Meet Kali Madden of Burbank

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali Madden.

Hi Kali, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from Kingston, Jamaica, and I grew up in a family where music, culture, and storytelling were deeply woven into our lives. I’m one of six brothers, with two stepsisters, and my family has a pretty remarkable history. My father is a well-known mortician and part owner of our family business, Madden’s Funeral Home, which has served Jamaica for generations and was entrusted with the funerals of cultural icons including Bob Marley and Dennis Brown. My paternal grandfather was a virtuoso musician, while my maternal grandfather is credited with helping bring jazz to Jamaica in the 1950s. So, in many ways, music and culture were part of my inheritance long before I realized they would become part of my own career.

I eventually moved to Los Angeles and studied public relations at Cal State LA. While I was building a career in communications, I started Kingston to LA, a platform rooted in my love for Jamaican culture and the connection between Kingston and Los Angeles. That project opened the door to so many different parts of my life. I became a journalist, a culture curator and eventually a DJ, using each of those roles to tell stories, connect people and create spaces where Caribbean culture could be seen and celebrated.

Today, I work full time in communications for a legacy literacy program, while continuing my work in journalism, culture and music. I’ve always loved having the ability to move between those worlds. Whether I’m writing about an artist, DJing a party, curating a cultural experience or working on a communications campaign, I’m ultimately doing the same thing: telling stories and creating connections.

All of it brings me a tremendous amount of joy, but nothing compares to being a mom to my beautiful three-year-old daughter. Motherhood has given everything else in my life a different perspective. I’m proud of the career I’ve built and the culture I’ve helped document and celebrate, but the legacy I’m most interested in creating now is the one I leave with her.

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 operated Kingston to LA for more than ten years, and sustaining something independently for that long comes with a lot of change. People evolve, relationships change, people you once worked closely with fade out of your life, and venues that were once central to the culture close their doors. I’m also aging gracefully, which means I’ve had to evolve with the culture and figure out where I fit as the landscape continues to change.

I’ve also been taken advantage of more times than I can count. I’m naturally very easygoing and I genuinely try to lead with kindness and give people the benefit of the doubt. But I have a strong sense of self-respect, and when that line is crossed, I can become extremely firm and protective of myself and my work. Learning how to navigate that while maintaining professional relationships, especially in a community where everyone seems to know everyone, has been one of my biggest challenges.

Sometimes the hardest part of being “known” is that people can make things personal. There have been moments when I’ve wished I could simply do the work, let the work speak for itself, and not have to deal with the politics, personal attacks or unnecessary conflict that can sometimes come with being visible.

But those experiences have also taught me a lot about boundaries, discernment and resilience. After more than a decade, I’m still here. I’m still creating, still documenting culture, still DJing, still telling stories and still finding new ways to contribute. That, to me, says more than any individual setback ever could.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work really sits at the intersection of communications, journalism, music and culture. Professionally, I work in communications for a legacy literacy program, where I help tell stories about the impact of giving children access to books and building a culture of reading. Outside of my full-time work, I’m a journalist, culture curator and DJ, and I’ve spent more than a decade building Kingston to LA, a platform dedicated to documenting and celebrating the connection between Jamaican and Los Angeles culture.

With Kingston to LA, I’ve covered artists, events, nightlife, food, fashion and the people who make Caribbean culture in Los Angeles what it is. I’ve also had the opportunity to interview and work alongside some incredible artists and cultural figures, while DJing events and creating spaces where Jamaican and Caribbean music can be experienced in a way that feels authentic to the community.

I think what sets me apart is that I’m not an outsider looking in. Jamaican culture is my lived experience. I grew up in Kingston, surrounded by music and a family with deep ties to Jamaican cultural history, and then built a life in Los Angeles. I understand both sides of that cultural bridge. I can sit down and interview an artist, write the story, understand the cultural significance behind it, and then get behind the turntables and DJ the music myself. That combination gives me a perspective that is difficult to replicate.

What I’m most proud of is the longevity. Ten-plus years is a long time to maintain an independent cultural platform, particularly in a space where trends, venues, relationships and audiences are constantly changing. Kingston to LA has allowed me to document a period of Jamaican and Caribbean culture in Los Angeles that I don’t think should be lost. I’ve watched artists grow, venues come and go, communities evolve and a new generation find its own relationship with Jamaican culture.

Ultimately, I’m proud that I’ve been able to turn my love for where I come from into something that connects people. Whether I’m writing, DJing, curating or working in communications, storytelling is at the center of everything I do. I think that’s probably what I’m best known for: creating connections between people, places and culture, and making sure the stories that matter don’t disappear.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I’ve found that traditional networking and, honestly, simply being present have worked best for me. I’ve made a point of showing up at the venues, events and spaces where the people and conversations I wanted to be around were happening. Sometimes you have to put yourself in the room, even when you don’t know exactly what will come from it.

Over the years, I’ve met some incredible people through that approach. Some have become professional associates, some mentors, and some have become like family. I’ve been fortunate to have people who have nurtured not only my career but also my well-being, and I think that kind of relationship is much more valuable than simply collecting contacts.

I also think it’s important to approach people genuinely. Don’t network with someone just because you think they can do something for you. Build relationships, be curious, support other people’s work and allow things to develop naturally. Some of the most meaningful relationships in my life were never planned as networking opportunities.

I’ve also learned that mentorship doesn’t always have to be formal. Sometimes it’s someone who checks on you, gives you honest advice, opens a door, introduces you to someone, or simply reminds you of your value when you’re having a difficult day.

I’m incredibly grateful for the people I’ve met along the way, and there are too many to name. But I have to give a special shout-out to Leslie Cooney, who has been one of those people for me. Some people become part of your professional journey, and some become part of your life. I’ve been lucky enough to have both.

Pricing:

• Event Promotion $50-$100
• Promotional Campaigns starting at $100
• Press Releases $50
• Editorial Features $100

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kingstontola.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalimadden/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingstontoLA/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Kingstontola/search
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kali-madden

Image Credits
First photo in white – FNS Photo