''Grain Of Sand'' 2007
*Bassnectar - Amorphous Form from ''Underground Communication'' 2005

References

External links

Official site

{{DEFAULTSORT:Souleye
American hip hop musicians
American male rappers
East Coast hip hop musicians
Living people
People from Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Rappers from Massachusetts
Western New England University alumni
1980 births
American people of Italian descent
American people who self-identify as being of Native American descent