Check out our interview with Singer, Songwriter & Musician Kailee Spark who’s recently released her single “Sparkle & Shine” video. “Sparkle & Shine” its visual escape takes you to the serenity of a cliff side lookout at sunrise, surrounded by over abounding peace; it’s like you’re having a religious experience. Kailee’s contagious persona, with the glorious Hawaiian backdrop – is just what the doctor ordered
Kailee Spark is in constant pursuit of life, love, and an outlet to illuminate her thoughts and feelings. The things that make her passionate are the things that many people would overlook; she knows when to slow down.
Follow Kailee @kailee_spark
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Hi Kailee, can you please tell us a little about yourself?
Hi there, I’m Kailee (pronounced like ky-lee). I’m from the Bay Area, CA, but have lived on the Big Island of Hawaii for 12 years. I’ve been writing music since I was 12. My favorite things besides music are nature, traveling, reading, and taking long baths. I have a cute Texas Heeler Catahoula dog, a master’s in anthropology, and a proclivity to fluctuate between being an extroverted adventuress or an introverted home-body. My debut album, Savor This, is coming out on July 30.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Creative, adventurous, and independent.
How did you get started in the music business/industry?
I always knew I wanted to pursue music someday and to get my songs out to the world, and 2020 was the perfect situation for me to commit and really spend time with my music. I started live-streaming my music on websites like Twitch and was pretty astounded by how well it was received. Through the support of my fans, I’ve been able to record my upcoming album Savor This coming soon on July 30, 2021.
How has this changed your life?
I’m doing what I love, and I wake up every day so excited to work on my music. It feels like I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing if that makes sense. I am very fortunate.
Describe your sound in 3 words?
Dreamy, optimistic, and introspective.
Who influenced you, and why did you choose to make music?
Jewel, Conor Oberst from Saves the Day, Cat Stevens, Laura Veirs, and many other musical artists. I choose to make music because I love doing it. It’s how I express my emotions. I’m bad at talking sometimes, but I can spend some time creating a way to convey my feelings with a song. It’s a great way to impress romantic interests. (Haha! Just kidding.)
Do you play any instrument?
Yes, I play piano and Guitar. I also have an autoharp, theremin, and a drum set, but I don’t play those very often.
Do you ever get nervous?
Yes, there are times when I’m in the studio, and nerves creep up because I can’t help but think to myself, “You better make it good! This is going on your album!” The nervousness is pretty counterproductive because I get tension in my throat and can’t sing as open. It’s a work in progress.
Tell us about your new single, “Sparkle & Shine?”
Sparkle & Shine is a song I co-wrote with Bub Pratt, the producer of the album. We went back and forth quite a bit on it. I was in California when we finished writing it. We’d send lyric ideas and melodies back and forth. We wrote it in about a week and recorded it right when I returned from my trip. The song is about how I fluctuate between wanting adventure vs. comfort/security and going with the flow of life. As long as I’m my authentic self, there is no such thing as a mistake because even if I mess up, I’m still learning. I’m stranded on a rural ocean road in the music video for the song because my jeep doesn’t start. That could mess up my mood and be the start of a bad day, but instead, a whole fun adventure ensues because I stay flexible and go with the flow.
My worldwide travel experiences have helped teach me the importance of ‘going with the flow,’ letting go, and keeping a positive mindset even when things are different from what I expected. I’ve been stranded in the middle of nowhere in the Ladakh Mountains after a 4-day trek. We later found out that a roadblock prevented the tour company from picking up my guide and me. I was traveling in India when the demonetization in 2016 happened and suddenly had no way of getting money, missing flights, getting scammed. Stuff like that, just gotta roll with it and laugh.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The most satisfying part for me is the songwriting process, where the inspiration just keeps coming, and I’m so wrapped up in the fun of creating. It’s not till after I realize, “damn, you just wrote a really, really good song!” The other rewarding part is when people tell me that my songs inspired them in some way or brought tears to their eyes or something like that. You know it’s good when people have an emotional response.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, for anyone involved in creating things. It’s a magnificent and inspiring book about the magic of the creation process. Also, The Power of your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy. It’s kind of dated in some ways, but I love it. There is so much power in our subconscious mind, and the book talks about how we can use it to our advantage to create the results we want in life.
