Today we’d like to introduce you to Kela 4real.
Hi Kela, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a country girl and a diva to my core, born and raised in the small town of Graniteville in South Carolina. That’s why they call me the “Southernbelle.” I’ve been singing since before I can remember. Growing up watching my mother and family singing in church always fascinated me. My dad has this massive collection of vinyl records that are his prized possessions. He would get up early in the morning and have the whole house jamming to funk and R&B. He’s the one that definitely taught me about different artists and what to listen for in great music. When I was four years old, I would come home from church and my parents would catch me banging out church tunes on our piano. They immediately put me in lessons, and I’ve been able to play ever since. I began writing songs when I was in the third grade, and believe it or not, I still have all of my notebooks with all the songs I’ve ever written. As I went through grade school, I continued singing and picked up drums, playing throughout middle and high school.
College is where I learned that I could also sing opera, jazz, and musical theater. I sung all over the United States doing those genres along with R&B, performing shows at many different clubs, bars, and events. My side hustle was, and still is, playing keyboard for churches on Sundays.
After I graduated from college, I was afforded the opportunity to travel with some opera and theater companies in Atlanta, Texas, and Germany. I loved every moment of it, but I realized I was slowly moving away from my first love, R&B. So, in 2017 I decided to get back to the genre that was closest to my heart. A good friend of mine introduced me to this awesome producer, Krazy Figz. He definitely began showing me the ropes and introducing me to even more people to help me further my R&B career. That year, I dropped my first single, “Don’t Take Your Love Away.”
All my life, I was a big girl, and it never hit as hard until I stepped into the R&B/pop world. I got rejected and neglected many times because of it. From “The Voice” audition rounds to labels. People would always say they loved my sound and creativity, but I was just too big to take a risk on. It never stopped me though. I made some life changes, lost the weight, gained even more confidence, and saw how it reflected in my music.
In 2018, Figz and I dropped another single called “Better Know,” which was more on the pop side of things, but it opened up doors for me to begin writing and working with other artists on their craft. Later on that year, I was introduced to super producer Kid Class by a friend through Instagram. After our first session in Atlanta, we just kept working together. Since then, we’ve dropped a few singles, “Dreamin,” and my most recent song “Is It U.” I’ve teamed up with some dope people, creating dope music and relationships, including B Dub, Shaun Principal, Ian Burke, and many others, and let me tell you, we have some fire coming soon.
Since being a part of the Atlanta music scene, I’ve met some awesome people and have had to learn many tough life and financial lessons as well. Many of the good ones I still work with today. I look forward to continuing to build my music career, following my passion, and enjoying the journey along the way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t necessarily been the smoothest road, but if you never have any struggles, you’ll never truly enjoy the wins. I’ve been conned out of thousands of dollars, rejected due to my weight (before I lost it), had to cut off different relationships. The list could go on, but those were just lessons in my opinion. It has only helped me grow and learn what to look for in any situation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Aside from music, a lot of people don’t know that I work in the banking industry. I’ve been in banking for several years. I operate my own branch at a Credit Union with a staff of 10 people.
Musically, I specialize in writing and vocal arrangement. From Pop, Country, R&B, all the way to gospel music. I also travel and do gospel workshops for choirs and groups.
I’m most proud of my strength in continuing my dreams of having a music career even though I haven’t made to the point of being able to do it full-time. I have faith that I will get there one day.
What sets me apart from others is my diversity in every aspect. As a person, I am very genuine, funny, goofy, and sweet, but don’t mind having to put you in your place and being “Queen B” when needed. Musically… I can do EVERYTHING! I’m a dope singer, writer, instrumental and vocal producer, background singer, dancer, I play several different instruments. The list goes on and on. If you don’t know it for yourself, who else will, you know?
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I like to think of myself as a calculated risk taker. The risk has to make sense. Maybe that’s my banking side coming out, I don’t know. My version of risk is when I took a sabbatical from work to go to Germany and Charlotte to work on some musical projects with some major people in the music industry. BUT, I had a plan. If it didn’t workout out, I had a job in place and somewhere to live. Obviously, that risk didn’t go as well as I would have liked because I’m still working at the bank, but it was a great opportunity. (Lol!)
I think the biggest risk that I’ve taken is putting up $20,000 of my own money and investing it into my first single. I was super green in the industry and living on a hope and a prayer. Needless to say, the person I was working with promised me radio, DJs, shows, all this great marketing, etc., and he ended taking my money and buying a car. I definitely learned my lesson there, and I know to always do my research, get contracts and receipts, and stop trusting so easily.
My biggest advice to others out there is to not quit your everyday work life to pursue something UNLESS you have the funds to do it and you have a backup plan. Big dreams cost big money, and you have to be able to live and support yourself in order fund and support your dreams.
Pricing:
- Voice/piano/drum lessons (children)- $55/hour
- Voice/piano/drum lessons (adults)- $70/hours
Contact Info:
- Email: 4realkela@gmail.com
- Instagram: @kela4real
- Facebook: KELA #4Real
- Twitter: @KELA_4Real
- Youtube: KELA #4Real
- SoundCloud: KELA4real
- Other: Snapchat- kela_4real, TikTok- @kela4real
Image Credits
Samuel Morrison Docemg Rico Young Photography Designs by JK Lefont Lee Films
