Leven Kali is The Eye of The Storm
When speaking to Leven Kali, it is impossible to not think of water. It’s one of his favorite motifs, after all, referencing the ocean as inspiration for his previous extended plays and mini albums. It also is an apt descriptor of his personality- Kali is extraordinarily easy to talk with, exuding a sort of calm, go-with-the-flow attitude as he answers questions about his latest EP and upcoming Europe tour.
His backstory is equally fluid- Kali spent much of his childhood moving across Europe and the United States, leading to a fluidity within his musical identity that is evident across his body of work. His influences range from his own father to Todd Rundgren to George Clinton, all pioneers in their own right. Even his vocal style shifts from song to song, going from scream-singing to falsetto to smooth tones within the same album. There’s also a shift across genres through his body of work, going from pop to house to the psychedelic-infused RnB on his latest EP, LK999: The Prelude. This is evident even in his production credits, having worked with artists from Beyonce to Playboy Carti to Le Sserafim. His talent flows like water, able to assimilate into whatever he or his collaborators need on a specific release.
This comparison is not lost on Kali himself, who cites the Masaru Emoto water experiments as an influence on his art. The scientist would take freezing water and photograph the molecules after playing music for it. In a way, this process feels analogous to Kali’s own music- taking a specific moment or vibe and freezing it into a three-minute song. LK999: The Prelude takes this sentiment a step forward, evoking the electric guitars and smooth synths of the 1970s in a sleek, six-track EP. Kali takes inspiration from greats such as Earth, Wind, and Fire, George Clinton, and Todd Rundgren, while also having a uniquely Leven Kali sound. Highlights of the EP include the lavish vocals and guitar of “Black Rock”, as well as the funky nostalgia of “Sleepwalking”. Kali is at his best when his smooth vocals roll over an electrifying track, like a lightning storm in the middle of the sea. The songs are sure to be captivating on tour, with Leven citing the “live exchange of energy” as a point of excitement for these upcoming shows in Europe.
Continuing the tradition of the inspired becoming the inspiration, Kali hopes for his fans to take away their own meaning from his projects. “I think that staying on theme with, you know, inspiration being the key, I would love for someone to listen to my music and then get inspired to do whatever they want to do creatively in whatever new way they may have been afraid to do, because it maybe hasn't been done before. Whether you're a musician or an artist or a writer, or whatever you do. I think that what I'm trying to do in my life is explore my inspirations and share that with the world, and that feeling of being inspired. And if that lands on you, then I feel like I've done my job.”
Just as the tide goes in and out, reaching a little further to shore each time, so too does Kali’s music reach new lengths with each release, leaving listeners excited for whatever comes next from the genre-defying artist.