Embark on a musical journey with Kayla DiVenere, a dynamic artist whose fusion of classic rock roots and diverse genre exploration has sculpted a uniquely authentic sound. We sat down with Kayla where she shares pivotal moments that shaped her approach, the transformative power of live concerts, and her commitment to creating music that connects people.

Kayla’s introspective songwriting strikes a balance between vulnerability and universality, offering a relatable touch to her audience. As she navigates the ever-changing music industry, Kayla stands as an inspiring figure, urging aspiring artists to stay true to themselves. Join her on social media @kayladivenere, where she teases demos and shares glimpses of her artistic journey.

Read the interview below…

What inspired your journey into the world of music, and how has your artistic style evolved over the years?

My father introduced me to classic rock at a really young age. Him being in a rock band throughout his teen years allowed him to have a passion to pass down to me, which I am eternally grateful for. He introduced me to the world of music when he brought me home a piano at just 6 years old. Since then I fell in love with music and dove head first into the beautiful world that it is. I’ve made my way throughout so many genres: Classic Rock, Pop, Indie, Alt… I think a blend of everything I’ve listened to up to this point shows itself in its unique way in my music.

Can you share a defining moment in your career that shaped your approach to creating music?

Going to my first concert really changed my approach to creating music. Seeing how music can bring people together and connect loving communities blew my mind. I still get chills everytime I go to a concert and thousands of strangers scream back the same lyrics… In that moment, we are all connected despite who we are, what we look like, and what we stand for, and that really propelled me to make sure I made music that could have that effect on humans.

How do you create your sound in the studio?

I try to stay true to what feels most like me. I’m not sure how to describe it, but when I hear certain chords or sounds when building out a production or song, I just know when something is right or wrong for me.

Collaborations can be powerful. Is there a dream collaboration you have in mind, and why would you love to work with that particular artist?

I would absolutely give up everything to work with Dominic Fike. I’m obsessed with how sticky his melodies are and how different his sonics are from anyone I’ve heard before.

Visuals often play a significant role in music today. How do you approach creating music videos that complement and enhance your songs?

As an indie artist, creating my music videos can be a little daunting considering I pretty much do everything myself, but also super cool that I get to have full creative control. I creative direct all my music videos with my best friend Lili Skyler, which has been a blast. It’s so fun to be able to work and collaborate on art with someone so close to you and I think that has such a big factor on why I love the outcome of my videos so much.

The music industry is constantly changing. How do you stay authentic to your artistic vision while adapting to evolving trends?

I try to implement a little piece of who I am into every evolving trend, that way I get the best of both worlds. I also think it’s really fun to see how things change and how to adapt to them while still staying authentic to yourself.

Your lyrics often delve into personal experiences. How do you balance vulnerability in your songwriting while maintaining a sense of universality for your audience?

I truly believe that vulnerability is universality. As scary as vulnerability could be, it’s such a powerful tool that everyone can relate to.

How do you embrace this responsibility and use your platform to inspire others, especially young aspiring artists?

I hope that opening my life up to the world and sharing songs from very personal experiences could help anyone who is going through anything similar. I know that while growing up, I would always try to find songs that made me feel a little less alone or at least just helped what I was feeling. As humans, we’re all pretty much going through the same thing but just at different times, even though we tend to believe we are individualized to our problems and experiences. We are so not alone, vulnerability really helps spread that message. I hope that I could inspire young aspiring artists to stay true to themselves and not be afraid to open their world up to others.

Reflecting on the past year, what have been the most valuable lessons you’ve learned in your artistic journey, and how do you plan to apply them moving forward?

Figuring out where to fit in the music world could be really tough, especially with so many people wanting to share their opinions of you. This year I really learned to make music that felt right to me, instead of trying to make music considering other people’s opinions. I know myself best and I will never listen to anyone who says: “I see you as…” moving forward.

Where can we find you on Social media?

I’m @kayladivenere on pretty much everything 🙂 I tease so many of my demos on Tik Tok and Instagram so those would be the best places to go to first!