KHALIL

UDC: Name? Who you are? Background Information?

K: My name is Khalil. I’m twenty years old. I have been doing music all my life; I know that everyone says that. I started voice lessons probably like fourth grade and really found a love for soul music, R&B, hip-hop, and Christian acoustic. Around sixth grade I started to develop my own style. I became heavily involved about a year ago and I'm getting my skills up as an artist and a musician not just performer.

UDC: Explain what Khalil means to you?

K: My name means friend. I was named after a guy named Khalil Gabron, who was a famous poet of the 70’s and a prophet who wrote poetry about love. I feel that I am also not just a poet but a storyteller and I want relate to people through music. Music, I believe, is about communication, enjoyment, and it is about everything good. That is want I want to display to people.

UDC: Who are your musical influences? Why?

K: Maxwell, Isley Brothers, Musiq Soul child even John Mayer and Elton John, they all have some flavor, something that adds to them. They have that sound you stop and listen to; a great tune or melody that’s what I want to have. That is what I’m about.

UDC: At what point in time did u realize that music is what you want to do?

K: Probably in church when I was in high school, people would tell me," you should do something with your talent." We have some individuals that have come from my church that have really made it. They did what they could do and it’s hot. My people were letting me know that I can do the same thing, you have that spark and it not just your look and your talent, you have that drive that going to help you make it. That pushes me forward to my goals and dreams.

UDC: What one quality separates you from other R&B and Neo-soul singers?

K: I know that there are many soul singers who are real. There are many who are simple but then again have that secret tone or meaning; me I’m just Khalil. I do not have any other way to put it. I’m just that person who is willing to try something different, I’m not scared about people thinking what if this does not sell. I look at Alicia Keys, Bilal, and others who gone out the box, I want to go out of the box.

UDC: What is priority number one for Khalil as a musician and artist?

K: Getting myself up and really becoming a musician and finding the music that strikes my heart. The heart and the mind should be intertwined. Whatever I feel is what I’m going to think and it will come out together and it has to be in unison.

UDC: What are the three most essential items that you need when at the studio?

K: I’ve got to have CDs that I love to jam out to, CDs that make me feel something. A guitar, definitely, something to pluck out tunes and have a good time with. A drink. I don’t just drink water while in the studio. A strawberry soda, you have to have something you enjoy so that you enjoy being there.

UDC: How do you feel the internet has affected your genre of music and the music industry as a whole?

K: It seems like I ask my friends," are they going to get that new CD?" and they'll say no I will just download it. Downloading is fun but it really does take away from art of everything that goes into a CD from the album cover, to the pictures that were taken, to the music that is put on the CD, to the special messages that are put on CD. It affects it when people take a blank CD and just download it. I think that everything is too easily accessible and not directly from the musician.

UDC: Do you think downloading sites should be penalized?

K: I do think that, it is a hard question to answer but it should be penalized. Download it from the artist’s site. Some artists are willing to give up their work, some are not but it should be left up to the artists not a downloading site.

UDC: Has the internet had a positive or negative affect on the industry?

K: It has helped artists get out there, when someone hears a song that’s hot and they really like it. They can go to the artist’s website and see what they like, see where the artist is from, that’s what I like to do. I like to see pictures, see where they got their start, and where they are touring next. The internet has definitely helped.

UDC: Describe Khalil five years from now?

K: Me, five years I would describe Khalil as a producer. Someone that was not only given an opportunity but someone that helps create opportunities and going forward with my plan.

UDC: What types of pressures do you face as artist in popular music culture?

K: I learned definitely that everyone’s got that look or that voice, everyone has something that people will be in favor of, you have to show that you are willing to go to that next level to want to become a musician. Not only about your looks or the way you sound, but the whole package. You definitely have to have the whole package.

KHALIL
kool_khalil@yahoo.com
214.284.3469
972.495.7113

Interviewed By Lejend@undevco.com
Photography By Ean Pegram