Name: Kirby Lauryen
Visionary Class: Music | Artist
CREATLIV's Song Pick: Risk It All
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Bria: Where you are from and what is your current classification as an artist?
Kirby: I am from Mississippi and I am currently unsigned.
B: How was music introduced to your life?
K: You know I can’t remember a moment when music was not in my life.
My older sister, played piano & had every popular R&B CD known to man.
So she was a really big musical influence. She helped me fall in love with
music.
B: At what moment did you decide that you wanted a singing career?
K: I’ve always wanted to be a singer, but I didn’t know the path I
needed to take to make it happen. Around the time I was in high school, I
decided to become a pediatrician. I visited some medical programs during my sophomore and junior years, and I
realized "I don’t love this.” I actually performed a song while I was there,
and it was in that moment that I realized I was a singer, not a doctor. I
haven’t looked back since.
B: Which artist has had the most influence on your music and why?
K: I would say Erykah Badu & John Mayer. Erykah Badu in college, and John Mayer my senior year of high school. Badu introduced me to a part of my voice that I didn’t know existed. She has a softer-jazzier tone that I love, and she has really influenced my vocals in that way. John Mayer, his songwriting literally made me a better writer. I personally believe he sets a standard for great songwriting.
B: You're a quadruple threat when it comes to your artistry. You're the songwriter, vocal arranger, producer [as a pianist], and of course, the artist. Describe your creative process behind those roles when you're creating a song.
K: My biggest role as a writer is to articulate the moment, as an
artist I must verbalize that moment, and as an artist I must become that moment.
For me all three of those things require me to be selfless. So a lot of times the music
rewards that moment of “I don’t care what people think” and it comes forth. So
the process begins really by me letting go, and allowing what’s in me to come out without
boundaries, without fear. Of course, I want to make music that people like but
creatively that can’t be my initial goal. Creativity doesn’t come from popularity, so you cant
seek that first. Some things I do to help that process of being free enough to create is no phone messages, email, Twitter, or Facebook before I write. I always meditate
before I create the Song for the Day.
B: If emotional integrity had a sound, it would be your music. Why did you decide to keep to a lane of honesty, instead of conforming to the industry standard of sex-crazed, club-pop music?
K: I really appreciate you saying that. Thank you! Honestly my music
reflects my personality. I remember talking to a colleague of mine and he said
when you wake up everyday you want to be able to go on stage, and be yourself.
You don’t have to put on a persona, or a costume, or become something
you’re not. People want to know who YOU are. And every since that moment, my
songwriting and my vision for myself as an artist has completely changed. I was always
waiting to “turn into an artist” until I realized being yourself is the best
form of ART. I’m committed to truth at this point of my life, I have no room
for dishonesty from myself or in my music.
B: In the essence of love & relationships you hit every relative point for anyone who listens to your songs. How do you believe that will impact your career?
K: I believe it will impact my career in a big way, because it will
impact people. And when people’s lives begin to change because of the music,
consequently mine will too. I really believe that the ideal of "romance, love,
even family" is coupled with such a dated sound in R&B. I have to
listen to the old school station to even get a song that's not demeaning, and that message that we send to younger generations is that the ideal of love, is
of the past. We're feeding our ears the very thing that's breaking our relationships, and family up. You know? I kind of just went
in...but in essence R&B is very one dimensional right now.
B: Explain the inspiration or purpose behind your A Song A Day Series and what you hope for people to gain from it.
K: A Song A Day came to me after realizing I had to invest in myself…in
my music. I had given my hours to jobs that lead to pay checks that did little
to nothing, relationships that didn’t work out, and all the while I was giving
music the least of me. I really believe the idea of itself was from
God, because I never even considered anything like it before. I hope people
gain happiness, hope for R&B, songs that sound like soundtracks to their
lives. Songs they want to play at their wedding. Dance to , cry to, or fall in
love too!
B: Once an artist signs with a label, it's typical for label staff
to takeover the creative process of the artist's music. In that
sense, do you think it's best for you to stay indie or do you think a powerhouse label would still give you creative control?
K: I think it’s best for me to be effective, and a lot of times the best way to do that is with power behind you. I will always have creative
control. There’s compromise in everything, but the integrity of the music has to stay.
B: Kirby Lauryen is the sound of...
K: I am definitely borrowing what you said earlier. Emotional integrity. I LOVE THAT!
B: Provide any last words you would like to leave the readers with.
K: Please support the music. Tweet it, Facebook it, and tell a friend that I wrote a song for you!