Welcome Kai Uriah back to the Elevator! Have you ever felt the power of music to influence, inspire, and uplift? Then you'll appreciate our guest, a talented young artist who's rewriting the rules of music and authenticity. As he shares his journey navigating the music industry, you'll find his grounded perspective compelling, especially how he capitalizes on challenges to fuel his growth.
Our conversation takes a deeper dive into Kai's intriguing creative process and the importance of family and friends in shaping his artistry. You'll discover how he balances his soaring passion for music and content creation. You'll also hear about his ambitious goal of securing 100,000 monthly Spotify listeners, a testament to his dedication and belief in his craft.
Wrapping up the episode, we underscore the value of appreciating the vital people in our lives, and the transformative power of connection. Kai's journey and his music shine a spotlight on the importance of consistency, unconditional love, and faith. We also highlight the significance of supporting young artists like Kai in achieving their dreams. So, join us for this enlightening episode and don't forget to check out Kai's music and help him reach his goal of 100,000 subscribers.
Look up, and let's elevate!
Welcome Kai Uriah back to the Elevator! Have you ever felt the power of music to influence, inspire, and uplift? Then you'll appreciate our guest, a talented young artist who's rewriting the rules of music and authenticity. As he shares his journey navigating the music industry, you'll find his grounded perspective compelling, especially how he capitalizes on challenges to fuel his growth.
Our conversation takes a deeper dive into Kai's intriguing creative process and the importance of family and friends in shaping his artistry. You'll discover how he balances his soaring passion for music and content creation. You'll also hear about his ambitious goal of securing 100,000 monthly Spotify listeners, a testament to his dedication and belief in his craft.
Wrapping up the episode, we underscore the value of appreciating the vital people in our lives, and the transformative power of connection. Kai's journey and his music shine a spotlight on the importance of consistency, unconditional love, and faith. We also highlight the significance of supporting young artists like Kai in achieving their dreams. So, join us for this enlightening episode and don't forget to check out Kai's music and help him reach his goal of 100,000 subscribers.
Look up, and let's elevate!
Just look Every day elevate, elevate.
Speaker 2:Hey, it's Jen the Builder and the court, and we are on Take the Elevator again yes, we are. Yes, and what a blessing it is that we get to keep doing this and that we have Kai and Michelle back in the Elevate Studio, because we just that was not enough time.
Speaker 3:No, and so you know we really didn't go anywhere. We just kind of stopped for a second.
Speaker 2:We stayed in the shallow water.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 3:So, jen, you had some very interesting questions that you had posed at the very tail end, and I think it's only appropriate that you jump into that. I have some questions from mom, but I'm going to wait till you get done with yours.
Speaker 2:Well, my curiosity is really just around Kai and Kai. My first question let's just start here is we caught a glimpse of what your support system looks like?
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:What does grounding look like for you? Because what challenges are you facing? What attacks do you have? I mean, this is a big deal to speak and sing and produce things about things that are truth in the Bible, yeah Right. So how does that affect you?
Speaker 1:There's definitely moments where, like along the journey I was considering, you know, maybe do I go the route everyone else is going on.
Speaker 1:You know, because obviously you know I'm so human, definitely profitable, looks pleasing with all these, you know glamorous things and stuff like that, not saying that nice things are bad, but I had to check my heart and my intention behind it because of the fact that you know what am I doing it for and why am I doing it.
Speaker 1:If it's not a legitimate reason, there's no purpose for me for doing it. And a lot of the times, too, like a lot of battles I faced, like we covered on the previous episode, was doubt, just me questioning whether or not I have the ability to do it. But then also, too, I remind myself of you know what I do and who am I representing, which are those who you know can't be heard or who don't have a voice. And so that's definitely something that keeps me pushing towards, you know, this goal and keeps me striving to make better music and also put a message behind the music as well. Even if it's a good feel song just like seeing people dance and, you know, get ready to it while they listen to it like you and Tijena, you know it's definitely it keeps me motivated to keep making songs like that as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I was going to ask you what your intentions are in your music. I think you explained that really well, and you're majoring in business, so with any business pursuit, right, there's your purpose. The objective here, yeah, and so, based on what you shared in the last episode and even right now, like, what a way to stay on target. But before we go into some other questions that Corey has, I do want to ask you about how you're staying creative in your work.
