With a voice that is as delicate and soothing; as it is powerful and barrier shattering, in merely 2 short years, AKA Kelzz has made their presence in music known, and done so with the intention of amplifying the voice of the queer, non-binary and BIPOC communities. If you’re lucky, you might’ve run into them performing at Femme Fatale, solo, or alongside Pip Millett, and if you haven’t, make sure you don’t miss out. We sat down, with AKA Kelzz to find out more.
The last years for you have been quite adventurous, having moved from the UK to Berlin, and then also taking massive strides in your music career. Can you speak a bit on your journey, the choice to move and what your experience has been?
So I am originally from Birmingham, UK and my heritage is Jamaican, so I had the best vibes in my house. Food, music and loud voices lol, but growing up in Birmingham, which is such a multicultural city it was a significant difference moving to Berlin.
I first visited Berlin in 2015 for my first ever solo trip and fell in love with the city instantly, even though i didn’t see that much, it was the vibe and the energy that drew me in and just kept coming back to visit friends and then finally moved in 2017.
Moving to Berlin was the best decision I have made in my life, because it truly meant that I was doing what I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it. I have definitely had a lot of struggles over the past 6 years such as the flakiness in this city and how difficult it was at first to make real friends, to the language, German is so freaking hard lol.
But on the flip side, I have now been able to find my people and do the thing that I love which is music.
“When you look at me, remove any assumptions that you may have and enjoy the simplicity and creativity of the music while the words do the work”
AKA KELZZ
You’ve recently been involved with the “A Song For You” project with Noah Slee and played shows with the likes of Pip Millett, as well as your own solo shows. Is performing in front of audiences something that has always come naturally to you?
All of the opportunities were very spontaneous but also what I had been asking for, especially with Noah I was such a big fan of his before I met him so to be able to call him my friend and work with him is really an honour. And Pip Millet was crazy experience, because i had been covering her song Heavenly mother in my set for like 2 years and then I got to open for her on two dates! When i got the call i literally screamed down the phone and persone was like “ Is that a good scream” Im like your damn right it is lol.
Performing to audiences has definitely been something that I have always enjoyed, especially as a child. Singing in my bedroom and making my sister and mom watch for the millionth time just gave me so much joy. Especially when I never really took becoming an artist seriously until 2020, and I will never forget my first live solo show I was so nervous because my friend Zani Sizani went before me and she absolutely smashed it, she is such a great performer and entertainer that I got scared and was like “How am I gonna go after her”, so when it was my turn I didnt move outside of this imaginary box that I had created for myself lol. Its really crazy how the mind works because now, I still get nervous but I am able to still put on a good show because people do want to hear what I have to say and sing.
“Fly” is a track that exudes with the uplifting spirit of soulful house and an embodiment of freedom and positivity. Who do you hope the song reaches and what do you hope their takeaways are?
I love FLY so much because it is my first proper uplifting danceable song and it just brings me so much joy, that I am trying something new and hope that it will be well received. I really want this song to firstly reach all the people that look like me and are like me to see that creating your own lane in a world that doesn’t value or see you that this is what can happen. And doing what you love because you want to share it with the world fearlessly and authentically you.
But also to get on all the biggest platforms and to see my shit get the visibility it deserves!
What is your process of translating your experiences into your songwriting?
This is something that has really evolved over the years, previously I used to write in my journal and pour everything out and typically was around 3-4 pages at a time and then when I had a session I would then flick through the book and then see what pops out.
Now I feel I have had to become more versatile and be able to think on my feet without looking in the journal, so that way I typically vibe on the track and see what words pop out organically and then go from there, because music will really help highlight things “That you may have been hiding from” – This is a quote from the intro of my ep.
Any major plans for this year for your fans to look forward to?
2023 is set to be a big year for me! This is my year for growth and expansion!
So a major thing for me is that I am playing at the Xjazz festival Berlin which i am crazy stoked about. Performing with A Song For You Berlin, get ready Berlin! A big goal of mine is to perform on Colors this year and collaborate with more amazing artists. I also have some dope new music coming, with some amazing producers Rafa Mura, Two Thou, Thor Rixon, Saxon from Babysmith and many more.
