5 minute read
Khaled Abdelghany
Next Article
“One fun fact about me.... Hmm,.. My favorite fruit is mango.”
Q. It is an honor to Interview you. Tell everyone who you are and where you’re from?
A. Hello I’m Khaled Abdelghany. Some may know me as Sowle on social media. I’m from DC, but also represent Egypt as well as part of my cultural background.
Q. Who inspired you to be the man you are today?
A. I give thanks to my family as a whole, but a special thanks to both my mother and father for pouring their own little ingredient in making me the man I am today. Having both the middle eastern culture along with the African American southern hospitality culture in one household to embrace from is special. Very lucky to have had parents like mine who showed me a lot of ways to life’s beauty.
Q. Tell us about this short video you did called “I’M Black and I’m Proud” and the meaning behind it?
A. The video was raw footage of how hurt and pain surpassed capacity and poured out in response to the peaceful protesters who were expressing emotions I also felt. My repeating along “I’m Black and I’m Proud” was a natural instinct no matter what situation I am in. I am a black man first before anything. By far the toughest mission I have ever been on. Emotions were all over the place. But it was important to stay professional and maintain my military bearings, it was even more important to me to show my black and brown community of protesters and everyone that was protesting peacefully, that I felt the pain too for #GeorgeFloyd #BreonnaTaylor and the many other names before them.
Q. I know you talk about a lot of art what is your vision for art?
A. My vision for art is unlimited. I think of art and I think expression in the most vulnerable form of oneself. Mine is music. Singing and writing. I dabble in other visionary arts too, but I lean heavy on music because I feel it in every way. It’s a creativity that has always been a part of me.
Q. Howhas yourculture defined you and what parts do it play in your music?
A. Oh my culture has a HUGE part in my music capabilities. From being around my grandmother (father’s side) as a kid in Egypt, watching her knit as she listens to her Arabic music. While I naturally sing along and dance to it. That gave me perspective in a much different way for music. Then to compare that and bring my ear to listening and watching to my uncles (mother’s side) in South Carolina set up their instruments under the big tree at grandma house, and perform songs by Earth, Wind, and Fire, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations. As a kid, I was in my own little music Mecca. I would watch my mother take lead and sing her songs just because she wanted to. She was an inspiration to me.
Q. With everything that’s going on what are some things you been doing while quarantining?
A. Well quarantine has given me plenty opportunities to focus. I’ve been really putting in work with writing music more and being able to share some of it with social media. But I’m mostly excited about my podcast project coming soon. I wanted to set up a platform for the black local culture and how it plays an important positive role in our everyday community. I will have special guests that have their own respective field and play in helping the black and brown community. As well as a way where people watching or listening could get involved too. Also, I can’t forget the gym! Being able to stay fit and healthy is important to me too. So, I have cut out all meats and have orchestrated a special diet tailored for me. Along with playing ball. That’s my joy too. Love hooping.
Q. Are there any projects you working on right now?
A. Podcast project, music (possible EP), YouTube channel.
Q. Tell us how the transition from Egyptian to the U.S. has been for you and family?
A. Well I was born here. A few weeks after, my parents decided it would be a smart idea to send me to Egypt and leave me with my Grandmother there to raise me and teach me the culture and the language early. I attended Pre-K and Kindergarten there as well. When I moved back to the states, I was old enough to start 1st grade. That is
when I attended a private school named ISA. Which taught us both Arabic and English. So, my transition was smooth. Although my father probably couldn’t say the same. He was the one teaching me English at home after I came home from school. So, it was like going to school twice in a day. I had a school desk at home with a white board and everything. Lol. It was fun because he was actually a good teacher and I learned quickly. Didn’t need to be put in any ESL classes. So that was amazing that he could teach this hyper super goofy kid to sit still and learn. But I leaned on my love for sports and athletics to fit in. I love to play soccer and basketball. Which I excelled in both sports and lifetime friends came along with it. Grateful.
Q. What is one fun fact about yourself ?
A. One fun fact about me.... Hmmm My favorite fruit is mango.
Q. Where can the fans follow you?
A. The tribe can definitely follow me on: Twitter and IG @__sowle__ YouTube channel will be available soon. My name is Sowle. Please go and subscribe. I’ll be putting out snippets of the podcast interviews there as well as my behind the scenes videos of me making music and possible raw videos of me creating a song too.