Speaker 1:Um, like we covered on last episode. Two, like just being surrounded by people that are creative also inspires me to be creative myself, and like seeing people on social media that create quality stuff makes me want to create quality stuff as well. So it's all. It's all you know, plays a role in you know, intertwined with each other, and the fact that you know we motivate each other, no matter what. When you see someone you look up to doing something that you want to do, it definitely motivates you to do the same, but in your own sort of style, own sort of swag, and put your own twist to it. So, which I do enjoy as well.
Speaker 2:Nice. I have one more question before we go into this other stuff. Um, because usually on take the elevator, some people have told us like wow, it's extremely motivating and inspiring, and some people want to hear the crap that happens behind the scenes. So my question to you is if you can please share a moment of failure or setback that ultimately led to growth, or a mistake, anything like that.
Speaker 1:Okay, I think a setback that kind of took a toll on me was very recently too.
Speaker 1:It's all statistics on my social media that I look at and I noticed that my engagement, which is, you know for those who don't know which is is like, you know, the ratio of followers and the ratio of likes and basically the impressions you get on a post, because the goal for every post, for every video, no matter what short form video you're making, is to bring in new followers.
Speaker 1:I noticed that I was actually losing followers instead of bringing in new ones, which every artist experiences at some point. But that kind of was like definitely a mental battle for me is like, am I doing something right? And, if so, um, why is this happening to me? And then I had to look at what I'm doing wrong and what I need to change, Because, at the end of the day, you're always gonna have to adapt in this industry and have to like navigate your way around these certain cones that are trying to block you and walls that are trying to block you. So that was definitely a setback but in all in turn, it definitely gave me a mental growth in terms of me just sucking it up and looking at what I need to fix and then fixing it.
Speaker 2:So yeah, that's wow, that's deep Cause I'm gonna tell you the truth about me I don't look at numbers.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Cause it can be really discouraging. And when we started this and other things we do, we just said, as long as it can touch one person, like we're good with that, and then kind of be honest. You know it's important that we go through our strengths and where we shine and mine is not on social media. What you do is phenomenal, what I do is silly, and I know like my strengths are in person. So I think for every artist or any person who's doing anything in business, entrepreneur, like, know what your strengths are and be okay with that. We all flow differently and once you are authentically who you are in the platform that you know you do well in, I think that's where you're gonna shine. So, yeah, those numbers man can really mess with you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, dude, I'm gonna just put it out there. She's not saying that numbers don't count, cause they do, obviously, and he's not saying that numbers are everything, but for some strange reason numbers count and they mean everything.
Speaker 1:I don't know.
Speaker 3:And so I'm gonna get off of that cause. That messes me up too. But my question to both of you and I'm gonna start with Michelle, because you're the mom and so you've seen this thing from day one to right now what was your first response to that big ticket item that he really needed to purchase for his music?
Speaker 4:I've always been supportive and he knows that and I try to be supportive for all the kids. You know Kai, specifically, is very unique out of the bunch. He's definitely very like my unique one. Like he'll randomly get in, have an interest, like out of the blue he'll say, mom, I need to trumpet, but why he never told me that you were ever interested. I wanna sign up for ban. Okay, like I am the type that I will order that for you, like today. So, and I'm a firm believer that we have to really support the kids in when they have these interests, even if it's like a phase, because I think you have to allow them to try new things, because when they get older, then at least they can say, oh, I've tried that, that wasn't for me.
Speaker 4:You know, this is and Kai's always been, like he mentioned, like he's always been very musically oriented, like as a baby he's always had rhythm, like he loved to dance. So it's not. It all makes sense because his art is different, like I think all my kids are creative in other ways, but his creativity really stems from music and dance. There was a time he did hip hop dance before, before he even delved into trying to pick up an instrument, so he didn't share this with you, but the first instrument he picked up was trumpet and then, since he knew how to read the notes, he actually, like, sat down at the piano and taught himself how to play the piano. So it was really really cool. But like, yeah, he's very, if he has an interest, he'll research it and dive deep into it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so, for Kai, what I wanna say, what I wanna ask, is what's the biggest ticket item that you're staring at right now?
