Meet Kai Ma

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kai Ma.

Kai, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I born in China, a small town call Hefei. I start to play guitar when I was ten years old, but when I realized “music can be my career”, I already 19. Before that, I thought about being an actor, but I keep failing film schools, then my friend told me “you sing pretty good, why don’t you go to music school?” So I went to Shanghai Film Art Academy-Music Performance Major. I did really good job there. After I graduated from Shanghai, I star to singing and play in the bars and clubs, lucky, pay not bad, I saved some money. But I don’t really want be a bar singer for my whole life, and I knew how amazing US is, the culture, music. So I came here 2014, actually I went to Arkansas State University in the very beginning. But when I got there, honestly,it’s nice place, but not that good for musicians,I did not hesitate, transfer from there to MI (Musicians Institute) immediately. Also my English was really bad at that time, can’t understand what the teachers say, confuse about everything. That was the hardest year in my life, I need to record all the classes, and playback at home to learn, also need practice guitar, piano, Music theory ETC…. Because not just I found how bad my music skill is, also how many GREAT Musicians in LA, make me realized I don’t have time to rest.

Some people really gifted, they can learn music really fast, but I’m not. So I spend a lot time to grow my music skill.I became MI teaching assistant after I graduated, that’s how I got better and better. Same time, my friend posted on Facebook that one of the concert promoters looking for guitar player, I responded immediately, you never know how hard to find a good pay gig in LA, not mention Concert gigs.

After I got in the company, I’m just a beginner. Lucky, the bandleader from Taiwan, he likes me, so he taught me a lot, not just how the concert works, also how to run the concert, how to do the relationship with companies. These are very important to me to become who I am now. Two years later, he decided to “half retire”, so I got chance to run the concerts as Music Director. I work 200% hard to doing these concert prep stuff, then more companies call me want me to do concerts.

I think the most important reason that I came who I am today, is that I knew, I’m not the guy” born to be musician”, I been through really tough time, both in life and music. But I always keep up, spend extra time. Because I know ” You Always Get Pay If You Work Hard”.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Actually, not that hard for me, yes it’s a lot work for sure, we are talking about concert not just bar gigs, always hard first one or two, but when you getting use to that kind thing, it’s smooth. Concerts more like Chinese Pop music style, easy to play, like every other concerts, set up computer, click tracks, they are all similar. Lucky I have a really good band members, they are all my close friends. Play with them on stage make things and music easier for sure.

Kai – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We all know LA is a really big music city, and many great musicians here. I always thinking, how can I make money, make living in here. So I figured out, first, I know there are so many Chinese concerts host in LA every year, I know the language, that already apart me from so many locals, because not every Chinese artist knows use English to communicate, so if they have me, saved a lot time. 2nd, I have a really good concert bands and musicians, and I know how to choose right people to play, I think concert it’s all about team work, not only you can play a lot solos, especially when you play with singer. Also music reading really import, so many good players out there, but not all of them can read, it really took a lot time just practice reading and it can be really bored sometimes. And really important thing is good relationship with companies. This can be really hard because companies they know running business, but they don’t know music, it’s really hard to let them know witch band good or bad, it takes a lot time, so I’m the guy who keep talk to them and explain to them which part good or bad.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Currently, I’m staying home doing a lot writing and produce for some artists from China. I think in the future I will keep doing concerts here or China if I have chance and all produce works, go back and forth US and China, and of corse when the virus situation better, me and my team will go back in track and do more concerts LA and China, and some of them are top artists. But for me, the biggest thing is getting my Artist Visa, that gonna be a big change for me.

Contact Info:

• Address: 328 N Del Mar Ave, San Gabriel, CA91775
• Phone: 3232757927
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaima411/

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.