Rising Stars: Meet Kala’e Parish

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kala’e Parish.

Hi Kala’e, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
My name is Kala’e Parish, and I’m a singer/songwriter from Hawai’i. I started writing music at a really young age and just had a passion for putting my stories and the stories of others into a song. I really started getting more serious about my music in college and began performing professionally. In 2019, I released my first single followed by my first EP called “Where I Reside”. That EP is an eclectic collection of 6 original songs that I felt best represented my music and who I am. That first EP won me my very first Na Hoku Hanohano Award, a prestigious award ceremony held in Hawai’i every year organized by the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts. My music career has been an incredible journey since then. I have performed with some of the world’s top country artists, including Gary Levox from Rascal Flatts, and touring with Brett Young. I have performed in Las Vegas, California, at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood and the Temecula Theatre, to name a few, as well as the biggest venues in Hawaii, including the Waikiki Shell, the Blaisdell Arena, the Republik, the Maui Arts and Culture Center and more. In March 2024, I am set to release a brand-new album titled “Where I’m Going.” This album is a collection of 10 original songs that I have written about this incredible journey I am on, where I have been, and where I am going. I am really proud of this new album and excited to begin touring in this summer 2024. I have a lot of brand-new music and collaborations coming soon. 

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 has absolutely not been a smooth road. For any indie artist, being in this industry is not easy. It requires a lot of marketing, a lot of backing financially and a lot of times you don’t see a return on your investment for a long time. For some artists, you don’t ever see a return on that investment. So, this is really a lot about just betting on yourself, believing in yourself, and believing in your music – and then hoping that others will believe in it too! Fortunately, I have a really solid team of people that have mentored, guided, or just believed in me. And more than anything, I have just chosen that I want this life for myself and have continued to press on regardless of the challenges that have come my way. I think that’s a really important thing for anyone going through hard times to remember that you have a choice to make on whether or not you’re going to let those challenges get the best of you. Having hope that you will get through it and have what it takes to press forward makes all the difference. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a musician and a singer/songwriter. I think I specialize in writing music and am known for having a country sound with lyrics about my island home here in Hawai’i. I am really proud of a lot of my songs. I think it really tells a story on who I am and where I come from. I had someone tell me once that there aren’t enough Hawaiians who are singing contemporary songs about where we live and where we come from. They encouraged me to continue to be proud of who I am and where I grew up. We live in the most beautiful place, and it should be shared with the world! So, I am really proud to say that I have been able to do that, and I believe that it’s what really sets me apart. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Absolutely! I think having a mentor is the most invaluable thing you can do for yourself, for your career, and for your life. I have had so many mentors throughout my life who have poured so much knowledge into me. I’m so grateful for their leadership, guidance, and patience in teaching me the things that have really carried me through hard times and reminding me why it’s worth it to keep going. My advice for anyone would be to find someone with experience who believes in you and humbles yourself around them – allow yourself to be moldable to their advice and experience. If you can do that, just sit at their feet asking for nothing but knowledge; most times, they will be more than happy to give you that knowledge. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kalaemusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalaemusic/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalaemusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw7CRKlSWyqt8j5JI0Suk5A
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XBIKhkhbkLNB8tBU7hAFE