Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Aniel's interest in music and singing began at an early age. He grew up listening to popular artists such as Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, and Trin-i-tee 5;7. "I would sing along with tapes on my karaoke player all day." During his middle and high school years he attended arts schools where he studied vocal performance. It was during these years that he matured his craft through learning how to read music, manipulate the voice, and become proficient in genres ranging from classical to jazz music. "There were many performances, choir festivals, and trips. So I guess I got used to performing." He also started making music and recording. "I started using various freeware programs for making music and played around with them. I was actually quite bad at it until recently", he jokes. And it was also during these years when He first accepted Christ into his life as his personal savior, which made all the difference. As his God-given talent for songwriting and production increased he began to form a viewpoint for which his music represented. The name came to be Surround Sound. "It's a strange concept. But in essence its music thats not bound by genre or race, hence the surround part. Then the sound represents the full truth of Gods word, the message that brings about salvation being imparted into the lyrics. And its not really about me." As he says, Aniel hopes that Surround Sound one day may be much more. "It's a music group composed of diverse artists from around the world, a record label, a global music and outreach ministry, you name it. Its whatever God sees fit to make his name glorious. Were all just vessels."