Some artists find music on their journeys to other places. Others are shaped by it long before they ever step to the microphone. For Kemya’Lei, it started in chorus rooms and on marching band fields, a self-described nervous kid who got pushed to the front anyway, and somehow never looked back. Fast forward through a baby, a head of locs, and a whole lot of unbothered energy, and you’ve got an independent artist who does hair, raises kids, makes records, and refuses to be put in a box. Her latest single, “Do Sum!” says everything you need to know about where she’s at: direct, unapologetic, and completely done with people who talk a good game and deliver nothing. We caught up with Kemya’Lei to talk about the journey, the crossover between her chair and her craft, and why everything she’s building right now is just the beginning.
The Interview: Photobombshell x Kemya’Lei
Photobombshell: Firstly, thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your music and career so far. As a new listener, I would love it if you could share more about your start in music and what inspired you to take this creative path.
Kemya’Lei: Music has always been around me, even before I took it seriously. Growing up, my mom had me in chorus and marching band. I didn’t really like being in the spotlight because I was a nervous person, but it ended up shaping me. I was doing solos and even became a captain in the marching band, which helped me come out of my shell.
I’ve always been into writing too…poems, short stories, and music since 4th grade. That was really my first way of expressing myself. I didn’t start recording for real until mid-2019, after I had my first child in 2018. That’s when everything clicked for me, and I decided to take it seriously.
Now, music is how I express everything…life, growth, being a mom, all of it. It’s something I used to be uncomfortable with, but now it’s something I fully stand on.
Photobombshell: That’s such a powerful transition, from shy to confident and using music as a tool for expression. I know you also express your skill in creativity in other ways. You are also a loctitian! How did you get into that, and do you ever experience crossover with doing hair and music?
Kemya’Lei: I’ve been doing hair since I was like 13 or 14. My mom is the one who pushed me into it. At first, it was just something I had to learn, but I ended up loving it, especially seeing how my work came out. Now it’s really part of my brand. My clients support my music, and my supporters come to get their hair done. I also have clients who are artists, too, so it’s a lot of creative energy going back and forth. It all connects, confidence, expression, all of that.
Kemya’Lei and Her Sound
Photobombshell: I love that! On the music side of things, for someone who hasn’t heard your music before, how would you describe your sound, and who is the ideal listener?
Kemya’Lei: My sound is real, confident, and emotional at the same time. I can be vulnerable, but I still come with that edge. I don’t try to stay in one box. I just make what I feel. My ideal listener is someone who feels things deeply, but still carries themselves strong….somebody who wants to feel understood, but also empowered.
Photobombshell: Honestly, that sounds exactly on brand. Speaking of empowered, share a little bit about your latest single, “Do Sum!” and what makes it unique. Did a specific person or scenario inspire it?
Kemya’Lei: “Do Sum!” is definitely a diss track. It came from dealing with someone who took my kindness for granted and wasn’t being real. It’s really about people who lose people or mess up situations, then instead of fixing it, they sit around talking about others. The message is simple: stop talking and do something. The energy is direct and unapologetic. It’s one of those records where I’m saying exactly what I mean.
Advice for Fellow Independents
Photobombshell: As an artist who is on the rise, what advice do you have, if any, for fellow independent artists?
Kemya’Lei: Stay consistent and don’t wait for anybody to validate you. A lot of people give up too fast. Take yourself seriously, invest in yourself, and promote your work. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, nobody else will.
Photobombshell: I think all of those are super valid points and likely learned from experience. I can appreciate it. What has been the greatest challenge for you as an artist so far?
Kemya’Lei: Balancing everything, being a mom, doing hair, and still focusing on music. It can get overwhelming, but it’s part of the process.
Kemya’Lei Sets the Record Straight
Photobombshell: You do so much! What is something people often get wrong about you or assume about you?
Kemya’Lei: People think I’m one thing or just focused on one lane, but I’m not. I do a lot, and everything I do has a purpose behind it.
Photobombshell: As someone who also built a career on not fitting in a box, I absolutely agree. Sometimes, you have to do many things, and it’s not a liability. Being multifaceted is an asset. What has been your favorite moment or experience as an artist?
Kemya’Lei: Hearing people sing my songs back to me and seeing their reactions. That’s the best feeling…knowing something I made actually stuck with someone.
Future Plans for the Artist
Photobombshell: I can see that. It’s really powerful when you can connect with people on that level emotionally through your music. What can we look forward to from you in the rest of 2026?
Kemya’Lei: More music, more visuals, and more performances. I’m just focused on building and getting bigger with everything I do.
Photobombshell: OK, so this is my favorite question and one that I ask almost every artist I talk to, just so you can talk your shit. What is something you’ve wanted to share in an interview but no one has asked yet?
Kemya’Lei: What really drives me is my kids. Everything I’m doing is bigger than just music. I’m building something for real, and I’m just getting started.
Photobombshell: That’s an incredibly powerful WHY. Thank you so much, Kemya’Lei, for chopping it up with me and your thoughtful responses. I know your story is going to connect with other creatives in the space, and I am looking forward to what comes next for you.
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