Meet Kahlil Nash - San Diego Funk/RnB
Meet Kahlil Nash, a Funk/RnB artist from San Diego, California, who has been helping the scene flourish for many years. In this interview, we will discuss Kahlil's journey in the San Diego music scene and what he has in store for the future. So, let's get into it!
Photo taken by @hi.kseniya on IG
ARTIST NAME, WHAT GENRE OF MUSIC YOU PLAY, AND WHERE YOU ARE FROM.
"My name is Kahlil Nash, and I'm a Funk/RnB artist from San Diego, CA."
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING MUSIC? WHAT AGE/WHAT YEAR DID YOU START YOUR MUSIC JOURNEY?
"I've been in entertainment since I was three, where I started as an actor/singer, then I eventually started picking up instruments and learning production/engineering when I was 9. I started writing my own original songs when I had the opportunity to perform at Hard Rock Cafe SD when I was 13."
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF BEING A MUSICIAN? DO YOU ENJOY THE PERFORMANCE ASPECT OR THE RECORDING PART OF THINGS THE MOST?
"I personally love performing live. Experiencing the energy from the audience and your band is unlike any other. It makes me feel the music in a different way than when I'm recording the music."
Photo taken by Unknown
WHAT IS THE OVERALL MESSAGE YOU ARE TRYING TO SEND OUT WITH YOUR MUSIC? AKA, WHAT ARE YOUR SONGS PRIMARILY ABOUT? OR DO THEY DIFFER WITH THEIR MEANING/MESSAGE?
"From a live performance perspective, I want people to leave my shows feeling more love and acceptance than they did walking into the show. You never know what kind of day people are having. If they can turn on your music or see you live and leave with their cup full, there's no better feeling than that."
WHAT SONG OF YOURS IS YOUR FAVORITE TO PLAY LIVE AND WHY?
"My favorite song to play live would be 'Dream.' I love the way my band brings the song to life. I also get to play a solo which is always fun! Although, my favorite part would have to be seeing people shine their phone lights and wave them back and forth toward the end of the song. Looking out to a sea of lights from the stage's perspective is such a fantastic spectacle!"
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR MOST RECENT RELEASE, THE EP "IMAGINE," AND I LOVE IT! TELL ME ABOUT THE PROCESS OF CREATING THIS EP. WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART? WHAT WAS THE MOST FUN PART?
"It all started in the summer of 2020. Thanks to DJ Artistic, a veteran DJ in the SD scene, I had a two-day session at Lower Left downtown. I invited some friends to record and jam to see what would come of it. Plenty of songs came out of those jams, including the intro to the EP. The rest of the songs were recorded in my bedroom, and all the live drums were recorded at the drummer's houses. The project was initially supposed to be a collaboration album, but over time it took a different trajectory. I included songs from my own catalog and created 'Imagine.' The most fun part and the most challenging part was the collaborations because it's great sharing a vision with another creative, but then there are times when you disagree, which can make things difficult, which helps you learn to compromise."
Photo taken by @sydney_valiente on IG
YOU'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE SAN DIEGO DIY MUSIC SCENE FOR YEARS NOW. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS?
"I love the sense of community and support San Diego bands and artists have for one another. I've been on so many bills where I didn't necessarily belong genre-wise, but because people liked what I did, they let me join the show without hesitation. It's important to know the music business, especially for younger artists/bands coming up in the SD music scene."
TIPS FOR YOUNG FUNK/ROCK ARTISTS LOOKING TO START MAKING MUSIC?
"Network as much as possible, be kind to everyone, learn the business, and be the best you can be at your craft!"
WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE?
"I'm always working on new music and planning my next release. I'll also be opening my first festival on July 8th, called Bayfest! Koffee, Prof, Denm, Common Kings, and Damian Marley are also playing! It'll be my biggest show yet!"
Photo taken by @vanessacindy on IG
