Daily Inspiration: Meet Kymberly Stewart

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kymberly Stewart. 

Hi Kymberly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a children’s singer/songwriter, musician, and early childhood music educator. I create original music for children that is upbeat and interactive. My musical style has jazz, gospel, and ’80s R&B influences. I write songs that have age-appropriate lyrics that children can identify with and sophisticated music that parents and caregivers can appreciate.

While studying to become an elementary teacher in college, I worked as a teacher’s assistant in an early childhood learning center to pay my way through school. Music was a big focus in the classroom, I sang to the kids all the time, and I would make up songs. I would also make up stories and act them out. I was very animated. Before I knew it, I had a long list of songs. Once I had my own kids, I decided that recording music and performing was something that I wanted to do professionally. I got involved in children’s theatre, and I would perform my songs at farmers’ markets. When the pandemic happened in 2020, I started making videos and uploading them to YouTube. It was around this time that I put out a full children’s album, Giggles N Curls. I started interacting with other artists in the children’s music genre, and as they say, the rest is history! Haha. I am now a full-time musician, teaching my music curriculum in preschools throughout the greater Los Angeles area, creating content on YouTube and Sensical TV, and regularly putting out music that amplifies children and celebrates childhood.

I have a new album coming out in 2023, for which I am very excited!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey as an independent artist has been challenging and exciting. Like most independent artists, the financial aspect is a constant struggle. However, it has taught me the value of hard work and to be self-reliant. I’ve realized that I am capable of a lot because I’ve had to do so much of the leg work myself. I love the feeling of accomplishing things that I set out to do.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My biggest accomplishment to date is being nominated for 2022 GRAMMY(R) Award for Best Children’s Album with 1Tribe Collective, a group of 24 music artists from across the country. The album, All One Tribe, is a collection of songs for children and families. The songs address topics of STEM, family, Black History, and the beauty of differences. My song on the album titled, Beautiful Brown Babies, was especially noted for it’s jazz influence and tight harmonies.

I have had the amazing opportunity to appear on America’s Got Talent with Angel City Chorale; I’ve performed at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Cayton Children’s Museum (Formerly Zimmer), and LA’s Discovery Cube. I am most proud of being able to take something that comes naturally to me and forge a career with it.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see more opportunities opening up for artists of color in the children and family music genre. The children’s music genre has existed for a very long time, but we are only now beginning to see more bipoc artists coming onto the scene. Children’s music is for children. Children live all over the world, and the music should reflect that. I believe bipoc artists who have been in this genre for a long time will become more visible and recognized for their contribution to music that promotes the growth and development of children.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kymberlystewartmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kymberlystewartmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kymberlystewartmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KymberlyStewartMusic
• Other: https://kymberlystewart.hearnow.com/giggles-curls

Image Credits
Tim Whitfiled
Timberwolf Photography
Winston Williams