Tell us about yourself and your music
Music started very early in my life. By the time I was able to walk I knew dancing would be second nature to me as her love for song. As a teenager I would enter myself into talent shows in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. At age fifteen I auditioned for this talent network called The Alabama All Stars and performed regularly at local nightclub expressing myself either by song or dance. I was even in the local newspaper for being apart of the Alabama Talent Network. Although I was very quiet in middle and high school, everyone knew about my dancing abilities. So when I got to high school, my Freshman year, I immediately joined the band. During my Sophmore year in the band, a friend of mines jokingly said to me, “You should try out for majorette.” Ironically I managed to become a Majorette/dance girl for Jackon-Olin High School. I always loved performing on Legion Field Stadium. Lastly I helped with choreography for my own Senior Class Day but my passion for music did not stop. My Freshmen year in college at Alabama State University, I managed yet more shows around the campus of Alabama State University. I performed at ASU Homecoming event for well over three thousand people, with then college classmate Suan aka reality star “Delishious” of MTV’s Flava of Love. This was my first time as an opening act for Atlanta rapper Debrat and R/B singing group Total. In 2004-2005 I worked for Clear Channal radio station(Power 93.3) a syndicated morning show with Doug Banks. Through my drive and tenacious attitude, I interned at the radio station while simutaneously teaching dance classes at Saba International Dance School. While at Power 93.3 because I had access to so many celebrities, I started to pursue another one of my longtime passions to write my own demo hip-hop magazine called Epok (Epic). I’ve interviewed and met celebrity artist then named Lil’ Scrappy, Keyshia Cole, Cee-Lo Green, Pastor Troy, Crime Mobb, (Diamond), Rasheeda, Master P, Marques Houston, Gucci Man are just a few. I became so frustrated with the slow pace of Alabama, I realized that I needed major auditions to move to the next level of my career. In 2006, I auditioned for American Idol three times. First in Memphis, Tennessee , Chicago, North Carolina, and Birmingham, Al. Not even dismayed by my three failed attempts, I followed up the next year with more auditions. In 2007, I auditioned for Beyonce’s World Wide Tour in Atlanta, Ga, and Bellarie, Texas. In 2011, my Manager at the time arranged a meeting for me with then Def Jam A/R Lenny Santiago. L.S. listened to about four of my tracks and gave me good, honest feedback. In 2012 I went to LA to auditioned for BET reality show Born To Dance and made it to the second rounds. I gained much needed knowledge during the audition phase of my life. Today my hustle is still ongoing. In March 2017 I signed to Chris Gotti’s/Add Ventures Music Digital Distribution Deal. Add Ventures Music is a great platform for all indie artist.
Talk to us more about your latest release
My latest release is inspired by a lot of things that’s going on in the world now. I’m actually in the writing and recording process now. This song will be entitled “The World” I wont give it away to much.
What inspired you to write this release?
The song I have on Sound Cloud was a fun point in my life. Lol…. I was going out a lot, club hopping and going to kickbacks at friends houses. At the time, DJ Mustard was really hot! So I liked the track and wrote to it about the things I was seeing in the clubs and around me at the time.
Any plans to release a video?
I do plan on shooting another video. I don’t know when but it has to be more dope than my previous video. Lol…
Any plans to hit the road?
Hopefully, I plan to tour with Chris Gotti’s Add Ventures Music. Again this is a great platform for all indie artist to help monetize and promote your own music. This is the new wave of record labels today.
As an indie artist, how do you brand yourself and your music to stand out from the rest of the artists out there?
I’m just different. Lol……To help myself stand out as an artist I do a lot of heavy internet marketing. I have a lot of songs on internet radio, I do a lot of interviews on the internet. I try to keep all my social media pages updated and current. I share my songs with other artist for likes in return. Im just always grinding. Its a non-stop process. I network with a lot of djays. I’m not big on gimmicks and tricks as an artist. I like to be as natural and just being myself.
Who have you been listening to lately?
I listen to everyone.
Tell us about your passions
My passion is to help the rest of the world and the music industry respect and see all the talented artist that Alabama has to offer. I think Alabama is very much over looked when it comes to any realm of talent and entertainment.
What else is happening next in your world?
I have to complete my latest EP and getting on the road doing more shows with Add Ventures Music.
Thanks for an awesome interview, Kenekia!
Connect with Kenekia
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Kenekia
Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/Kenekia
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/Kenekia
