Choklate: Seattle's Soulful Powerhouse Blending Jazz, R&B, and Hip-Hop on Stages Coast to Coast
Photos provided by Choklate
By Lorcan Stokes
Since starting her career, Seattle-born, San Diego-raised Soul artist Choklate has established herself as a prominent figure in the local music scene. Her work blends everything from Jazz, R&B, dance, and Hip-Hop, featuring collaborations with Seattle producers and notable artists like De La Soul, Jake One, Vitamin D, Chali 2na, and more. She's commanded famous Seattle stages like The Showbox and Chop Suey and performed in venues across California, establishing herself as one of the Northwest's most prominent soul artists.
Converge Music recently spoke with Choklate to discuss her journey through the music industry, sources of inspiration, and what upcoming shows and projects she has in the works.
How has the Seattle music scene shaped you as an artist?
Common Sense Studios, Kuddie Fresh, the Jambalaya years, and discovering my voice live next to Reggie Watts, Vitamin D, and Beyond Reality. The Triple Door era—what a time! My absolute favorite music professionals and musicians under the sun who live here and run the scene were part of those insanely impactful eras, experiences, and connections in my creative life. All those people and moments raised me creatively.
J. Moore, my big brother, along with many great and some really, really crappy music business experiences that were the best folks could do with what they had, plus strong relationships with giants now, have taught me to be who I am in the boardroom as an artist. My entire community teaches me and continues to demonstrate artivism. Seattle is truly home for me, creatively; it’s where I was born physically and birthed artistically.
You've worked with diverse artists, from Boom Bap Project to Moby to Drake to Vitamin D. How have these collaborations influenced your music and growth?
Well, some were influential, while others were just collaborations set up by people I trusted who could see what I couldn't. Vitamin D helped me strengthen my ear and master the art of the stack. I got to really explore harmonies and be as imaginative as I wanted with them. He also exposed me to my musical lineage, which was really cool and helped me understand my creative inclinations better.
I helped put foam on my big brother's first studio booth and was exposed to the recording environment there. Kuddie Fresh gave me my first-ever beat to ruin and was the first person I ever created with. He and I wrote our first song when we were both not too far gone from diapers, on the floor in the kitchen, banging on the pots and pans while our moms were at church. I think we got a spanking for having those dishes on the floor, but I still remember the song like the back of my hand.
Some collaborations, though, were just about getting a track, recording my concept, and letting it fly, or my concept was hijacked by someone who wanted it after I created it. Shrug Those moments influenced me to stand a little firmer when it comes to business, but I think all the different collaborations influenced me in some way, I suppose. I definitely learned to acknowledge my pen because I can genuinely write to anything. For a long while, I would have said I couldn't write hard rock, but I've wielded my pen in every genre, and I really do rock with it all.
The collaboration with Moby was my first time working with a complete stranger. We met for the first time at the actual studio, and the songs were all written already. We chatted very minimally but worked through a lot in a small amount of time. I just did my best to capture vocally what he explained he wanted. He had full use of my entire voice, and “Sweet Moon” is what landed. His creative brain is fascinating.
Have any collaborations really stuck with you?
I would say my favorite collaboration would have to be with Phonte from Little Brother. Having someone write for you and having input or say-so on the construction of a song was a new concept when I went to work with him, but he made me feel hella safe and comfortable. All his ideas and guidance were fire, so I loved that experience.
We broke bread, talked about life, and laughed a lot because he's just a wise ass in the best ways. That collaboration really stuck with me. It taught me to be straightforward—no chaser—about art, to tell the truth, trust my gut, and be open-minded so I can learn new layers of my artistic self without being an asshole.
Those vibes were super foundational to what we created, and I enjoyed that collaboration more than any other I’ve ever done.
Your debut album received a massive response that did significant numbers. How did it feel to release your first full-length album and see it resonate with listeners worldwide?
I was very flippant. I didn't fully grasp what was happening. I didn’t trust all the attention and accolades either because, you know, trauma, imposter syndrome, triggers, and insecurity—blah blah blah. But honestly, I didn’t even take it seriously.
All I could think was, "Harriette made me a hustler, and this is another stream of income..." so I just got to work. I loved the process of the music, but once it came out, I was sort of in an alternate reality and not really believing what people were telling me about the art because I didn't believe in myself. I faked it really well, but if you knew me well, you knew I never felt like anything special when it came to the music. I thought I was getting away with murder.
What upcoming projects, shows, collaborations, or performances are in the works?
New music will drop by the year's end. I have collaborations with a couple of my favorite creatives.
Shows are coming too—ones in LA and the East Coast are already in the works. I can't wait to come home playing new tunes—maybe even tour again, but that’s more likely in 2025. Other than that, I’m just riding the wave because every time I make plans, God is like, “I don’t need help, ma’am...” So you’ll know when I know, ya know? But Godspeed.
What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Maybe just something to hold onto? Something to get them to the next moment, or just beyond the anxiety or sadness... just something that can take a little bit of the edge off and remind folks who they are and the power inside humanity.
I wrote these songs that you'll start to hear and see soon because I needed to hear them while trying to execute a new record and a lot of other life happenings simultaneously. And then boom... the record was done. So I just hope it gets folks through, like it got me through.
As someone who has worked with many renowned artists, what advice would you give to emerging musicians trying to find their own voice in a crowded industry?
Don’t follow the template. Kill your ego. Work with people who want to work with you. Don’t be an asshole. Communicate. Be honest and authentic. Get a job because regular paychecks and healthcare will pull you through while chasing your dreams.
Don’t be afraid to hear the truth. Accountability is not a loaded weapon; it’s freedom.
Serve others instead of always looking to get something from someone.
And remember, no matter if you help someone, give them money, talk them off the ledge, or share your resources with them, they might still talk shit when you don’t do exactly what they want, the way they want you to.
Look for your karma beyond the dirt you sow the seed into. It won’t grow there; it’s always somewhere out there.
Find Choklate on Instagram @choklate.
