Interview with Gospel & Hip Hop Artist Kamika Kamika

MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.

What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?

• Kamika Kamika: I started creating music at 17! I was pregnant and trying to make it across that stage. I had a chorus class as elective, and our class was responsible for choosing the senior song for graduation day. I chose the song ‘I Believe’, by Fantasia Burrino but was not allowed to sing with the chorus. Broke me down. I do remember as a child realizing I was created for the music world; think I was about 6 or 7 when I got hit in the head with a baseball bat while mom was working. By time she got to me all I could smell was blood, all could see was dark and right in front of me, and now know I had a concussion. On the way to the hospital, she told me to sing, that was the only way for her to know I was alive. Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls was the song I remember playing; I sang, and it always stuck with me.

MuzicNotez: 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?

• Kamika Kamika: Oh my, the list is so full! Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation of Lauryn Hill put me in about 4 headlocks! It sparked somethings in me I have yet to ignite! I used to train my voice against various artists legends! Whitney Houston, Kelly Price, Mariah Carey, Shirley Murdock, Deborah Cox, Brandy, Monica, Kirk Franklin and Nu Nation, DMX, Keke Wyatt, Eve, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Trina, Boosie, MaryMary, Destiny’s Child, Xscape, SWV, Yolanda Adams, Shekinah Glory, the Mass Gospel Choirs I heard in church or sang in choir, girl groups helped me hear harmonies and guy groups helped me understand blending voices; rappers excited me in a way that made me listen to lyrics closely, ride the beat; a lot of rnb music was sex talk so i shied away from those a lot. let me also say mom didn’t allow me to watch BET so the radio and my dad’s cassettes and CDs were my world! Once I saw how these girls dressed, I thought I was in! 90’s wear was the image embedded in my heart. I figured out how to be a woman with just sound and a real personal image.
  
  
  I feel like a walking radio sometimes the music never ends. Most of my personal influences I met in church and are all pretty much gone on to be with God. They believed in me.

MuzicNotez: 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?

• Kamika Kamika: I still get excited to see new followers! I want to be part of HISTORY! I WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT! The ultimate goal I always had was to share my music with others who truly enjoy it ON any capacity! I prefer making money singing than clocking into any job, so You know, house for me and my mama, make sure the kid is always straight. I would like my gift to make room for me.
  
  The message is GOD IS REAL… 1 FOR THE FATHER 2 FOR THE SON 3 FOR THE HOLY GHOST! I want to say GETCHU SUM FAITH AND SUM JOY AND SUM LOVE HOPE PEACE AND SUM STRENGTH … KEEP YOU SOME OIL.. ITS NOT ALWAYS PHYSICAL AND GOD DIDNT SAY IT WOULD BE EASY…DONT EVER LOSE HOPE IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE, NO SUBSTANCE NO FAITH

MuzicNotez: What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?

• Kamika Kamika: Fantasia Sketchbook Tour when she came to Augusta! I bought a floor seat to celebrate becoming an artist and seeing one of my favorites perform in my city was a dope experience. That’s the only concert I ever paid and took myself to.

MuzicNotez: Your latest track is called ‘Free’, what inspired this track? What’s it mean to you?

• Kamika Kamika: I was going through a time in my life where everything and everyone was showing me why my faith was necessary. I was dealing with betrayal; people were playing in my face, and I felt closer to the evil side of life through attachments. Death was staring me in my face, I had a full clip unloaded right in my face during a misunderstanding and still flinch when I hear shots or fireworks. Death was a few doors down a few blocks over and people seemed to be taking life for granted all around me. All I was giving was love yet all I tasted was hate and all I smelled was blood. I needed to cleanse my soul in order to even visualize myself in a better place. I was broken but healing because I chose to be free from bondage. I was looking for a way out.

MuzicNotez: You also released a music video for the track, what was the process like in making this video?

• Kamika Kamika: The process was jacked up. I can laugh because the idea was to have a rain shoot for the video. The team thought I was out my mind; it was daylight savings, so it got dark around 530/6 that day.
  
  I do not like being cold, yet it was cold and rainy and very dark outside. Not to mention the lights in the park were off which was strange. The wardrobe was simple enough for the vision, I had some props from around the house and made it happen. The song was straight forward so I didn’t want to get too far from the main idea, which is that faith is freedom from all the things that have you mentally and physically at a dis-ease. The emotion was raw because I really had to pull myself out of that whole situation that day! Up against all odds, I can always work my faith! I felt gorgeous and particularly free.

MuzicNotez: Your music is uplifting, inspired by your faith and love for life. How do you want people to feel when listening to your music?

• Kamika Kamika: ALIVE, TOUCHED, INSPIRED, AWARE, I WANT CHILLS TO LIFT THE HAIRS ON THEIR SKIN. I WANT THEM TO EXPERIENCE GOD.

MuzicNotez: What else are you working on? What can we expect to see and hear from you in the future?

• Kamika Kamika: I’m always writing, singing somewhere, in studio, preparing for interviews and upcoming opportunities! God has reserved so many spaces for my ministry you will see me all over the place. Working on another album, some visuals, networking and performing. Most importantly I worship as Psalmist at church on Sundays and other services in Augusta, GA Christ Fellowship Church of Augusta. I am due to perform at IKONZ in Augusta soon, GetchuSum and Bounce on the mic. Oh yeah, because I get a little verbal on a track!

MuzicNotez: Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?

• Kamika Kamika: I normally end an awkward set with “Well Don’t Praise ME, PRAISE GOD”! “Thanks for following me but most importantly FOLLOW JESUS”!

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