Daily Inspiration: Meet Lizzy Kay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lizzy Kay.

Hi Lizzy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember\. What started as a love for singing grew into a career that has allowed me to spend more than 20 years working professionally in the music industry\.

A large part of my journey has been as a background vocalist, and that experience truly became my training ground.I’ve had the opportunity to sing alongside and support some incredible artists, including Mary J Blige, Jill Scott, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Tamar Braxton, Michelle Williams, Keke Wyatt, Kanye West, Childish Gambino, Teyana Taylor and others.Every stage, rehearsal, studio session and tour taught me something different not only about being a vocalist, but about musicianship, professionalism, discipline and what it takes to create moments that connect with people.

For many years, I became comfortable being the voice behind someone else.I loved supporting other artists and helping bring their vision to life, but eventually I realized there was another part of me that needed space to grow. I had my own voice, my own story and my own sound that I wanted people to experience.

That realization led me into a new chapter as **Lizzy Kay**, the artist. Stepping from the background into the forefront has required me to push beyond fear, rediscover who I am creatively and trust that all those years of experience were preparing me for this moment.

My music is rooted in soul, R&B, gospel and the music that shaped me, but at the heart of everything I do is connection.Whether I’m singing a song about love, life, healing or faith, I want people to feel something. I believe music has the ability to shift an atmosphere and reach places that ordinary conversation sometimes cannot.

Most recently, I’ve been embracing more opportunities as a solo artist, including headlining my first music festival, Jazz in the Alley, and continuing to build live shows where audiences can experience who Lizzy Kay truly is.

I’m grateful for every season of my journey the background, the stages, the quiet seasons, the challenges and even the moments when I questioned what was next.None of it was wasted.
. After more than two decades in this industry, I feel like I’m not starting over; I’m finally stepping forward with everything those years taught me.

And I truly believe I’m just getting started.

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?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I’ve had some incredible experiences throughout my career, but there have also been seasons that challenged me personally, professionally and emotionally.

One of my biggest struggles was learning who I was outside of being a background vocalist. For so many years, I became accustomed to being called to support someone else’s vision—touring, recording, rehearsing and standing on stages behind incredible artists. I was grateful for those opportunities, but somewhere along the way, I realized I had spent so much time helping other people tell their stories that I had never fully given myself permission to tell mine.

The music industry is also incredibly unpredictable. You can go from constantly working and traveling to suddenly wondering when the next opportunity is coming. After years of touring, I experienced a season when things slowed down tremendously, and that transition affected me more deeply than I expected. I had attached so much of my identity to being a working singer that I had to rediscover who I was when the phone wasn’t ringing the same way.

There have been moments of rejection, financial uncertainty, comparison, fear and self-doubt. I’ve watched opportunities happen for other people and wondered, “God, when is it going to be my turn?” I’ve questioned whether I waited too long to pursue myself as an artist and whether there was still room for me.

But I’ve learned that my journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

Some of the seasons I once considered setbacks actually forced me to grow. I had to work on myself, rebuild my confidence, confront fear and learn that my worth was never supposed to be determined by a tour, a stage, a credit or who called me for the next gig.

Now, as I step forward as Lizzy Kay, I carry all of those experiences with me. I don’t look at the years I spent in the background as wasted time—they prepared me. The struggles gave me something to sing about, something to stand for and a deeper understanding of the kind of artist and woman I want to be.

My road hasn’t been smooth, but it has been meaningful. And I think I appreciate this chapter so much more because I know what it took for me to get here.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an artist and creative, I’m a vocalist, performer and storyteller. My sound lives at the intersection of soul, R&B and gospel, but I’ve never wanted to put myself completely inside one box. I’ve spent more than 20 years singing different genres and working with different artists, and that versatility has become a major part of who I am.

If there is one thing I believe I’m known for, it’s making people feel something.

I love a beautiful vocal, but I’m not interested in simply standing onstage and showing people that I can sing. I want to create a moment. Whether I’m singing in an intimate room, on a festival stage or leading worship, I pay attention to the energy of the room and allow myself to be present with the audience. Sometimes that means taking a song somewhere unexpected or allowing my faith to naturally become part of the moment. That connection is very important to me.

My years as a professional background vocalist also gave me a unique education. I’ve learned how to blend, arrange vocals, interpret songs, work with bands, adapt quickly and understand what makes a live performance truly work. I’ve had to be a soprano, alto and tenor at different points in my career, so versatility has literally been part of my job.

What I’m most proud of, though, isn’t one particular credit or stage. I’m proud that after more than two decades in this business, I still love music. I’m proud that I haven’t allowed disappointment, rejection or changing seasons to take away my desire to create. And I’m especially proud that I finally gave myself permission to step from behind other artists and introduce people to Lizzy Kay.

I think what sets me apart is that I’m not trying to manufacture an artist persona. What you experience onstage is genuinely me. There’s soul, there’s church, there’s R&B, there’s life experience, there’s joy, there’s pain, and sometimes there’s even a little humor because that’s who I am.

At this stage of my life, I’m less concerned with fitting into what an artist is “supposed” to look or sound like. I want to make honest music, create unforgettable live experiences and use everything I’ve learned throughout my career to build something that has my own fingerprint on it.

I spent a lot of years helping create special moments for other artists. Now I’m excited to create those moments as Lizzy Kay.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m always open to meaningful opportunities to create and collaborate. People can work with me through live performances, concerts, festivals, corporate and private events, worship opportunities, studio sessions, background vocals and artist collaborations. I also love connecting with musicians, songwriters, producers and creatives who are passionate about creating something authentic.

After more than 20 years of professional experience, I’m also passionate about pouring what I’ve learned back into other singers and developing artists. Vocal coaching, artist development and mentorship are areas I’m continuing to expand because I believe experience becomes even more valuable when you can share it with someone else.

As for supporting me, one of the greatest things people can do is simply come along for the journey. Follow Lizzy Kay, listen to and share my music, attend my live shows, tell someone about me and continue supporting the new music and creative projects I’ll be releasing.

I’m in a season where I’m intentionally saying yes to opportunities that align with who I am, what I believe and where I’m going creatively. So whether you’re an artist looking to collaborate, a producer with a song you think would fit my voice, an organization interested in booking me, or simply someone who connects with my music I’d love to hear from you.

This next chapter is about community, collaboration and creating moments that matter, and I’m excited about who I’ll get to create them with.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Itskizzylay
• Facebook: Elizabeth komba
• LinkedIn: Elizabeth komba
• Twitter: Lizzy Kay
• Youtube: Elizabeth Komba

Image Credits
Jamal Josef with Jjalphotography