Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaydence Day.
Kaydence, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My music career began at Powdersville Elementary School. I had always been captivated by sounds, and the different ones that came together to make melody, harmony, and ultimately, music. When I got to 4th grade in elementary school, that’s when they began offering courses we could take in music. I registered for orchestra and started with cello, and switched to upright bass in 5th grade, and I also auditioned for our school’s chorus in 4th grade, and was grateful when I made it!
At that point, music grew to not only be something I studied, but a community where I felt at home. From that point forward, I had a string of fantastic music teachers that made me feel welcomed and at home in my schools that weren’t always the easiest to find a space in with me being part of the minority. The three teachers who were always bright spots in my day were Mrs. Turner, who was my first chorus teacher, Ms Innerest, who was my first orchestra teacher, and Mrs. Perry, who was my strings teacher from middle school to the time I graduated in high school.
Although orchestra was a constant for me and I felt like I was alway learning and in an accepted space, I went through some rough patches with singing. The way my voice sounded was different then a lot of my classmates, and although I thought my voice was unique and pretty good, I could never seem to get the solos I auditioned for unless it was the more “cultured” song. I began to feel unsure about my voice, and also unsure about myself.
All until I started attending Winthrop University. Winthrop not only gave me back that first space I felt accepted with music, but it saw me and encouraged me in my gifts in music all around. It gave me spaces to perform like open mic nights, homecoming shows, and countless other events. Not only that, but I got to meet and share stages with some of my favorite people I know, and some of the most talented people I know.
I toyed with songwriting and recording some in high school and college, but I was never diligent or as serious as in my opinion, someone saying they wanted to do something should be. I always had this desire to be a recording and performing artist, but 1, I didn’t know if I was good enough, 2, I didn’t have any earthly idea where I’d begin, and 3, I was kind of scared of what might happen if it didn’t work.
That is until one day, one of the most talented people I know and one of my dearest friends told me something that flipped a switch. This friend had started moving forward with music in a new way, and I was encouraging him on the movement. That’s when he said to me “ Nia, when I have kids, I can’t wholeheartedly tell them to go after my dreams knowing I didn’t go after mine.”
It hit me like a truck. Even if I wasn’t sure, I had to try. Even if I didn’t know where to begin, I would start. Even if I was afraid, I’d do it scared. Within a year, I had my stage name, Kaydence Day and my first few songs. That was 2019. Although COVID would follow the next year, I had friends who pushed and encouraged me, and my debut album, the Recliner, and my first music video dropped in 2020.
I spent the earlier part of 2021 singing background and performing with friends where I could with most event places having capacities or being temporarily shut down. Then in the late Summer of 2021, I had my debut show as Kaydence Day, and it was sold out. I was emotionally moved to see that most of the faces that filled my show were family members from out of town, and many friends who saw me at open mics nights and various events at Winthrop and wanted to support me.
In 2022 I started performing more places and built my show, and I also moved back from Rock Hill to Greenville. In 2023, I was nominated for my first music award for a track with my now fiance called “Real Deal” and we also got to perform the song live on the music award stage. Sofar Greenville also got curated in 2023, and that’s when I had the opportunity to become a SoFar artist.
After becoming a Sofar artist in late 2023,
In 2024 I decided I would coordinate my first mini- tour. It was the first year I EVER had 20 shows. My big goal for the year was to perform at least 2 festivals, with 1 being a big one.
When I heard I got Fall for Greenville, I was Speechless. The city where I experienced questioning my voice, where it was hard sometimes for me to find space in— I was about to be singing at one of their biggest festivals on the Furman Blues and Jazz stage! I wanted to make sure I gave it all I had! That the people who came to the stage at that time would get something unforgettable, and they did. I finally felt home at home again.
Diligence, asking questions, meeting new people, and pushing on beyond circumstance with a genuine support system. That’s how I went from questioning the space I was in to dominating it. My measure of success was never necessarily how much I could make from a show, but who felt better because they were there, because that’s what music has always done for me— it made me feel better and gave me a home.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No. Some of the struggles were people wanting to box me. To decide that since I’m a black singer, I have a certain sound and it has its place. Another struggle has been finding stages in Greenville where more than metal, bluegrass, rock, or indie music can be performed.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
On top of doing music, something that I’m equally as proud of if not, more proud of is that I’m a community servant. I currently work with an organization called Greenville together, and I’m a part of its Housing Surge. Our job is to try move people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to some sort of permanent supportive housing as quickly as possible and lend them the support and resources to help them sustain it.
I can’t think of a job I’ve ever loved more and that’s more fulfilling. It’s evident that there’s a homelessness issue in Greenville, and it seems to be growing. To be able to play ANY part with someone in that vulnerable of a place, and to help them feel seen, heard, and supported? What an HONOR.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I am normally a pretty busy bee. If I don’t have something to do, I’ll create something for myself to do. My incredible fiance and fellow artist. Mystro Productions, helped me see that wasn’t the healthiest habit.
So I found a hobby that would sit me down, and started crocheting. Crocheting became something therapeutic, that I got good at relatively fast. Eventually, I started making myself things, and others things, and out of that, my first business named after my first single, Kozi by Kaydence was born.
I currently make headwear, coasters, and some other pretty cool and random crochet stuff as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/kaydenceday.bookings
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaydencedayofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EbvuoMFGP/
