Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali J.
Kali, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Like a lot of people in the industry, I’ve always had a passion for music. I was begging for music lessons at 4 years old and picked up several instruments along the way. At 17, I began professionally gigging around the Atlanta area (guitar, vocals, and loop pedal) and continued playing covers gigs for 7 years (up to 150 shows per year). While in college, I was placed in an internship at a music licensing agency and was introduced to the world of sync (writing music for advertising, film, and tv.). That internship gave me direction and changed my life. I walked away from that experience knowing exactly what I wanted to do for a living and thus began my journey towards becoming a full-time artist/songwriter.
Now 5 years later, I’ve had over 300 placements. My music has been used by brands such as Coke, Comcast, Pepsi, Royal Caribbean, Liquid I.V., Google, Samsung, Verizon, Intel, Chase Bank, Bumble, Bose, Best Buy, Nestle, Nintendo, Hyundai, Rite Aid, Glade, Volkswagen, United Healthcare, Facebook, Famous Footwear, Maybelline, Degree, TikTok, Clorox, Coors, Pizza Hut, Target, Nordstrom, Peloton, and more.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I came into the industry completely cold and without any contacts. No friends or family members in the business for any frame of reference. I had to learn everything as I went (and am still learning as I go). Some of the most painful and important lessons I’ve learned along the way have all had to do with the business side of industry. I think as creatives, it’s easy for us to shy away from the business side and say, “if my music is good enough,” “if my brand is cool enough,” “the rest will take care of itself,” but I would argue that the business side is just as important if not MORE important than the music ever could be.
To be successful you need to be organized, have attention for details, be willing to read contracts 3-, 4-, and 5-times line by line, be willing to ask difficult and uncomfortable questions, not be afraid to negotiate, or even know when to walk away from certain deals/opportunities. There are plenty of people in the world willing to sell you short, don’t do it to yourself.
These are some of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned over the years. Of course, they’ve come with their fair share of stress, imposter syndrome, and overwhelming anxiety, but being able to push through the tough lessons and conflict is what also brought amazing collaborations, opportunities, and songs that have made it all worthwhile.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a full-time artist/songwriter. My brand is most upbeat and playful Pop/Hip-Hop, and I’m known for a style of vocals that has been described as “sassy talking” lol. This sound happens to work really well in the ad space right now, so a lot of my music is picked up by brands and used in campaigns around the world. I’m probably most proud of my Super Bowl spot I landed earlier this year with Monday.com. That was definitely a “bucket list” moment for me and one that I’ll always remember 🙂
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
A follow on Spotify (Kali J), Instagram (@Kalijmusic), or YouTube (Kali J), would be amazing. I’m currently releasing a song every 28 days on Spotify. I would love for you to check out my 3 most recent singles “Bow Chika Wow It,” “Comin In Hot,” and “Pose,” which just came out Oct 14th. I would love for you to give them a listen and let me know what you think 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kalij.net/
- Instagram: @Kalijmusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/musikality94
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7dh0MW1TLdsA3ABq3UAjzR?si=NSyZIYD_Tq6uy9DG3-f9ag
