Kendra Black – Hustla

By starrymag | May 20, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) My sound is a blend of electronic music, pop and alternative pop

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A)I grew up listening to The Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Snoop Dogg and then I slowly got into dubstep and house music. My current influences are KFlay, Vanic, Zeds Dead

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Hustla.”

 

A)“Hustla” is an experimental hip-hop track that has taken many shapes and forms before becoming what it is now. It started off as a solo project, but became an awesome feature when I had the chance to be in talks with Spice 1.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) The song is all about being driven, and being prepared to hustle at any cost, even if that means getting out of your comfort zone. I think having music that hypes you up and builds up your adrenaline is key to help all of us fight our own battles.

 

Q) How did Spice 1 come to do a feature on the track?

 

A) Spice 1 is a friend of friends! And it was such an honor for me to be able to connect with him and have him on the track.

 

Q) How will the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A)The video, which will be out later this summer, will embody hustling in many different forms. It’s gonna be a fun production and I can’t wait for my fans to see it!

 

Q) The song drops May 15th. How do you plan to celebrate?

 

A) Maybe open up a bottle of champagne or go for a hike!

 

Q: What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) It all depends. Sometimes I start with the lyrics and sometimes with the music. But in either case, what I always do is I experiment with different versions, record them all and then choose the one that sounds and feels best.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) It depends on the project. Sometimes I collaborate with people on a smaller scale and sometimes on a bigger scale.

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

 

A) Most definitely! But first, get ready for my summer releases, which are gonna include more features, some remixes of my tracks and some DJ sets I’ve been working on recently

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) My favorite places are Texas, New York and Italy because I had the chance to perform some of my most fun shows over there! The Spring Break Music Fest in South Padre Island, Texas in 2019, my Jazz shows with The Brass Group in Palermo Italy in 2018 and 2019 and pretty much all shows in New York are a great experience!

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I’d love to collaborate with artists like Vanic, Zeds Dead, Bassnectar or Diplo!

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) I listen to a lot of things on a daily basis! But the artists I mentioned here above are the ones I enjoy listening to the most! Their style and vibes.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) I think social media is a great instrument to connect with fans and reach out to new people! And it allows me to express myself and who I really am to the people who only know me by my music!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Get ready for a lot of surprises! A lot of doors are opening with my music company Emerald Sounds and my new DJ sets! Stay tuned on social media @kendrablackmusic and on my website kendrablackmusic.com.