Speaker 1:In terms of what's like the dot that I'm trying to hit.
Speaker 3:No, also like you're a producer and you need certain gear to produce it and to get the music to the level that you wanted. What are you looking at right now?
Speaker 1:Man, there's a couple, but I'm gonna say for like the top of my list, I do really want a new computer just to run like built in, like programs that Plugins, yeah, plugins and all that like Keyscape, just because my old computer doesn't, can't run that with a processor. So that's definitely one. But I would say I always wanted an Apollo interface. Oh yeah, for some reason it's just always come on which it's a pretty penny too. It's like it's definitely over a grand, something I'm not willing to like pay for right now. But yeah, that's definitely one and that's like the big ticket item for sure.
Speaker 3:So the reason why I'm asking this questions is because, being in the music world myself, I'm also looking at an Apollo.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And the one I'm looking at is foreground, and so this thing ain't cheap. And then, Michelle, throughout the trumpet by the way, trumpet was my first instrument as well Cool Trumpets 400, 600 bucks. And for a mom to just be like, oh yeah, I ordered that today my mom was like we're gonna put that on a payment plan.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:So yeah, it's serious. But why is it so serious? What's the drive behind you right now?
Speaker 1:Just the fact that I know I'm investing in myself, there you go and that there's gonna be a payout one day as long as I put in this hard work, so also, too, like it's a tax write-off one day, so also keeps me like dang, like. Either way, I'm gonna take some money.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So, but yeah, but the main point, though, the main factor that's driving me, is the fact that I'm investing myself and, as a person like you, should give yourself that respect to kind of like want to grow and, and if this is something you love to do, you should give yourself enough respect to kind of invest in it and learn, learn more about it.
Speaker 3:Oh, my god, parents, if you're listening to this, this is just incredible stuff. It doesn't get better than this. You have a full-time, real-time, knowledgeable person that's giving you so, so much good information about not only just the music world, because this is applicable to any situation that you get into, whether it be acting, whether it be sports or anything like that. So I'm just really happy that you're able to break this down in a way to where it's understandable to anybody. Yeah, michelle, what are you pouring into Thai? What are you? What's your main thing that you really want to make him? Make sure he knows.
Speaker 3:Other than you love him.
Speaker 4:I think I know the answer that, but maybe you can ask him and I'll see what he says.
Speaker 1:Okay, I mean she always gives me endless support, though that's always something I loved about. You know, my mom is like I mean I hear stories all the time and everyone has you know their own differences, you know, and no one has the same type of family, but she's definitely been a huge supporter from from the jump, you know, even when I wasn't making such great music. You know.
Speaker 3:Does she ever question it, though? Does she ever go? What are you doing?
Speaker 1:No, I see where her is, like she would tell me it's good. But like I feel like deep down she knew it was kind of trash, but like, just because she's my mother, it was kind of like, oh, I kind of have to like feed that, I mean, and it's good too, she did feed it. But then also, too, there's other people in place that actually played that role of like telling me the truth. So the tough guy. Yeah, either way worked out, no matter what. Yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I think my criticism is gentle. But yeah, definitely, I try to support them with everything that they do. I still actually like the first song.
Speaker 1:No, I don't want to.
Speaker 4:I don't want to even mention it.
Speaker 3:I don't even want to talk about it.
Speaker 4:No, but the way I print him is I honestly try to keep it, keep it real. You know from, I think, the blessing you know with with having him. I was a young mom and I've always been like he's always seen the struggles that I've gone through. So like I try to keep it real. I try to, you know, be very open-minded with the differences in the era because you know, I don't want to encourage him to do anything that I want him to do. I want I want to encourage him to do something that he's interested in doing. So, if anything, I try to be open-minded and I try to kind of give him also that foundation like hey, you know, like remind him like the priority, you know, you know God first, then family, then school. You know what I mean.
