SoMo

Joseph Somers-Morales, known by his stage name SoMo, is an American R&B and Pop singer-songwriter from Denton, Texas. He began his professional music career in 2011, gaining notoriety on YouTube with the release of original music and popular cover songs from recording artists such as Chris Brown, The Weeknd and Drake. In 2013, he signed a recording contract with Republic Records and released remastered versions of his 2012 mixtape My Life and debut single "Ride." His self-titled debut album SoMo was released on April 8, 2014.

Early in life, SoMo sang at popular clubs in Austin, Texas, with his father. His father was in a jazz rock band called Duck Soup, and as a young child SoMo says his father was not always there for him due to music. Throughout high school he distanced himself from music; however, in 2008, he received a piano from his mother for Christmas and taught himself to play by ear.

In 2009, SoMo started recording covers. A few years later, after a successful 2011 mashup of Drake's "Take Care," his cover videos were viewed over 50 million times total on YouTube. Throughout 2012, SoMo began to work on original music. His efforts in the studio yielded the independent debut mixtape My Life, merging R&B spirit with pop soul and showcasing his dynamic voice and songwriting powers. The mixtape was released for free on his birthday, September 11, 2013. Simultaneously, he released a new cover video every Sunday as part of his "SoMo Sunday" campaign. The series gained more than 50 million views on YouTube.

Struck by the success of SoMo's independent national tour, Republic Records signed him to a recording contract in October 2013. Following the release of his single "Ride" in November 2013, the song peaked at No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.