What would you say are the most significant lessons you learned so far?
The greatest lessons are: first, only I am responsible for my happiness and my life. If I don’t like how something in my life is going, it’s up to me to make a change. No one else will come along and give me permission to do what I want to do or be who I want to be. I’m in charge of how I feel. My habitual thoughts create how I perceive the world around me.
How would your best friend describe you?
Goofy and down-to-earth.
What’s next for Kailee Spark in 2021?
Well, I’ve got my debut album coming out on July 30. After that, I’ve got some more music videos to make and release. I’ll also start working on the next album and perhaps do a few live shows. I’m very excited for the second half of this year!
What is your favorite healthy food?
Sauerkraut, kimchi, and almost any fermented vegetable!
What’s your favorite junk food?
My favorite “junk” food is salty dried cherries with li hing mui powder on them or homemade green tea ice cream.
How would you explain your fashion style?
Don’t know how to label my fashion style, but I like earthy colors, jeans, leggings, and boots! I absolutely love anything copper for accessories!
What is your own definition of happiness?
Happiness is a sense of general satisfaction and peace with life. Some giddiness every now and then. To me, it means knowing that you are on your path, whatever that may be for you. I think we can feel a bit of chronic depression and underlying tension when we’re not living in alignment with our soul’s path, purpose, and desires.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
If I could meet anybody dead or alive, it would most definitely be Ernest Shackleton. He was an explorer in the late 1800s, early 1900s. He led the infamous Endurance expedition to Antarctica, where they were stranded for a couple of years after their ship got stuck in the ice and then sank. It was miraculous because not a single person on the expedition died even though they went through unimaginable situations. The crew credited it to the positive attitude and leadership of Captain Shackleton. It’s an incredible story. My favorite book on it is The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition by Caroline Alexander. He’s a huge inspiration to me musically and was truly one of a kind.
Best advice ever given?
My Opa, (German Grandfather) used to always tell me to stop slouching like a hunchback, or I’ll never get a job when I grow up. I didn’t listen, and now my back hurts from my bad posture.
Do you support any charity?
Hope Services Hawaii is an NGO that helps prevent homelessness and assist homeless individuals in obtaining housing using a housing-first model on the Big Island. They don’t have to be drug or alcohol-free to receive assistance.
I also really like the Trauma Resource Institute, an NGO that goes around to different disaster zones and teaches people skills that bring them to resiliency/calm. In my degree, my focus was on disaster anthropology and how societies respond to disasters, so finding this NGO- I was pretty stoked. I took the training for it when they came to the island after the 2018 eruption.
Where do you see yourself and your career 5 years from now?
I would tell you, but I can’t give away my top-secret plans to take over the music world!
Favorite song? Why?
“If You Want to Sing Out” by Cat Stevens, it’s just a classic feel-good song. I love the movie Harold and Maude, which the music is from.
What do you think of Social Media?
Social media, love it and hate it. It’s an excellent way to keep in touch with and connect with people and promote things, but it’s also incredibly addicting and likely not good for your mental health. I try to not spend too much time on social media, but I still find myself checking Facebook and Twitter throughout the day. I’m hoping to find a nice balance of use because I need to use it for music promotion and business-related things.
Where can we follow you?
Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Instagram
Favorite Book: The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J Marteen Troost
Quote: “Nature loves courage. You make the commitment, and nature will respond to that commitment by removing impossible obstacles. Dream the impossible dream, and the world will not grind you under. It will lift you up. This is the trick. All these teachers and philosophers who really counted, who really touched the alchemical gold, this is what they understood. This is the shamanic dance in the waterfall. This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering it’s a feather bed.” ― Terence McKenna
Favorite Movie: Spirited Away
Favorite TV Series: Wild Wild Country docuseries
Favorite Food: Thai food
Favorite Travel Destination: India
Favorite Sports Team: I don’t watch sports. Does frog jump count? I don’t have a favorite team, but I did go to the 2021 Calaveras Frog Jumping Jubilee, which was pretty thrilling.