Speaker 4:And he's been pretty good Like honestly I, he's, I I pretty much just try to guide him. If anything he's actually been very good at like managing his own self and I appreciate I think it's communication, because I feel like you got to really be open-minded, like parents need to really be open-minded. They have to really support the kids and encourage him and support them with what they want to do, not with what you want them to do, you know. You know, because back in the day, you know, parents are used to to encouraging what they, you know, pose things that they they have in mind for they envision their kid doing. You know, but I hope that I've been, you know, nothing but motivational to you. He probably doesn't want to hear it, but I'm always like trying to remind him Remember your priorities. I know you're getting busy, yeah, yeah, but he's been pretty good Nice.
Speaker 3:Kai got one more and then we're turning it over to Jen. Just from my own experience in my, my, my family yeah, family is everything right, but I always get labeled the weirdo. Yeah, I'm never where I'm supposed to be when I'm supposed to be there. Yeah, everybody's always counting or hoping that I show up. Yeah, but sometimes I can't. Most of the time I can't because I'm really invested in this, in this craft and this art. How are you navigating that?
Speaker 1:I just realized that fully through. To be honest with you, I'm definitely that outcast as well. One thing that if I try and I can't, I'll definitely let you know. But also to I also try to be more intentional, with more of like. Even if I spend a little bit of time, no matter what time I spend with family or friends, I'm making sure it's intentional time and that that time is carved out to where I'm kind of not like, you have my half attention. So if I'm a, if I'm a be there, I kind of want to be present. And then the same thing goes with music. If I'm said that was time carved out this time for music, I don't have my attention on that as well. So it just works. You know it's all intertwined and went into one another.
Speaker 2:So I love that you brought it family because, kai, you have a real we're your little brothers in it. It's so cute. Your younger brother and sister, yeah, have they shared with you?
Speaker 3:Can we give them names, because I really want to say Azariah's name. Yeah, it's a beautiful name, azariah.
Speaker 2:Hey Azariah and even have they shared with you what it's like to have you as their older brother.
Speaker 1:I mean, they've made a couple of comments where it's like all your famous or you know, but I think that's like from a kid's perspective it's pretty funny. Yeah, I don't know if you're ready to hear it, but you know, I know, I know it's all jokes, but I always try to incorporate them too in some videos, which is why, like the most recent reel, is Azariah's in it, so they're also always down to do it, no matter what.
Speaker 2:And you're so creative with your videos, I'm thinking even before you had some of your equipment. I saw some reels too, where you would take just sounds from different things and it would inspire you to create this song. Is that true or is that?
Speaker 1:for the reel, which one the sounds?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I was down. So there's one particular one that was actually like I actually had to go downstairs in the kitchen, take a fork and then being a cup with it and recorded a voice memo out of it and then air, drop it to my computer and EQ to make it sound like a cool sound, which that was true. But there's certain videos that are actually staged. It's part of the entertainment, honestly. No, yeah, there's definitely some that are staged.
Speaker 1:I feel like off the top of my head there's one where there's this one site that actually got taken down recently, but it's called Amagle. It's pretty weird, but it's for the new generation. It's more of like you've got to talk to stranger type things, kind of like a Skype thing, but a lot of YouTubers use it as a way to network and promote, and so I was like I'm not trying to go on this website and talk to a stranger, because, at the end of the day too, I want the reaction that I need for the content. And so I just texted one of my good friends from LA that I don't normally post on my social media, so that he's kind of like a new face, and I was like, hey, you don't mind if you play this character for me, and so, yeah, I just went on a Zoom call screen, recorded it, took it to my editing program and then made it look like the format of that website and made people believe that that was a stranger.
Speaker 2:Very cool. You know how. I think in the last episode you shared that you visit other artists and the things that they're doing. Corey and I look at your stuff and I'm like how does he come up with that? Like what I mean it's? You're a funny guy and I, corey. You said he's a 100%er and I loved how you described that. I had never heard. Have you heard of that?
