Female rap artist KJB is the newest member of the Unrivaled Records team preparing to release new music. “Steady Stepping” is coming soon from the upcoming album The Everything I Never Said. Read the rest of our interview to get to know this up and coming artist ready to show the world her talent!
Welcome to Music Trails! How has 2020 been for you?
Hello, well for me 2020 has been good and I haven’t stopped living my life to my fullest potential just because of the pandemic. I find it easier to adapt and move on than to dwell on something we have no control over. That is just wasting time that can be out for something useful like growing as an artist and creating an album.
Who has made the biggest impact on your musical career so far and how?
The people who have made the biggest impact on my musical career thus far in my life are Marshall Mathers III a.k.a. Eminem, as well as Nathan (Nate) Feuerstein a.k.a. NF. Growing up I used to watch 8mile 5x a day not even exaggerating I felt a connection with the movie as I grew up in poverty having to witness the struggle of bills being paid and ends being met. NF impacted my music career with his first album Mansion. I first heard the song Mansion and felt an instant connection because there is a lot that I hide inside my own mind and don’t really speak about. Also, his overall message throughout his albums is definitely something I can relate to about self-acceptance.
What drew you towards joining the Unrivaled Records team?
What drew me towards joining the Unrivaled Records team was the passion the record label producer Daniel Cantrell has to want to make a change in people’s lives and within his own community. It is a humble record label that you won’t find often in the music industry. Most record labels care about you making music no matter what you put out and this record label has more of a meaningful message for future generations to come and the generations that are here now.
You’re currently putting the final touches on your next single “Steady Stepping.” What can you tell us about it?
“Steady Stepping” is a song I made that illustrates how I stepped away from fear and started moving towards things that brought me out of my comfort zone as well as brought me forward to the opportunity of making music and turning my dreams into reality. It also speaks of how I built up my confidence when stepping away from fear.
How would you describe your sound to someone who just listened to your music for the first time?
For someone who just listened to my music for the first time, I would describe my sound as heartfelt, with a lot of emotion and relatability.
Which track are you most excited to share from your album Everything I Never Said? How did you decide on the album title?
The track I am most definitely excited to share from my album Everything I Never Said, is “Created Something.” The way the album title came about was I wanted it to be something I never heard before something that not only catches the eye but catches your attention just by hearing the title. Also, within the title it is kind of self-explanatory a lot of this music on the album is everything I never said.
What works best for you when creating new songs – Freestyling to put your thoughts together or sitting down and letting the words flow to you?
For me personally, both work Freestyling is great because my ideas just flow like water and when I’m not feeling a freestyle writing it down and taking my time works just as good but then there are those times where you hit a wall and are like okay I’ll add to this one later but with freestyle you just go there are no bumps in the road that slow you down.
Which artists do you most identify your music with?
One artist in particular that I feel my music can identify with is NF. He has been a big inspiration on my music lately and I say that because I feel like our music is a pain we feel on a day- to day basis and also a helping hand for those who feel alone in life or don’t have a voice to say what they really feel.
Do you go to one specific place when you start writing your music? How important is the location where you write your lyrics for you?
Personally, I don’t have a specific place to go and write my music. When I get an idea or inspiration to write it’s whether I’m driving from my house to work, sitting on my bed working on homework, or even just hanging out with friends. To me a location to write music is not important at all as long as I have my phone to type my lyric idea in or even a paper to write my lyric idea on.
Is there one song (either yours or from someone else) that’s most meaningful to you? Why?
A song that is most meaningful to me is “Therapy Session” by NF. This song really touched my soul just the rage you feel within the song and how NF describes his music as a helping hand but sometimes it’s a lot to take in and how he’s mad but people want him to put on a fake smile and he can’t. Also, the outro on the song where he says “This is real for me I need this, this is a therapy for me” that just spoke to me because I can relate I need this outlet. Music is how I cope with my emotions in my life.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Something that most people don’t know about me is that while being a full-time college student taking 12hr credits and working 3 jobs my mom was homeless living in her car and all my money would go to her to keep gas in the car so she could keep the heater going at night when it was cold, and also to get food throughout the day. I am one month away from getting my Associates Degree in Liberal Arts in December of 2020. I can say even though I went through this experience I didn’t give up on myself and my future. It just inspired me to go harder in school and in life.
How would you define success?
Success to me is being able to say my music content has made an impact on people’s lives and helped my fans know that they’re not alone in life. Also, I would define success as living my best life and being able to set my mom and brother up for life as well as my kids in the future.
What makes a great recording session for you?
What I consider to be a great recording session for me is just feeling every emotion within my song as I put it down on the mic.
For our final question, what is your biggest motivator in life?
The biggest motivator in my life is my mom because despite everything she has been through and all the times she has cried and wanted to give up on life and let go she hasn’t. She is a soldier, a fighter, my hero, someone I see as a warrior with many scars you cannot see but that I know about she is the reason behind my strength and motivation she is my rock my keeper she is who inspires me to be myself and keep going no matter what happens in life.
