Faith & Spirit Quote by Taryn Manning

"I would say our sound is soul pop" is a small sentence doing big identity work. Coming from Taryn Manning - better known as an actress than a chart fixture - it reads less like a definitive genre claim and more like a preemptive framing device: let me tell you how to hear us before you decide we don't belong.

The phrasing matters. "I would say" softens the assertion, signaling self-awareness about credibility and gatekeeping. It's an artist speaking from a liminal space, where celebrity can open doors and also invite suspicion. By choosing a hybrid label, Manning reaches for legitimacy without pretending to be purist. "Soul" carries cultural weight: history, grit, vocal emotion, a promise of sincerity. "Pop" admits the marketplace: hooks, accessibility, the desire to be played, not just respected. Put together, "soul pop" is a diplomatic passport between authenticity and mass appeal.

There's also a subtle defensive posture embedded in genre naming. When outsiders enter music, they're often accused of cosplay or cash-in. A tag like "soul pop" counters that by emphasizing feeling over technique, vibe over virtuosity. It's not "R&B" (which can trigger stricter expectations about lineage and vocal tradition) and not plain "pop" (which can sound disposable). It's a careful middle: aspirational, emotionally branded, and strategically broad.

In a culture where audiences stream first and judge instantly, the label is marketing, yes - but also a bid to be taken seriously on her own terms.