Daily Inspiration: Meet Kaylee Hannah

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylee Hannah

Hi Kaylee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hey! My name is Kaylee, aka “Lady K Day”. My artistic story began in a land far, far away; namely, California in the ’90s. I began playing piano at age 5 and alto saxophone around 10. Alto led to Bari sax and marching and jazz bands throughout school. Along the way, I fell in love with hip-hop. Throughout the years I picked up the guitar and ukulele and developed my singing voice. In my teens, I dabbled in heavy metal and wrote a ton of poetry. Tupac, Nirvana, Billie Holiday, Slipknot, and Shakespeare were my most prominent inspirations during this period. In my early twenties, I became the only female in Southern California working on a streetlighting construction crew and was greatly influenced by my co-workers. I learned the meaning of hard work, the importance of family, and I learned to speak Spanish. By this point, I was well-versed in all things hip-hop, soul, rock, blues, Latin, and jazz, and those cultures popped up in my writing. After becoming a mother and a widow, I didn’t create for years. After that creative drought, I needed an outlet. I joined a couple of local orchestras and even a ska band and started awkwardly getting my musical sea legs back. I now had four amazing daughters to teach the most vital lesson: The waves of life will knock you down but YOU decide whether you drown and die, or surf and live! I enrolled in a program based in South Los Angeles, called Community Literature Initiative. It was known to help poets write and publish books. I started venturing out of my “mommy cave” and found places to perform. My first live performance was a disaster, but it fueled me to conquer my fears. I have a motto. “You MUST do that which frightens you”. I committed to performing even with self-doubt, a twitching lip, and a shaky voice in tow. I continued showing up. I networked with countless incredible people and was blessed to perform, teach workshops, host talk shows, and act. A year in, instead of asking to be part of events, I started BEING asked! After I released my debut poetry collection, my daughters and I relocated to Music City! The transition for us has been a culture shock. Art took a back seat as we reset. But, by the grace of God, we have found our groove! I’m beyond excited to see what the Lord and this lovely state have in store for my family, and what we can give back.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, but the bumpy roads build character. I am grateful for my life’s potholes, pit stops and breakdowns, just as much as for the smooth, nicely paved parts and especially the ramps I’ve been able to fly from at full speed. Limited time, heartbreak, single motherhood, lack of funds, imposter syndrome, and loneliness were just some of the obstacles I faced. There were many times I felt overwhelmed by the exhaustion and the guilt for the dedication it took to follow this path. Leaning into my purpose, instead of running away from it, cultivated a habit of positivity, which resulted in faith. After kicking the mentality of, “Who do I think I am?”, “I am a selfish mother to pursue this” out the window, opportunity seemed to surround me. I now view what I do as a right and a duty. It is not out of vanity, but out of gratitude, honor, and humility, that I choose to excel and share my light. We never know how we are meant to impact others unless we try. You never know who needs exactly what you have to offer.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I classify myself as a musical poet. I love to play with language. I am also in love with music and like to fuse musicality in my poetry. Incorporating my instruments into my act is the icing on the chocolate, triple-layered cake. I am most proud of the fact that I have witnessed my daughters writing to express themselves. I am so proud of the young ladies they are. Our bond is my greatest blessing and accomplishment. A goal I achieved that I am so grateful for and proud of is the completion of my poetry book, “RAW. The Trill O’G”, available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. The ability to call myself an author was a lifelong dream for me. Seeing my very own book on my shelf next to the greats drives me to see what else I will conquer before I leave this earth. I believe what sets me apart from others are my vulnerability and my personality. I love to create works with substance and depth, in a spunky style that speaks to the heart.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson for me has been to trust. Trust God, trust the power of love, trust yourself, trust the process. Slow down, but never give up, ever. We must allow ourselves to dream wildly big and to believe in the best-case scenario possible, instead of bracing for the worst. If being brave enough to trust has ended up negatively, stay true and keep on trusting. This season just means it hasn’t ended yet. Practice doesn’t make perfect but it does result in growth. You can only prepare so much before the only move is to just leap and trust.

Pricing:

• Poetry book $20 available at Amazon or Barnes & Noble
• Personalized Poems – $40 each
• Writing Workshops – $60/hour
• Poetry Performance $80 / set
• Saxophone Performance $100 / hour

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lady_kday

Image Credits
Eerin L. Williams, Taylor J. Smith, Andrea Lee, Simone Dill, Joandrea Reynolds