Asia Kyree
What’s your origin story?
I’m from Kansas City, but I moved straight to Dallas after graduation. Back home, I was kind of clouded. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I was in arts school and still didnt know. So I'd say the origin definitely came from Dallas, like my motivation and passion for what I do now, being around people who actually do shows and can mix and master and not just go in a booth and play around. I was kind of used to stuff like that back home. I was never introduced to the real thing, that grind, that go get it mentality. Like it's not a plan B type. I was a podcast host and different artists would come in and out in and we would interview them. Something kind of clicked for me. I was just like, “I should be you.” That's when I took a step back from being that radio girl podcast girl and was like, “I want y’all to know who I am because I can really do this too.”
“ I was a podcast host and different artists would come in and out in and we would interview them. Something kind of clicked for me. I was just like, “I should be you.” That's when I took a step back from being that radio girl podcast girl and was like, “I want y’all to know who I am because I can really do this too.”
So you've been here for five years and you were doing the podcast thing. At what point, did you make that crossover? And what was the first song you recorded?
2017. I'd say I got into the music thing seriously in 2017. I would put out the first song in 2018 because I was scared, very much scared. Also I had a run around with somebody here who, you know, when you jump into the industry like food - full head first and people know you're like an amateur pulling your heart heartstrings and they take advantage of you. You and your money and your time. So I had to pay a lot of money to people who didn't help at all with this, I had to redo the song that I first put out. It's called trust issues. It's on soundcloud only. Man, I didn't know anything.
In terms of your community or your team behind you, what was the process of kind of building that up? Like who are the people that like clung to you and kind of help continue to push your sound, push your style?
Well, I kind of right now things have changed. I would say I went to this place and it was like a studio here. They were having a contest for music heads, artists, and producers etc. hosted by The COO of that company. I actually met LaVoyce at this competition which we both joined for their songwriters contest. It was crazy there was like a room full of artists & songwriters and they each played like three snippets of their songs. She won that first contest and I came in second. I was like, “bro, she’s fire” she definitely inspired me. So I would just throw Lavoyce out there cause she definitely is one of the most purest artist to me to witness. There's also liberal and then Cizz - Cizz is the CEO of ICE. He kind of clung to me cause I walk in a room but I don't say much, but I am a light. I have to say, humbly speaking. So people cling to me anyway, whether in my aesthetic or my look. I guess they see that I'm serious and they’re trying to figure out why I am so humble because when I played the music everyone was looking like, why isnt she, you know, a little bit loud, I should be obnoxious about what I do. I'm just not, you know, I let the work speak for itself. And Cizz was like Hmm. You got way too much talent to be sitting in the corner somewhere. Ever since then, he kind of took over a position of like an artists consultant for me, like helping me with my website, building out my merch, helping me with treatments. Quality mixing and mastering, distributing. So those two people would be Lavoyce and Cizz as well.
“…they’re trying to figure out why I am so humble because when I played the music everyone was looking like, why isnt she, you know, a little bit loud, I should be obnoxious about what I do. I'm just not, you know, I let the work speak for itself.”
Have you been able to travel and kind of give some more of your artistry to like other States and other cities?
Yeah, I actually have! I haven't been everywhere I'd say but, I definitely when I go into LA I definitely always have a studio.I had the craziest conversation with who I believe was the producer for, I believe it's “thinking about you” by Frank ocean. He's worked with Nicki, Dre, R Kelly (unfortunately) but you know what I'm trying to say. I like him, but we had this conversation. He said “you are losing your juice. You need to move.” I hate to say like, you know, Dallas won't put you on, or even Kansas city - my hometown - won’t put you on. He was like, you need to come here to LA. It was just a crazy conversation. It kind of fueled me up again. I've also been to Atlanta as well. I met a few people in the studio out there actually. But who knows, as we continue to work I know there's going to be more opportunities to go further to progress, I’m hella excited to get there.
So like how did you kind of reflect on moving forward with your, with your career for 2020?
2020 was hard. It set me back so much I feel like but in a way it made me stronger. I didn't know that I can be so sad, just me not being able to do music or create music. It’s like a love hate relationship, toxic relationship with me and music. If I don't have it, I kind of go crazy. And then when it is here, I still go crazy. And in 2019 I lost my brother. So when 2020 came, it was like, I didn't think I could get any more sad. The music I was making was for him and then I stopped. So I stopped having a coping mechanism. I kind of sunk into this place of feeling like I'm not ever going to be able to get out. But I did. I definitely did. I actually dropped my project last year during the pandemic, which did great. And towards the end of when everything started kind of opening back up and I got the chance to keep making my music. I was like I got it.
