Daily Inspiration: Meet Kayla Joy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Joy.

Hi Kayla, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Raised by Baby Boomer parents, I am the fourth daughter of five children. Coming from a musically inclined family, all my siblings sing, and a few even play instruments. Sunday’s were always a good time in our household because we would sing, dance, & shout as we cleaned the kitchen after a big hearty dinner. Using the broom or a spoon as a microphone and pots and pans as our drums or makeshift tambourines, the kitchen was filled with a symphony of sounds and rhythms created by household gadgets and appliances.

I’ve been singing since I was five years old. My first solo was at my kindergarten graduation, where I performed the song, “I Am a Promise”. The song’s simple melody and catchy lyrics capture a message that encourages you to believe you are a “Great big bundle of potentially… if you’re listening, you’ll hear God’s voice, and if you’re trying, you’ll make the right choice, I am a promise to be, anything God wants me to be”. The five-year-old me didn’t know how those words would resonate years later throughout both my musical career and other professional endeavors. Singing, songwriting, producing, and acting have been a major part of my life ever since then. Even when I wanted to give up, music found me. Music is a demanding mistress, she never leaves.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth?!? Absolutely not. But life requires ups and downs. What is sunshine without rain? Joy without pain? We all need a little dirt to grow. How can you appreciate success without failures? Life hasn’t been easy, but to still be living and knowing your purpose is well worth it.

The biggest struggle for me was embracing my own sound, the timbre and tone of my voice- I basically struggled with being confident in the gift that was given to me because of the fear of rejection from others. Sometimes, I wanted to “fit in” or be accepted by others, but soon realized I was not meant to fit in. Trying to be something you’re not, can lead to social anxiety, depression, and a slew of insecurities. The biggest struggle for me was learning to love myself in such a healthy, & forgiving way. I’ve recently learned to dispel the notions of external validation, basically by blocking negative opinions of myself and from others. When I started to do the inward work, and accept my flaws and all…I began to feel so free and healed. Literally, my mental and physical health changed when I began to do the internal work of truly loving myself. My sound, voice, and stage presence evolved because I was being more confident comfortable with who I am. Once those walls came down, my audience and listeners could relate…I became more tangible and real. By accepting myself, those around me have no choice but to as well…

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a creatively dope singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. I specialize in writing and performing all genres of music. My lyrics are tangible-I love using lyrical puns. Classically trained, I obtained my Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Winthrop University (Go Eagles!). However, my roots are in the church with influences of R&B, jazz, and country music. I am most proud of the recent release of my new single and music video for my metaphoric song called “Heart Attack”. What sets me apart from others is my vocal versatility due to my upbringing and technical training.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The biggest shift has already occurred due to the power of social media & the internet. I grew up in an era where one of the only ways to get your music heard publicly was via radio or tv, or you had to have some huge label backing you. Social media has opened doors for indie artists like myself to capitalize and exert massive control over how, when, & where our art can be displayed. We have the ability to reach the masses without a record label or access to a television network. Social media, if used in the right way can catapult your career upward and outward, by providing massive exposure right at the fingertips. Over the next 5-10 years, I expect the tech and entertainment industries to continue to collide in a more special way. Maybe I could choose a location and hologram myself to a concert around the world lol. I think this already exists. LOL

Contact Info:

• Email: musically.yoursforever@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4everkaylajoy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaylajoy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA96lbxVZVcbxqkKTxa0Chg

Image Credits
Tamara Finkbeiner
Terrell Maxwell