'I've always been inspired by what's in my mind': Kalisway's personal approach to music
The musician opens up about starting producing at 13 and her new album, A Kid From Toronto
Singer, songwriter and producer Kalisway's sound is a fusion of funk, R&B and hip-hop. That all comes to life on her second album, A Kid From Toronto.
She reflected on the process of how the songs on the project came together in an interview with Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe on The Block, while also touching on how learning to produce shaped her sound.
The full interview is available above and you can read an excerpt of their conversation below.
So we're going to get into your sound in just a bit. But I want to go back to the beginning. Is it true that you started producing at 13?
Yes.
What did that look like for you? Like, what were you playing with?
Not that everyone would ever assume this, but I actually started on Mixcraft.
I ain't even heard of that one.
It's not even meant for production, for real. It's really meant for recording for acoustic elements. So for me, I was really just trying to get a basis of understanding how to even use this software. So I was just learning quantization and learning how to get into the rhythm of things. And then when I realized MC is not for me, I went to FL Studio and I've never left since. So that was the fundamental thing for me.
I love how FL Studio sounds so serious, but it started out as Fruity Loops.
Yeah.
Just so you know, it's fun like that. So what did those beats sound like when you first started out? What was inspiring you? What were you creating?
Very, very, I would say, raw. I would say very raw. Nothing was synchronized. It was more of me just finding a place of what I wanted my sound to be like. I was very inspired by the "Toronto sound" at that time, so I was just trying to find a foot in. [I thought] how do I get the basis of rhythm that I'm trying to get with drums? So it was more of just drum practice. Sometimes I would try to make my own keys, but I don't even know theory, so I was just trying to figure it out myself through my mind and what my ideas were giving me.
So, you didn't have like, formal training in piano or guitar?
I still don't.
That's okay, I ain't mad at it.
I'm not mad at it because I've been making these special records, so, I'm doing what I'm doing and I've always been inspired by what's in my mind. And so I've had the ability and the gift to just create what is already there. And I've just taken it and kept growing with it and building that confidence within me, which I think is so special.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. To hear the full interview, listen to The Block on CBC Music.