| Artist of the Month: Kiirstin Calister Kuhi |
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This month we are honored to have as artist of the Month Kiirstin Calister Kuhi, actress and singer who has been gracing the stages since the age of two. Now Kiirstin is mainly writing and performing original music with her band “Verity in Stereo”.
My dad used to give me the microphone, and I would do anything from singing to acting to interviewing my 1-year-old baby brother, who now incidentally plays piano in Verity In Stereo. I also have 2 older brothers that really taught me a lot about music. They took me to my first concert when I was 12 -Smashing Pumpkins- and I loved it. After that they continued to take me to concerts and expose me to music they liked, which of course became my favorite music growing up, though I wouldn't find out until much later how much these experiences with my brothers affected me.
F.A.: When did you decide that it was time to take your talents seriously and started to think about as artistic career?
Kiirstin: I really can't remember a time when I didn't think performing would be my career. Before I discovered theater, I used to think I was going to be a professional dancer. I performed in my first musical when I was 10. I played "Toto" in Long Branch High School's production of "The Wiz", and that's when I discovered that I could really sing. From that point forward I did every musical my busy schedule would allow. I used to do community theater at Count Basie Theatre, in Red Bank, New Jersey every
summer. I performed in every musical throughout middle school and high school. I never even thought I would do anything else with my life besides perform.
F.A.: What was your family reaction when you told them that you decided to be an artist? Did they support you from the beginning or somebody was concerned about your decision?
Kiirstin: I think my family always supported my decision. After all they were really the ones who got me into all of the performing stuff. But I do remember when it came time to go to college all I wanted was to study acting and singing, and I think my mom would have liked it better if I had picked a "fall-back" career. My guidance counselor even told me that I should apply to some schools for something besides acting, but I just flat out told everyone, "No." This is the only thing I could ever see myself doing. I have no desire to do anything else.
F.A.: You mentioned earlier that you used to think to undertake a career as professional dancer. What is your dancing background?
Kiirstin: My mom put me into ballet and tap classes when I was just two years old. I think around age 10 I switched dance schools, and my parents were doing a little better financially, so I got to take tap, jazz & ballet. Then as the years went on I added modern dance and an extra tap class, plus competition classes on the weekends. But as I started to discover that I wanted to pursue theater in my later years in high school, I started to drop classes that I really didn't love so I could focus on singing and acting. I always hated ballet, but I took it for the technique and because all my dance friends took it. I took 3 years of pointe, but realized I had no
skill for it, so I dropped it despite my teacher insisting I keep up with it. By my senior year in high school I was really only taking 2 tap classes with some jazz and ballet thrown in here and there when I could fit it into my schedule. Now, sadly, I hardly take dance class at all, but when I do go to class I realize how much I miss it.
F.A.: At one point in your career you decided to put theatre on hold and joined a
Kiirstin: There were many things that factored into my decision to put a career I had been pursuing my whole life on hold to try something different. But I think the main reason was just that - I wanted to try something different and new. I wanted to take a risk, and do something no one expected of me. I also wanted to perform on my own terms. I was starting to feel like I didn't fit into that perfect musical theater mold, and I was tired of trying to be what someone else wanted me to be. I was inspired by a fellow cast mate from tour who taught himself guitar and started to write songs while we were
Craigslist ad as they were looking for a singer, and my first rehearsal with them I fell in love. I love the band dynamic. I love collaborating to create something we can call our own. When I left Ground to Machine 2 1/2 years later, I knew I wasn't ready to go back to theater just yet. I still wanted to give the music thing one more go because I am more passionate about creating and performing original music than I've ever been about anything before in my life.
F.A.: Do you have a favorite band or artist that in a way inspires you in writing your music? Do you write your own lyrics?
