SOL Collective’s event highlights how music connects personal experiences and emotions

Chicago: It’s amazing how a single song can take you back in time. Like, Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds” might remind you of your first kiss. Or Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” could bring back memories of college buddies. And then there’s Jon Batiste’s “Freedom,” which just fills you with hope.
This was the vibe at SOL Collective’s storytelling event, “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life,” held at the Promontory in Hyde Park. Eight incredible women shared their personal stories about how music shaped their lives. The audience was totally into it, laughing and nodding along, surrounded by disco balls and roses.
They even kicked things off with the Indeep song that inspired the event’s title. People were dancing and singing along, really getting into the stories being shared on stage.
Since 2020, SOL Collective has been all about amplifying the voices of women of color through these themed events. Co-founder Shelley Davis hopes their stories resonate with everyone, no matter their background. “We all have amazing experiences to share, and it’s fun to do it,” she said. “Plus, it helps us see ourselves in a new light.”
One of the speakers, Ada Cheng, shared a touching story tied to Phil Collins’ song about the ups and downs of love. The event also featured some familiar faces, like former American Library Association director Tracie Hall and ex-Chicago school board candidate Karin Norington-Reaves.
Another speaker, Keelah Moore, talked about a joyful moment learning to dance with a friend, while Shelley Davis shared her feelings after the presidential election. “I was so pumped after volunteering at the DNC,” she recalled. “But when the results came in, it felt like the music just stopped.”
Davis was inspired to start storytelling classes after hearing a moving NPR story in 2017, but she felt out of place as often the only Black student. “I’d share my stories, but some things just didn’t connect,” she said.
That’s when she decided to create the SOL Collective, teaming up with storytelling pro Emily Hooper Lansana as artistic director. “Chicago is a great storytelling city, but we need spaces for women of color to share their stories,” Hooper Lansana said. “I want to highlight those untold stories.”
She chose music as the theme for the event, where she also hosted and shared her own story. “Music has always been a source of encouragement and freedom for us as Black people,” she noted. “It’s how we find our way to healing.”
Even with tables and chairs set up, Hooper Lansana and the storytellers danced in the aisles during DJ Ca$h Era’s pre-show set. “You might think we should focus on something else,” she told the crowd. “But in tough times, our music and art have always helped us heal and fight back.”