To the top and beyond, she's headed!
photo by Larita Massey
Age: 28
Jonquille Rice
Musician, Bassist, Singer, EmCee, Host/Personality
She's a super champ! Producing, singing, writing and hosting: just some of what Jonquille Rice does. With a B.S. in communication from Bowie State, certificate in childhood education and a rising career as an MC, Solsis has widespread talent. Originally, she was influenced by her mother's taste in music, which span from oldies, Sade to Earth, Wind and Fire. Now, at the age of 28 she is living out the fascinating and sometimes challenging life of an entertainer. Check out the interview by Underground Tree Projects.
Jonquille Rice graces numerous titles:
SolSis: is the poet and host; corny, funny, and relatable all at the same time
The CooLots: is an all female Rock & Soul band I helped form early March. I take on the name Dappho The Flow-Er then... our influences come from the police, N.E.R.D, shine down. Bob Marley, Erykah Badu, Rage Against the Machine, and M.I.A
SolRose: is my acoustic folk soul duo... intimate subjects, intense harmonies, original grooves...I am also Dappho the Flow-Er then too :)
Jonquille Rice
Musician, Bassist, Singer, EmCee, Host/Personality
She's a super champ! Producing, singing, writing and hosting: just some of what Jonquille Rice does. With a B.S. in communication from Bowie State, certificate in childhood education and a rising career as an MC, Solsis has widespread talent. Originally, she was influenced by her mother's taste in music, which span from oldies, Sade to Earth, Wind and Fire. Now, at the age of 28 she is living out the fascinating and sometimes challenging life of an entertainer. Check out the interview by Underground Tree Projects.
Jonquille Rice graces numerous titles:
SolSis: is the poet and host; corny, funny, and relatable all at the same time
The CooLots: is an all female Rock & Soul band I helped form early March. I take on the name Dappho The Flow-Er then... our influences come from the police, N.E.R.D, shine down. Bob Marley, Erykah Badu, Rage Against the Machine, and M.I.A
SolRose: is my acoustic folk soul duo... intimate subjects, intense harmonies, original grooves...I am also Dappho the Flow-Er then too :)
UTP: How would you describe yourself?
Solsis: Bucket o' corn, friendly, laid back, creative, magnetic!
UTP: When did you initially get interested in MC'n?
Solsis: I've always been interested in being an on-air personality radio wise so emceeing just fell under that umbrella. I would say emceeing specifically, about a year and a half ago when Jade Foster proposed the idea to me :) Always been cool with public speaking though.
UTP: At what point did you feel this was something you wanted to make a career, if indeed you do, and what made you think you actually could?
Solsis: After i started hosting Lyrics & Lace I felt like I could do this to make a little extra scrills and make folks smile while doing it... not so much a career, just an addition to all the many things i do.
UTP: What are the downfalls of relying on gigs and venues to support your art?
Solsis: Well, People are fickle and so are venues... so staying motivated can be a challenge but it's definitely worth the fight.
UTP: What do you like most about performing as a spoken word artist?
Solsis: The ability to move people with my words, my craft, my delivery... sharing is caring ya know!
UTP: What inspires you to stay focused, especially on those days you feel discouraged?
Solsis: The fact that even on my worst day i produce greatness...and the inadequacy I feel is just a lie... Satan rather ;) *hand clap for the Lawd!
UTP: What's your fondest memory on stage, how do you be feeling?
Solsis: Wow, what a question... hmmm, fondest? I guess when Mr. Briggs Mgmt. recording artists Fatso Skinny and Tamika "Love" Jones & the man himself Delonte Briggs came out to my event. I have this portion called the "Flow-er's Fellowship," where the DJ plays dope instrumentals and folks come to the stage to pass the mic and flow. So this particular night BOTH Fatso Skinny & Tamika "Love" Jones blessed the stage with me. I was sooooooo HYPED. I really respect those folks and was honored they came to support lil ole me.