Kiirstin: I do write my own lyrics. Sometime I take ideas on themes for songs from my bandmates, but then I go off and work on the lyrics myself. If they hate what I'm writing about then I will change it, but all the lyrics are written by me the same way each band member writes their own part for the song and we tell them if we like what they are doing or not. I have a few singers/lyricists that I take inspiration from. I grew up listening to Gwen Stefani of "No Doubt" (not solo Gwen Stefani), Brandon Boyd of "
inspiration from these artists today. More recently I listen to bands or artists like "Coheed & Cambria", "Glassjaw", "Band of Horses", "ManchesterOrchestra", "The White Stripes", "Arcade Fire", "As Tall As Lions" and "ReginaSpektor" and hip-hop artists like "Kanye West","
F.A.: Recently, Verity in Stereo have released a new video for the song “One Shot” ; great song I really like it and the video is also very well acted. Tell us more about this song and the experience to make your first music video?
Kiirstin: Thank you very much. The whole time we were shooting I would finish a scene and ask, "Did I do that ok? Did I look really stupid??" It felt great to get back into acting again, but it was definitely a little nerve wracking not having acted in about 5 years. I personally have made 2 other music videos - 1 with Ground to Machine, and another with producers Kazanetz & Katz of Ram Jam fame - but this is my first with Verity In Stereo and a first for the other members. This was by far the best experience out of all 3 videos for me. My good friend Mateo Moreno came up with the concept and directed it, and I think with our limited budget we really pulled of a great quality video. Also I really commend my band mates for all their work on this video. None of them have ever done anything like that before, and I think they all did such a great job. It was great that we experienced this together, and I'm excited to do more videos.
We chose "One Shot" for this video because its the song that our fans all gravitated towards right off the bat. We didn't really know which song was our single when we put the EP "At the Top of Your Lungs" out, but we slowly came to realize that "One Shot" was it. Usually people say they have 2 favorite songs of ours, and "One Shot" is always one of them. I don't know if its the subject matter or the feel of the music that make people love it. When I wrote the lyrics they had a very political/social connotation for me, but I don't know if that's how people take it. It was also one of
our most powerful songs, that is until now with our new music and new rock sound.
F.A: Where we can find "Verity in Stereo" Eps and where we can buy your music? Do you have a website or a fan page?
Kiirstin: You can find all of our music and our merch on our website www.verityinstereo.com/merch . There you can get physical CDs or digital downloads, t-shirts, and...beach balls! Our EP "At the Top of Your Lungs" is also available on iTunes and Amazon. Besides our official website you can find us on
F.A.: What are your immediate and future plans?
Kiirstin: Currently the band is writing and recording a demo consisting of all new songs. We will most likely give a couple of these demo songs away to our fans as a thank you for sticking with us. After the demo is finished we will shop it around to producers and also to indie labels that are willing to work with new bands to develop their sound. Our hope is that we'll be able to put an EP out by June or July and then go on a 3-week to month-long tour around the country to promote it. We have some fans via the internet over on the west coast so it would be great to be able to get out there this summer.
F.A.: Based on your personal experience, what would you advise other young artists that are thinking of undertaking a career as an artist?
Kiirstin: Work Hard. Two simple words that come with a lot of weight. This business is ruthless, but I believe that anyone can make it as long as you work hard everyday towards your goals. You don't even have to be the most talented person in the world if you believe in yourself, and are willing to sacrifice a lot to make it. And I don't mean sacrificing beliefs or ideals or who you are, but if its a choice between going to party all night with your friends or practicing your craft for an hour before you go out, or between going on vacation or spend that time and money getting yourself out there, 9 times out of 10 you should pick the latter. Don't get me wrong, everyone needs downtime, but a quote I will always remember from my dancing days sums up what I am saying very well: "Someone somewhere is practicing, and when they meet you in a competition they will beat you." There are a lot of people trying to be actors or singers or dancers etc, and there are only a handful of jobs for all of these people so if you really want it, you have to work hard to put yourself out in front.
F.A.: Is there anything else that you would like to share with us?
Kiirstin: Never lose sight of your goals and your dreams. I think the saddest thing is when people get to a point in their lives where they don't believe that dreams can come true anymore. You are never too old to pursue what you want for your life. Don't ever settle for normal.
If you want to know more about Kiirstin visit her profile in our community.
Interview by Leonardo Tapino for Forum Artistico copyright©2010
Past Artists of the month:
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