MuzicNotez Crew: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you Cali, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.
Cali Miles: Thank YOU! I appreciate the support!
MuzicNotez Crew: What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?
Cali Miles: I started writing songs when I was 9 years old. I remember singing Whitney Houston’s The Greatest love of All for all my parent’s friends and neighbors. I also started my first girl group when I was 9. I’ve always been a writer and performer as far back as I can remember.
MuzicNotez Crew: Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?
Cali Miles: I grew up Listening to Whitney, Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. I’m also influenced by 90’s Hip Hop and R&B. I remember rapping Salt-N-Pepa and singing SWV on the playground! Pop stars and Boy bands were all the rage when I was growing up, but I’ve also always loved old school R&B and Soul music. My mother had me listening to Linda Ronstadt and studying musical theater. I think that’s where my versatility comes from.
MuzicNotez Crew: What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?
Cali Miles: I saw R&B singer Joe perform at the House of Blues in Cleveland. I got to meet him afterward and hang out and sing for him. His music really made me fall in love with R&B and want to be an R&B singer, so finally meeting him and telling him how much he’d inspired me was epic!
MuzicNotez Crew: What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?
Cali Miles: I recently realized that I’m not just here to make fun pop music. I’m very passionate about a lot of issues and feel it’s my responsibility to share that passion and my knowledge with people. The overall message is love and unity, and always girl power! I want to encourage people to question what they’ve always been told or taught to believe. Too many people just go along with what they see on TV. I want to wake people up and inspire them become proactive!
MuzicNotez Crew: You have a lot going on. You’re a musician, model, makeup artist, actress, activist and party promoter. How do you balance all of that? Do you have a favorite out of it all?
Cali Miles: It’s not easy! I wouldn’t be able to do it without my amazing fiancé and partner Bobby Champagne and my team at Cali Miles INC. I’m definitely more of an artist so it’s really important for me to have the business side of things taken care of, so that I can feel free to create. I started meditating recently and I already feel more relaxed and centered, so I encourage everyone to do it! I go through different creative phases where I’m so wrapped up in music, or incredibly visually inspired and start making things. I kind of just go with the flow. I absolutely LOVE being in the studio, on the mic. That’s when I feel at one with the universe.
MuzicNotez Crew: Being a party promoter, what are the keys to a great party in your mind?
Cali Miles: It’s a mixture of the right music, visuals, and people. It’s important to be able to read the crowd and make lil changes throughout the night that can enhance the party. If you come to one of my parties don’t expect to see me dancing on tables. That rarely happens! I like to have fun, but I’m definitely more concerned about making sure all the guests are having fun!
MuzicNotez Crew: You recently released the ‘Glitterverse‘ EP, what was the production of this like? What’s the EP mean to you and how would you like your fans to react to it?
Cali Miles: Glitterverse was inspired by our lifestyle. It’s all about parties, fashion, and girl power. I do a little bit of everything on the record. I sing, I rap, I threw some comedy in there. It’s definitely a record to have fun to, and not take too seriously. It’s a mixture of EDM, Hip-Hop and Pop.
MuzicNotez Crew: You have a new video for ‘YO MAMA GOT BEEF’ to be released soon, what can we expect from this?
Cali Miles: The video for YO Mama Got Beef is out now on TrillHD.com and Youtube. It’s a really fun video, kind of a throw-back to Will Smith’s Parents Just Don’t Understand with a Comic book vibe. I like to incorporate comedy into my music and videos. The song was written to make light of an uncomfortable situation that I think many people can relate to. We had some great dancers in the video as well. It’s one of the biggest productions I’ve done for a video!
MuzicNotez Crew: Working on anything else new? What can we expect from you in the future?
Cali Miles: Right now we’re getting ready to release my Chasing the Night music video. We’re also getting ready to start shooting the video for Shwang Tru which will be produced by Cali Miles and The Bomb Squad’s Melissa Paradise! Besides that, I’m rehearsing for live performances and in the studio making new music! I’m also working on music with my Hip Hop group the Slo Lurnrz so look out for that!
MuzicNotez Crew: Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?
Cali Miles: Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @calimiles Stay positive and if you’re passionate about something do something about it! Also, if you love animals, STOP EATING THEM. 🙂