Kai

Indie Seen

by Carrie Humphries
October 14 - 20, 2010
OH KAI!
Should it even be legal to have these kinds of pipes at 20? Redefining a generation of Ke$ha/Beiber fans and facebookers, Kai is a break from the average pop mold. Her raspy voice demands attention. Her songwriting keeps it. With the attitude in her voice and the witty banter of her lyrics, Kai jumps out of the speakers like a young KT Tunstall, a clever Lily Allen and raptures the hooks like a sober Amy Winehouse. For the Toronto resident, her motto resonates – ‘change is good’. And in Kai’s case, she’s personifying it from track to track, kazoo solo to kazoo solo. The songstress took time out of her busy schedule (she’s planning a stretch of shows for NYC at the end of 2011 and working on her EP due out next spring) to talk about the music, life in Toronto and just how to survive as an indie musician. “The indie scene in Toronto is full of amazing talent,” Kai reveals. “It is a great time to be a part of the Indie scene right now because there are so many sub cultures evolving, with bands that are not afraid to experiment with new and unique sounds and instruments.” As she notes the Beatles, Lykki Li, Jeff Buckley and Lauren Hill among her top influences, Kai has developed a sound that’s entirely her own. Branding her way to what appears could very well be a notch beside some of the great Canadian female talent we’ve been fortunate to harvest, Kai has been supported by some of the country’s best in the biz. “I’ve been a lucky girl so far,” Kai says. “I have been blessed to have amazing musicians who collaborated on my EP. These guys all came in with a wealth of talent to inject into the project, Justin Abedin (Jacksoul), Craig Hunter (Philosopher Kings), Steve Zsirai and Robbie Grunwald (Jill Barber), and, I am also extremely blessed to have seasoned musicians in my full time band Aubrey Dale, Mark Walsh, and Sean Andrews,” adding, “However, It would be a dream to collaborate with Paul Mccartney, that’s a no brainer.” The project in reference is Kai’s solo EP 11:11 which she hopes to debut in the spring of 2011 after a New York City tour she’s currently booking. With “I Choose Me” and “Hotel Lot” bursting at the seams with high voltage energy, and of course that voice, Kai’s debut is nothing short of highly anticipated release. “When I go to see a band, for me, the bands that leave a lasting impression are the bands that are all about the music and connecting with the fans on a personal level,” Kai says about designing her live show. “When I play live, I like to let the audience feel the music between the notes, make the show intimate, no fluff or theatrics, just raw emotions. It’s all about the music.” And you’ll get a chance to hear Kai in person when she arrives into Waterloo this weekend for a stint a Maxwell’s alongside Mandippal and Birds of Wales. “Build a musical family,” Kai advises new musicians. “To me, that is the most important ingredient. And just get out there and start playing shows. We live in a time where we can do it ourselves, so if you have the talent mixed with being personable with your fans through online networks, you are golden! Just don’t give up as cliché as that sounds!” - Echo Weekly