Layla Kilolu

Being a performing artist has been my dream since I was six years old, singing Madonna’s “Isla Bonita” on karaoke. This was in the late 80s in the Philippines when the karaoke machine made us all into neighborhood stars. But I felt more compelled to sing than for the simple aim of entertaining others. It was a way for me to express emotions that I otherwise could not convey. As an abandoned child among people who could not understand my feeling of being alone, not fitting in, and feeling unwanted, songs became my family. They were familiar and when I sang, I felt free. I loved Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Gibson, and a long list of hair bands like Air Supply and Spandau Ballet. I also had an ear for music, where I could emulate a song on the piano. I would often hum tunes and write lyrics that I made up.

I moved to Los Angeles and learned how to play the guitar at the age of 12, and I wrote gospel songs for my Baptist church in Los Angeles. I went to college and studied extensively in Latin America, which cultivated a love for Latin music—salsa, cumbia, bachata, flamenco, bossa nova, to name a few. When I graduated from college, I began working full-time and performing on nights and weekends. I performed my own music, played guitar for others, and even sang backup vocals for a punk rock band.

I don’t really know what genre I belong to. My music is a blend of alternative electro pop with soul, jazz and latin elements. If that is confusing, just think Sade, Bebel Gilberto, the Cardigans, Janet Jackson, Corrine Bailey Rae, Portishead, and Fleetwood Mac. Honestly, I just make music that sounds right to me.

Currently, I am working on my four EPs that will come out this year while working full-time and going to school to get my MBA. I am still writing songs regularly and performing with my awesome band. My hope is that one day I can pursue music full-time and perform around the world. I want to work with nonprofit organizations to bring awareness to different issues that are important to me, such as the well being of women and children, the environment, and economic development of third-world countries.