UTP: What's your fondest childhood memory?
Solsis: Well there are many solitary instances I could tell you, but I will simply say that being with my mother...all the times I was in her space are my fondest & most important childhood memories.
UTP: What's your connection to young people (early childhood development & education certificate) and do you have plans for that area in the future?
Solsis: I am certified in early childhood and school aged education. I am looking forward to a leadership role super soon. I wouldn't mind being the director of an after school program. Working with children and the radio were the ONLY two jobs that I never hated to go to, so I figured I'd stick with it and make it work for me.
UTP: What do you see in store for your future?
Solsis: Artistic progression in multiple forms: songs, production, and flows which leads to participating in more events to gain more exposure and gigs. To the top and beyond is what I always say.
UTP: Any lasting words of advice for aspiring artists?
Solsis: Be courageous, Be yourself. The power of life and death lies in your tongue, so speak life and shed light like the sun.
Take off with Solsis @ twitter.com/Solsisdc, Facebook: coolots, jonquille solsis rice
Edited by our youth ambassador Rashida Asante-English
Solsis: Bucket o' corn, friendly, laid back, creative, magnetic!
UTP: When did you initially get interested in MC'n?
Solsis: I've always been interested in being an on-air personality radio wise so emceeing just fell under that umbrella. I would say emceeing specifically, about a year and a half ago when Jade Foster proposed the idea to me :) Always been cool with public speaking though.
UTP: At what point did you feel this was something you wanted to make a career, if indeed you do, and what made you think you actually could?
Solsis: After i started hosting Lyrics & Lace I felt like I could do this to make a little extra scrills and make folks smile while doing it... not so much a career, just an addition to all the many things i do.
UTP: What are the downfalls of relying on gigs and venues to support your art?
Solsis: Well, People are fickle and so are venues... so staying motivated can be a challenge but it's definitely worth the fight.
UTP: What do you like most about performing as a spoken word artist?
Solsis: The ability to move people with my words, my craft, my delivery... sharing is caring ya know!
UTP: What inspires you to stay focused, especially on those days you feel discouraged?
Solsis: The fact that even on my worst day i produce greatness...and the inadequacy I feel is just a lie... Satan rather ;) *hand clap for the Lawd!
UTP: What's your fondest memory on stage, how do you be feeling?
Solsis: Wow, what a question... hmmm, fondest? I guess when Mr. Briggs Mgmt. recording artists Fatso Skinny and Tamika "Love" Jones & the man himself Delonte Briggs came out to my event. I have this portion called the "Flow-er's Fellowship," where the DJ plays dope instrumentals and folks come to the stage to pass the mic and flow. So this particular night BOTH Fatso Skinny & Tamika "Love" Jones blessed the stage with me. I was sooooooo HYPED. I really respect those folks and was honored they came to support lil ole me.
UTP: What's your fondest childhood memory?
Solsis: Well there are many solitary instances I could tell you, but I will simply say that being with my mother...all the times I was in her space are my fondest & most important childhood memories.
UTP: What's your connection to young people (early childhood development & education certificate) and do you have plans for that area in the future?
Solsis: I am certified in early childhood and school aged education. I am looking forward to a leadership role super soon. I wouldn't mind being the director of an after school program. Working with children and the radio were the ONLY two jobs that I never hated to go to, so I figured I'd stick with it and make it work for me.
UTP: What do you see in store for your future?
Solsis: Artistic progression in multiple forms: songs, production, and flows which leads to participating in more events to gain more exposure and gigs. To the top and beyond is what I always say.
UTP: Any lasting words of advice for aspiring artists?
Solsis: Be courageous, Be yourself. The power of life and death lies in your tongue, so speak life and shed light like the sun.
Take off with Solsis @ twitter.com/Solsisdc, Facebook: coolots, jonquille solsis rice
Edited by our youth ambassador Rashida Asante-English