Exclusive | Singer Kalenbree Talks Her Upcoming Sophomore Project 'Panda'

“My music is something for people to vibe to, to cry to, and shake their ass to if they want to! My music is genre defying and revolutionary.”

— Kalenbree

By: Omar Cook

This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is Georgia singer, Kalenbree! Kalenbree is a versatile artist out of Decatur who has the ability to switch her flow from song to song. This artist can sing, rap, play the guitar, and is a crowd engaging performer. After releasing her first full project “Indigo Child” in 2018, Kalenbree is set to drop her sophomore project “Panda” this year and she recently dropped a new single called “1999”. This is an exciting artist on the rise that you certainly want to keep your eyes on as you can’t help but get caught up in her vibe when you turn the music on.

Kalenbree - 1999

We talked with Kalenbree in an exclusive interview, check it out below!

How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

Kalenbree: I was groomed in a musically inclined family, both my mother and my father are singers and instrumentalists which influenced me to create music of my own at a very young age. I was a frequent church goer so naturally this is where I got my first opportunity to showcase my talents. It all happened like this: 

 My youth pastor caught me singing one day with my friends and she said, “You sing?” And my friends butted in to say, “And she plays guitar!” Then my Youth Pastor goes, “You’re singing next Sunday!” And leaves! I really wanted to be an author originally so, I honestly didn’t want to do it, but I did it anyway. I sang in front of a huge crowd of kids and I was really close to getting up and leaving. But she made me stay and sing, and when i finished I had the straightest look on my face...then everyone started cheering and clapping and I was very surprised! I thought to myself, “Hm... I like this feeling. Maybe I should do this more often.” So, I performed every other Sunday at my church, and I got more and more confident in my music and decided to keep going and I haven’t stopped since. Ironically enough, I never decided that I was going to do music with my life until 2017.

Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?

Kalenbree: My biggest influences are my personal experiences in life; I am a very passionate person, but when I was younger I had terrible anger issues and needed an outlet. Music saved my life. The people who influenced me where my mother, my youth pastor, and Erykah Badu, India Arie, Ed Sheeran and Kendrick. Ed Sheeran was my biggest influence ever though and my favorite artist at the time.

My favorite artist is Kendrick Lamar and it will always be Kendrick Lamar. But, I also love SZA, SahBabii, Louis Armstrong, Erykah Badu, Smino, Masego. 

What artists would you like to collaborate with and why?

Kalenbree: I want to collab with Doja Cat, Tierra Whack, Masego, Smino, Kaash Paige, Xiamara and Jelani Imani. I just really fuck with them as artists and I feel like we would make great music!

What do you feel is your best song/project ever released and why?

Kalenbree: The best song I have out right now numbers-wise is “Decatur” but “1999” is also a favorite of mine. My song “Decatur” is my baby and it changed my whole sound; I made a song about where I grew up at and it was everyone’s favorite song at the time. I just really love the vibes of it and I freestyled the whole thing so it was really fun for me to make. I’ve only put out one project thus far called Indigo Child which is a collection of songs that holds a special place in my heart because it’s very personal and signifies the start of my musical career as a recording artist. 

Kalenbree - BUBBLEGUM

What projects can we look forward to in the near future?

Kalenbree: Everyone can look forward to my next EP Panda dropping some time this year! And a song with me and DavidTheTragic as well.

How do you generate new ideas for your music? 

Kalenbree: I generate new ideas based on my emotions and what’s happened to me in my life. Making music is a coping mechanism and outlet for my feelings. I always feel super relieved after making a song, I guess you can say that creating music is therapeutic for me. 

What motivates you and how do you define success?

Kalenbree: The people, my family, my friends, and my supporters all motivate me. My ambition stems from my need to win. I define success as joy. When I am undoubtedly happy and the people around me are happy is when I believe I have become successful, believe it or not, I want everyone who helped me to eat, even the ones I fell out with. 

How do you describe your music to people and what separates you from other artists in your genre?

A: My music is something for people to vibe to, to cry to, and shake their ass to if they want to! My music is genre defying and revolutionary. My intentions and reasons for doing music are all genuine since it is out of the love for it. That’s also what makes me different.  

Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?

Kalenbree: I don’t think that there’s any specific formula to success. Every successful artist has their own journey and their own story to getting to where they are now. Times change all the time, so no one thing is going to work for everyone. I believe once you find your niche, everything else is based on the people around you, you’re mindset, and the law of attraction.

Who is your greatest inspiration?

Kalenbree: My mother is my greatest inspiration. She took care of me a supported my music career first before anyone else did. She went above and beyond to throw me my first show ever. She beat cancer, and still continues to be so hardworking despite her health conditions. It’s just inspirational and lets me know that I have no excuses as to why I’m not working hard.

In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?

Kalenbree: The most influential and successful in my genre today? I make alternative r&b, so SZA, Frank Ocean definitely, and The Weeknd. 

Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?

Kalenbree: Passion definitely. I’m passionate about everything I do. Even the things I say I’m passionate about. I guess it’s cause I’m an Aries.

