Diandra Interviews Oriel Poole: Being Open To Life’s Changing Paths

The scariest and most beautiful thing about life is that it changes. It is as if Life has a natural, inner balance that puts us where we need to be even if it has to take us where we do not want to go. After the 2008 Recession, Oriel Poole realized her “safe job” was not safe, at all. Struggling for employment, she realized that, perhaps, the greatest safety you have is to live with your greatest joy. Thus, it is no wonder she entered the music industry, and is, currently, creating a sound that exudes the only way you are secure in this world is if you are living according to what you love.

Diandra: You slowly began to enter music business after work struggles during the 2008 Recession. Do you feel music was your destiny?

Oriel Poole: My inner child always knew a professional career in music was my destiny, but my logical mind told me to pursue the “safer” path. Although I have made the transition away from being a design professional and music business professional, all of this prior knowledge has greatly shaped how I think, how I work, and the greater vision for how my experience will aid to the success of my longer term career.

Diandra: If you could describe your sound in terms of interior design. What would you say is its color coordination, style, architecture, etc?

Oriel Poole: Oh I love this!
In Form, I would describe my music as – structural, abstract, and fluid.
In Color, I would say multidimensional. Each song offers its own palette. “Foothills” is desert landscape – earth tones mixed with a royal teal. “Brighter” is warm and soft, with whimsical hues of deep passionate red. Meanwhile, “High Fidelity” would be best described as a kaleidoscope of rainbows, refracted light from a prism.

Diandra: Was there a specific moment, when you knew that music was your new path?

Oriel Poole: After the recession, finding work was not that easy. It was the moment when I realized the “safer” option wasn’t actually safe at all. I went to an amazing design school (top 10 in the US for my degree), completed several internships (including one international), sent myself to industry conferences, and was awarded 1st place in a national hospitality design competition, all prior to completing my education – yet I still struggled to find work.

I felt like I did everything right – solid grades, incredible designs, real life international work experience, industry networking, and winning a national completion, yet the world was still against me. The hospitality design industry at the time was frozen – literally, all new hospitality builds – hotels, restaurants, nightclubs etc. were halted – banks were freezing loans in their tracks, design firms were laying off 50-70% of their staff. As a graduate, instead of being offered entry-level work, I was being offered full time unpaid internships. The economy was that bad.

Forced to adapt, I invested the next several years taking on various freelance jobs in the areas of event production, hospitality management, and design, much of which overlapped with the music industry. During that same time I started making songs with friends for fun and encountered many people suggesting that I pursue a career in music. At first I was resistant to taking such a risk, moving away from design and toward music, but I later realized I had nothing to lose. Music was always my first love, but I never saw it as a practical endeavor. Both careers held equally weighted challenges and it simply came down to a matter of choice…it was in that moment that I realized my desire to make music professional held a very deep place in my heart, I discovered the type of love that was willing to overcome any obstacle life through me. In a flash, the trajectory of my life changed forever.

Diandra: You were born on a Sunday, of which you named your debut after. How do you feel that day is symbolized in your music and person?

Oriel Poole: Literally and metaphorically speaking, Sunday was the day that I was born. It is the day that I remembered what I came here to be. I do believe that we are all brought to this planet with a mission or purpose, and it is through our own life experience that we discover what that is.

My mission on this planet is to use my voice. I am here to take all of my knowledge and understanding as a creator of all forms (as a singer, designer, creator of events, producer of music, and manager of people) to bring an art form to the world designed to inspire / connect people to a higher source, through the human experience.

I woke up to that call through the economic breakdown. All of my prior life experience has led me to this

Diandra: You have quoted the poem “You don’t learn to un-love them, you learn to love yourself more.” What track of yours do you feel most promotes self-love?

Oriel Poole: Yes by Vinati. I found this quote in a moment when I needed it the most. Self-love is key.

I would say “Foothills” is the song that most promotes self-love. I quote, “Start from the heart, let my dreams make the rules. Let my soul shed the sound, so sensual. Wrapped up in love, it’s a bond I can’t break. A path where only beauty awaits.”

Diandra: You have been in the music industry for a while. How do you handle its anxieties and pressures, and keep a sense of mindfulness?

Oriel Poole: When I stay true to my vision, all negative emotions recede. Granted, anxiety is real, but these feelings are validated when I am secure in what I am doing and why I am choosing to do it. Any road will come with its pressures. I have chosen a high-risk high-pressure career because my heart knows this is the road for me. I am 100% committed to see this vision through.

In order to maintain mindfulness I meditate at least once a day: more if necessary. Transcendental Meditation is always I tool in my tool belt when a need it, 20 min is all that is needed to remain grounded. More recently, I am working with a technique called ThetaHealing to address and release deeper-rooted fears or doubts that may pop up along the way. I also journal to check in with myself, to make sure my environment (internal and external) is supporting my short-term goals and long-term dreams in the best and highest way.

Diandra: There seems to be an element of spirituality/ dreaminess to your sound. How have both come into play when trying to create an ambient sound?

Oriel Poole: I guess I’m kind of spiritual and dreamy. ☺

The process through my creation is rather organic. Ableton has been an empowering tool for music creation, I create beats and I work with sounds that inspire me. Once I feel inspired, I can tap into the music, and let the words and the melody run through me, resulting in what you hear now.

Diandra: Having your debut out, are there any thoughts you have on where you want to take the future of your sound?

Oriel Poole: My second body of music will be a progression from the first one.

From a production standpoint, I have always been really drawn to tribal music, and I also have a love for un-syncopated beats. Of course, my vocals will remain a feature highlight to the artistry. The music is a rather experimental process for me. I know there will be a strong emphasis on drums, building up the layers from there.

Conceptually, I am exploring the duality between my more material and spiritual self.

In life, we are all so set on certain paths that, in becoming blinded to others, we narrow ourselves. Yet, life will make you see its ways, even if you work hard not to open your eyes. In an odd way, Oriel Poole was lucky to have witnessed, during the recession, it is not just the economy that went wrong, but humanity’s definition of money as a stable, easily accessible source. Give Caesar what Caesar is due, but give yourself the joy you deserve, especially if it is music. Now the world has one more source of good, healing music thanks to Oriel Poole. For More Information On Oriel Poole Click Here.