Interview: Lili K. and All That Jazz

Depending on how frequently you listen to Chance the Rapper or Vic Mensa, the possibility that Lili K. is someone you’re already very familiar with, is pretty strong. I was fortunate enough to catch up with the soulful Chicago vocalist and cover an array of things including Chicago’s new wave of artists, what exactly ‘Soul Trap’ is, her upcoming debut album, Ruby, and so much more.

You are a part of this new wave of Chicago artists, but is it true that you hail from Milwaukee? Was it back home or in Chi-Town, that you decided you wanted to seriously pursue singing?

Yep! Milwaukee is my hometown, though Chicago has always been a second home to me. I lived here for a few years in the mid-90s, as well. It was pretty obvious that music would be my life while majoring in jazz voice at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, so I guess Milwaukee wins that question.

Who would you say some of your biggest influences are?

Ella Fitzgerald is my favorite vocalist of all time. She truly embodies a musician who has mastered her voice as an instrument, and I learn from her recordings every day. Rachelle Ferrell, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stevie Wonder, Esperanza Spalding, India.Arie; all huge inspirations.

What drew me to your music, instantly, was the fact that you described it as ‘Soul Trap’. How would you explain that sound to someone who has never heard of such a thing?

That’s a really common misconception, actually *laughs* MC Tree, a great Chicago emcee, coined the phrase ‘Soul Trap’, and him and I are in a side band/musical family that is called Soul Trap. So calling myself the ‘Songstress of Soul Trap’ was actually in reference to being the female singer in the group. However, my earlier EPs definitely combined Hip-Hop with Jazz and Soul, and could definitely be linked to a ‘Soul Trap’ sound. The hard hitting, Hip-Hop influenced drums and production, matched with soulful chord progressions and jazzy vocals. That kind of embodies ‘Soul Trap.’ I would honestly describe my music – especially my new music – as more of a jazzy, throwback soul.

What you and The Jeff Gibbs Quartet did with “Latch” was amazing! How did that come about?

Thanks! Those cats and I are friends, and have been fans of each other for a while. We were vibing one night in a rehearsal for an event I was doing with them, and had the idea to do a collab. I was a really big fan of “Latch,”, and Jeff was too, so we went with it! It kind of unfolded as we recorded, nobody was really sure how it was going to turn out *laughs* The vocal line was recorded at like 2am. I didn’t even go in the booth. I sat next to the band on the couch in the control room and recorded all the vocals.

If you could, describe your creative process. What does Lili K. need, to make her best music?

There’s no process, honestly. I get hit with ideas at random times, and I either write them down or record a voice memo on my phone. Sometimes it happens in the shower, sometimes on the train, sometimes when I’m hanging out with friends. So I’ll draft the initial idea down, and then I form the rest of song. Sometimes it’s done in 5 minutes, sometimes it spans the course of 5 months. Then I’ll present my idea to my band, and they help me turn it into the final product.

You’re probably most notably known for your work alongside Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa. How does it feel to go from being kind of an accessory to those guys, to emerging from the shadows and paving your own lane?

It feels amazing to be creating the music I’ve always wanted to make. Collaborating with Chance and Vic were great experiences, and I’m happy I was able to be involved in Hip-Hop, which is a genre I love, but not the genre I desire to create. I feel like I’m back at home with my new album.

Speaking of artists like Chance and Vic, I mentioned the new wave of Chicago artists, earlier. With you now being a part of that, where do you see the Windy City’s music scene, 5, 10 years from now?

I have no idea! Chicago has always had a rich arts community; from being a mecca for Blues and Gospel, to Jazz, to Hip-Hop. I definitely believe there will always be amazing music coming out of this city, but I don’t know what will be popular in 5 or 10 years. I would love to see the many amazing Jazz & Soul artists in Chicago get a turn in the spotlight.

You have a band, and it’s nothing to go in and create with them, but are there any producers that you would like to work with?

Honestly, live instrumentation has always been my preferred method of music. I come from the church and Jazz combos where creating with a group of musicians is how the music is created. Nothing against studio production, but it doesn’t do it for me like a live band does. There are musicians I’d love to work with, like Robert Glasper, Snarky Puppy, Robert Randolph, Questlove… actually just The Roots in general *laughs*

We get your debut album, Ruby, on April 21st. What was it like working on that project?

It was amazing and scary and exciting! Before Ruby, I had always worked with a producer. None of my previous EPs were really solo works; they were 50/50 collaborations. This album is my first real project, where the vision is 100% mine. I executively produced the album, which was my first time ever calling all of the shots. My band members are all ridiculously talented, and I asked each of them individually to be on the project, because I knew what they would be able to bring to the table. I had an overall vision, and they really helped bring it to life. I wanted the album to be reminiscent of an older era, and I wanted it to have a raw feeling to it. We intentionally left in bits of talking in the background, amp pickups of radio stations, piano creaks, etc. It’s an album heavily rooted in Soul with Jazz sprinkled on top.

Although you are an up and coming artist yourself, what advice could you give someone looking to make the musical impact that you’re currently en route to making?

WORK. HARD. Don’t let other people determine your success. Don’t wait on them. Don’t let anyone, but you, control what your future holds. Get a decent paying ‘regular’ job so that you can invest your own money into your career. You’re going to be tired. You’re going to be running on a few hours of sleep a night, but it’s all worth it, and it makes the success that comes to you feel so deserved. Make the music you LOVE. Don’t make what’s popular. Don’t hop on a trend just because you want to be posted on a blog. Your long term career is so much more important than a temporary buzz. Stay true to yourself. Don’t be an asshole. Accept that people are going to be an asshole to you, and don’t let it bring you down. Overall, I’d say stay positive. It’s a tough industry to break into, and it’s easy to get discouraged, but if this is what you really want, then make it happen!

Lili’s album, Ruby, is available for pre-order here