THEHIPHOPDIVA.COM had the pleasure of speaking with the fantastically creative Kid Sister. Here’s what was said.
HHD: You began to puruse a career in music after you graduated college. Prior to that point, what did you imagine yourself doing with your life?
KS: All I really wanted to do, like really, really, and this may seem sad, but I wanted to get a desk job so I could have health insurance. I had some medical problems and I really needed to get those checked out out but I didn’t have any insurance. So I was like, ‘All I wanna do is work at a desk and have some decent healthcare.’ But that never happened. So, I’m still without healthcare and I had to have surgery about six months ago and I had to pay it all out of pocket. Things, you know, they work out one way or the other. Yeah I don’t have healthcare, but I have the means to support myself. It is what it is.
HHD: So what led you to your decision to pursue a music career?
KS: My brother was playing a lot of shows (we live in Chicago) here but he would play on tour here and there really drawing in quite large audiences. There’s a line around the block. The crowd is really hype. So when I started writing songs, Josh was like (Josh is my brother) get up there and perform. The crowd is gonna like you cause they’re so hype to be here. Get out there and try it out. That’s exactly what I did. I was like alright, cool. I got up there and the rest is history.
HHD: I’m a fan of your music. But, I attended your show and was very surprised by the fans that were there and your performance. Can you, if you can put it into words, describe your style of hip hop music and who you think it appeals to?
KS: Of course, I do this because it’s fun. My vision for whatever I do, whether it’s music or fashion, or just everyday life and the way you interact with people in public, my vision for my ife is to bring people together who under normal circumstances may not have been brought together. I make my music for everybody. So when I say everybody’s invited to the show please believe you will see everybody at my shows. Everyone’s there bcause it’s a dance party and everyone’s invited.
HHD: Your boyfriend signed you to his record label and your brother, J2K, is your DJ. What kind of impact does it have on your music and your career to work so closely with people you have strong personal relationships with?
KS: Alain and I are no longer together but we were always so close as friends that it’s easy to work with him. My brother is my best friend as well. It can be a little touchy sometimes. But, for the most part it’s more of a positive because they really understand where you’re coming from.
HHD: Your music is definitely unique which is obviously due to your originality, creativity, and style. I can for sure hear Chicago influences in your lyrics. But, otherwise what are your musical influences?
KS: I grew up listening to nothing but classical music until I was 11 years old. I discovered pop, it was really bad pop, but it was pop all the same. And then I discovered hip hop and basically that’s all I really listened to—house music and hip hop and R&B—until now. Lyrically house and hip hop inspire me, melodically, R&B inspires me. Between those genres a new one has emerged—hip hop and electronic music.
HHD: I know you said you listen to a lot of house music and hip hop inspires you. Whose music do you listen to when you get a chance to party or just chill and enjoy good music?
KS: Well, it depends on where I’m at like a lot of different kinds of music. Playaz Circle has this new song called “Hold Up” and it’s so good. It’s like really, really good. I listen to Selena. I listen to Gucci Mane, it’s literally everything.
HHD: Who would you consider to be the top three most influential females in hip hop and why?
KS: I don’t really know. I don’t even think like that anymore. The genres are changing so much that it’s kinda every man and woman for themselves. It’s not about one clear person coming through saying ‘I’m changing this.’ The music industry itself is changing so much that no one knows up from down, left from right. Things are changing and it’s such a level playing field now. Look at me, I came out of nowhere. Now it doesn’t matter who you are, you can make your mark on music. I don’t know if it’s about a top three or a top five or a top one…every man for himself or every woman for herself.
HHD: Your debut album, Ultraviolet, was released last month. Let’s talk about the album for those who haven’t heard it.
KS: Well, it’s a whole lot of fun. Get ready to have your face melted off cause it’s fun, fun. It’s high energy. You gotta be ready.
HHD: What is your definition of a hip hop diva?
KS: I don’t know if I’ve ever met one. But, it takes one to know one. I don’t know. I think sometimes it can come out of me like in the green room when I want the temperature to be raised because I’m too cold and I’m like ‘Oooh, I feel like a little bit of a diva. I need to calm down.’ But luckily I have all my friends and family to travel with me to tell me to shut up and quit talking so much.
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