How do we nurture our art when we’ve got bills to pay and neurosis to slay? I spoke with singer, songwriter and composer Arthur Lewis about potential, success, baggage, inherited dreams, talent, and his career in music. Arthur Lewis is one of New York’s finest original musicians, which is why famed poet Sarah Kay and Pulitzer, Grammy, Tony, and MacArthur “Genius” winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, of Hamilton Fame, are fans. The two were two of the founding members of FreeStyle Love Supreme.

Originally from Queens, Arthur Lewis went on to study at Yale, and then returned to New York, where he has spent over a decade playing piano, guitar, percussion, as well as composing, singing, directing, and engineering for fellow musicians, comedians, and theatrical performances. A musician’s musician, Lewis became a go-to player in musical collectives, including the Melting Pot Crew, This Is Not the Radio, and Freestyle Love Supreme, a hip hop improv group.

Freestyle Love Supreme was also a foray into comedy and the group involved so many unique talents that several directors wanted to make a series chronicling these guys on stage and off. The television series about FLS features "Lin-Mon" Miranda, Hamilton's Chris "C-Jack" Jackson, Anthony "Two Touch" Veneziale, Utkarsh "UTK" Ambudkar, best known for The Mindy Project and Pitch Perfect, beatboxer Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan, Bill "King Sherman" Sherman, and, of course, Arthur "Arthur the Geniuses" Lewis. Tony winner James "J-Soul" Monroe Inglehart and Daveed Diggs, from Hamilton fame, make cameos. FLS, the TV series, is on PIVOT Channel and will be streaming on SeeSo soon.

Lewis is instrumental in bands, collectives and collaborations, but it is as a solo artist where Arthur Lewis truly shines. His singular talent for seamlessly sifting between improvising on the fly, as a true jazz artist would, and braiding together original indie soul vocals and instrumental melodies are palpable in his debut album, IF WE WERE. He is also the Lead Developer at Soundfly, which uses technology to create a new kind of music school.

Once you hear his ethereal voice and dulcet compositions, you'll know why this indie soul singer is beloved by his peers and fans alike. Lewis performed live at Joe’s Pub during a live taping of Employee of the Month, so after you hear our candid interview, you can enjoy his intoxicating music. www.arthurthefourth.com and follow me @catielazarus

Our next live show is Thursday April 28th at Joe's Pub. Go to www.employeeofthemonthshow.com for more details.