April Watkins / Vocalist
Eyobed Thomas / Lead Guitarist
Billy Gewin / Musician & Vocalist
Mel Lightfoot / Drummer
Joanne Seawood / Vocalist & Keyboardist
Marvin Graves / Bass Guitarist
Every Song Has a Story. So Do We.
April Watkins
April Watkins grew up in Carlisle, South Carolina, a small rural town where her passion for music began as a baby and part of a musical family. Along with singing, she grew up playing piano, saxophone, and occasionally xylophone. As a teenager, she often served as both pianist and vocalist for small churches that did not have musicians. Over the years, she has built experience as both a live lead vocalist and studio session singer, bringing versatility, emotion, and strong stage presence to every performance. April’s musical influences span across R&B, soul, funk, jazz, gospel, blues, and pop, with Mint Condition being her favorite band. She has a deep appreciation for rich harmonies, layered vocals, dense chords, and dynamic arrangements. What she enjoys most about performing live is the freedom of musical expression and the connection built between the band and the audience in the moment. Beyond vocals, she also brings vision, branding, strategy, and operational leadership to Soulful Experience. Outside of music, April enjoys entrepreneurship, wellness, sports, travel, and line dancing. Voted “Most Talented” in high school, she proudly embraces being both a multipotentialite and autodidact. Her goal is always to create experiences that leave people feeling joyful, connected, and uplifted.
Billy Gewin
Billy started taking organ lessons as a child, later moving on to play bass in rock bands and “folky music at the church” as a teenager. After years of playing other people’s music, he bought his first guitar from a college classmate, mostly to work on songwriting. Once there was enough material in hand to play a live set, it started making more sense to play guitar at gigs instead of bass. Billy took gigs in cover bands “mostly to force myself to learn new things on guitar so I could make better recordings”. Eventually people asked Billy to record their music, too, and so began his second career as a studio musician and engineer. These days, Billy splits time performing, teaching music lessons and recording bands and singer-songwriters. Gigs have him on either guitar or bass, “mostly at restaurants or parties doing cocktail jazz or dance music or whatever”, but he can occasionally be spotted playing “bad keyboards”, banjo, mandolin or even a melodica. “They let me sing sometimes, too, when they’re desperate for help”, says Gewin. Billy is also currently working on recording his fifth album of original material.
Joanne Seawood
Joanne Seawood is a native of Flint, MI and is a keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and music producer. She started out taking piano lessons at the early age of four. By the time she was seven, she was playing the piano for her youth church choir. In the school band, she found a love for the saxophone and played with the concert and marching band. Having a love for the medical field, Joanne went on to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan where she graduated to become a Radiologic Technologist. From Michigan, Joanne moved to the warmer climate of Dallas, Texas where she played for various churches and bands, along with working in her medical career. Here in Georgia Joanne has served as Minister of Music, pianist, and organist for numerous churches, Music Director for various artists and bands, and has received several accolades for her performances. She found love for the theater and became Musical Director for many stage plays. She was blessed to be the Musical Director for several stage plays written and produced by Javon Johnson from Tyler Perry’s “The Oval.” She enjoys traveling throughout the world, cruising the ocean, and catching big bass!
Marvin Graves
Marvin Graves is a gifted bassist and guitarist from Ellenwood, Georgia, whose musical journey began in the second grade. A self-taught musician with a natural ear for music, Marvin developed his passion and skillset through years of playing in church, performing with his uncle in a family band, and immersing himself in a wide variety of musical styles. Known for his versatility and ability to play by ear, Marvin brings authenticity, soul, and precision to every performance. Influenced by legendary artists such as Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Julian Vaughn, and one of his favorites, Wayman Tisdale, Marvin’s sound reflects both technical excellence and heartfelt expression. Over the years, Marvin has performed in churches, weddings, and live venues, where he has grown to love the energy and connection that comes from performing live music. Whether laying down smooth basslines or expressive guitar riffs, he enjoys watching audiences respond and engage with the music, describing it as one of the most rewarding parts of being a musician. Beyond music, Marvin enjoys spending quality time with his family, cooking and grilling, and listening to all genres of music. Through Soulful Experience, Marvin hopes to continue sharing his passion for music while creating memorable experiences that bring people together through sound, creativity, and soul.
Mel Lightfoot
Mel Lightfoot was raised in Atlanta, GA. He is a professional drummer with tons of experience. Mel has performed hundreds of live shows over the decades at local venues like Smith’s Olde Bar and The Masquerade. Mel is also proficient in recording and studio work for drums and percussion. Mel is hardworking, dedicated, and reliable. He is a versatile, well-rounded musician specializing in reggae, pop, rock, and R&B with an emphasis on soul, blues, neo-soul, and funk. Mel is a disciple of the Questlove (The Roots), Steve Jordan (The Rolling Stones), Steve Ferrone (AWB), and Alan Evans (Soulive) “less is more” approach to drumming. This entails serving the song or situation and establishing a foundational pocket where the music can thrive.
Eyobed Thomas
As a dedicated guitarist with years of experience, I began my musical journey through a passion for live performance, creativity, and expressive guitar playing. Over the years, I’ve performed and contributed to numerous songs across worship, contemporary, and modern music styles, developing a versatile sound shaped by both technical skill and emotion. Whether performing on stage or recording in the studio, my goal is to create guitar parts that bring energy, depth, and connection to every song.