What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Kalenbree: I had to sacrifice comfortability. Like, I could’ve had a regular job, good pay and focus on school, having enough to move out as soon as I got into college, and live a normal comfortable life. But, I put my all into music. I put all my eggs in one basket and bet it all on music.

What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Kalenbree: Performing excites me the most! I love being on stage and I love the crowd. I’m my happiest when I’m on stage. What discourages me the most is my own thoughts. I struggle with being positive 24/7, but I’m only human. Sometimes, I wonder if I’m a good enough artist to make it, wonder why I’m not making it ASAP.

Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?

Kalenbree: I see myself on tour, winning hella awards and changing millions of lives along the way.

What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?

Kalenbree: I would say, “keep going, accept criticism in all shapes and forms and never take anything to personally, set standards, and always have people around you that will tell you the truth, because those are the people who genuinely want to see you win and care for you.”

Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?

Kalenbree: Only that I’m always evolving and I will continuously drop music,visuals, and cater to my fanbase. My music career has only just started, stay tuned for more Kalenbree.

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Exclusive | Rapper Joshua Sheeran Is Charlotte's Best Kept Secret

This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is east coast artist Joshua Sheeran! This under the radar artist out of Charlotte, North Carolina recently graduated from North Carolina Central University in December 2017! Since his graduation, 22 year old Sheeran has been on the grind pushing his music out. Joshua is an artist of many arts and wants his career to eventually expand beyond just music. His aim is to spread vibes and positive messages throughout his music always and he also hopes to breakthrough and show people love is cool still! Although he is currently in the process of writing and creating his first complete project, Joshua has a lot of dope tracks already out! We can expect a early 2019 release of his first project but many creative visuals and singles to get us by in the meantime! Do no sleep on this artist!

We talked with Joshua Sheeran in an exclusive interview, check it out below!

Question: How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

 Joshua Sheeran: 2 years now! I actually grew up around music. Family + Friends. I didn’t take my craft as an artist seriously until 2017. I saw it was much bigger than just me once people started hitting me up saying how much my music helped them.

Question: Musically, what are your biggest influences and who are your favorite musicians?

 Joshua Sheeran: Women, conflict/resolution, love and myself are my biggest influencers. My favorite artist right now are Sonder, Bryson Tiller, Drake, Noname, and Smino. All things R&B also!

Question: What musician would you most like to collaborate with and why?

 Joshua Sheeran: At this very second it has to be Bryson Tiller. Homie has the vibes and sound. I think our sound would mesh very well.

Joshua Sheeran - “I Love It, She Love It” (Music Video)

Question: What do you feel is your best song you've ever released and why?

 Joshua Sheeran: Statistically and one of my favs, ‘I love it, She love it” definitely a vibe and has over 20,000 streams alone. I have some tracks like ‘Niyah’s Interlude’ and ‘Loving me ain't too perfect’ that really resonate with my soul. Just the content and emotional feel.

Question: What motivates you and how do you define success?

 Joshua Sheeran: I got motivated from traveling. I went to DC and was like “damn, I’ve been missing out on the world.. I want to get out and do this more.” And music has always been a passion/past time. So why not combine the both and do what I love. Success, to me is changing lives of the people around you and yourself. Digging deeper than financial and helping people on a spiritual and mental level.

Question: How do you generate new ideas?

 Joshua Sheeran: Funny! When I’m out the loop…. I go to Twitter for content. I sometimes rap vicariously through the lives of others.

Question: How do you describe your music to people?

 Joshua Sheeran: Different -- Calm, thought/emotion provoking. The type of music you take home to mom.

Question: Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?

 Joshua Sheeran: I don’t. You never know these days what will and won’t blow honestly. There are right steps to take but formula, no. I do believe we are in the visual era.

Question: Who is your greatest inspiration?

 Joshua Sheeran: Definitely has to be myself honestly. I’ve been through so much and conquered so many battles. I feel I owe it to myself to continue chasing music and doing what I love.

Question: In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?

 Joshua Sheeran: Drake, he literally has been carrying the torch for awhile now! Definitely has helped so many artist form their careers and breakthrough to the mainstream world. Shoes, NBA, OVO Brand, OVO label, and Apple Music deal to name a few. The guy is really great.

Joshua Sheeran - “fruits // sweet dream” (Music Video)

Question: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?

 Joshua Sheeran: Passion -- to love, to feel happy, to overcome sadness/hurt and to be better. You can blend so many styles into passion.

Question: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

 Joshua Sheeran: Time, money, friendships and occasionally love.

Question: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

 Joshua Sheeran: The ability to connect with people and getting the chance to see the world one day! It gets kinda disappointing some of the wild things that blow up but no knock to them. They connected with the people. Even in a unconventional manner.

Joshua Sheeran - “whatssssluvvvv” (Music Video)

Question: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?

 Joshua Sheeran: Living comfortable and happy! At peace with my wife and helping others breakthrough!

Question: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?

 Joshua Sheeran: Remain, you. Most importantly stay genuine at heart and lead people right.

Question: Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?

 Joshua Sheeran: It’s AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE. YOU SHOULD STREAM AND SHARE WITH YOUR BOO, FAMILY OR WHOEVER! A SONG FOR EVERY VIBE! NO EXCUSE.

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