Speaker 1:No, I've never heard of that before.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that was something new I learned. But you know, when I see you, you're obviously very talented. You're a good looking guy, you've got a good head on your shoulder. You're funny. Is there anything that you are not?
Speaker 1:Oh man, oh, what am I not? I'm definitely dang. That's a good thing.
Speaker 3:If you can't pull.
Speaker 1:I also don't want to make it seem like I'm perfect as well. That's not true. I'm not a are you athletic? I'm decent, Like if I could run a mile at least. It may not be five minutes, but I could be to eight.
Speaker 2:That's pretty good.
Speaker 1:I don't even know what to say. Man, to be honest with you, I feel like in the music room, what I'm really not, what I'm really trying to work on is definitely, you know, creativity. A lot of people say I'm creative already, but you know, as a person, you know, as for yourself, like you're very self-critical. And so that's definitely something I feel like I could work on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that piece. What's the next milestone for you?
Speaker 1:My goal, oh man, I want to hit 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. That's the dot.
Speaker 2:How many do you have?
Speaker 1:Right now like about 50. I think we're sitting at 47, 48,000. The goal is to get 100,000. And also, too, that also goes back into the people I know, because one of them it just inspired me because recently I was in Nashville about a week ago and I was talking to you know, I was just friends out there that are artists or music artists there, and the one I'm particularly talking about. His name is John Michael Howe and he's independent, he's from Texas, but he's in Nashville for a little bit and I was asking him, you know, just asking questions, just trying to like you know, learn a lot.
Speaker 1:And he was telling me the industry is changing. For sure. You don't have to go outside and stand at a sidewalk and sell your CDs. You know, everything's all at the touch of a finger through social media. And if it's good content, you know, if you keep on putting consistent time and effort into it, it will eventually gain traction. And you would definitely, you know, have that moment where you do blow up.
Speaker 1:And so I was asking him, like, you know what? Were you out last year? He tells me, last year he was at 40,000 month listeners, which is what I'm about at right now. And then he said he just decided to drop a song every week. And he dropped a song every week, which is true, but also, too, with that you had it forces you to make content and it forces you then to grow from content and you know your creativity. And so now he's at, like I would say, 600, 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and that's really good. To be honest with you, that's definitely where I want to be. But he did tell me like, once you have 100,000, it gets easier to grow.
Speaker 2:So do you have a timeframe to hit the 100,000?
Speaker 1:By the end of the next year. That's a lot of time. I would say there's definitely a lot of time, pesoscom, but yeah, I truly believe I could do it.
Speaker 2:You can't.
Speaker 1:It just consists of these and just you know putting that effort and time into it. So definitely.
Speaker 3:Man 100,000.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 100,000 from 47.
Speaker 3:I seen that 47 and I was very, very impressed. Not a lot of people are there that have been in it for the time you have, especially with no pushing, no major pushing, no label, no machine. I call it the machine. There's a machine behind you, You're the machine. And again, that's why I use that term 100 percenter because it's so difficult to be able to do everything. Prince could do everything. He can walk into a studio by himself and come out with a complete record. Lenny Kravitz can do that. I got a friend that I kind of grew up with at a time, Bobby Ross Avila. He can do that. So when you, when you're in that league, in that category, you're a special individual. My question is when do we get to see some live concerts?
Speaker 1:Oh, that's something we've been talking about with my good friend from LA, eric he's. He's one of the people that has definitely helped me grow in this type of realm, just like getting to know the business a bit more, and you know my artistry. He definitely agrees, like, hey, we got to do some shows and I told him at the time it was like a couple of months back I was like, oh look, I'm not proud of these old, this old tracks that I have in my catalog. I kind of want to, you know, add a lot more stuff first and, you know, add some better tracks that I do believe would be dope to perform live. So I want to. That's another goal too. I do want to do live performance sometime next year, even if it's towards the end too, even if it's one city. That's definitely something I do want to do. But right now too, we're also, you know, in the talks of working on merch.
Speaker 3:Yeah, Nice, nice. I'm going to tell you, as as an artist and as a musician, when you start doing that live thing, I'm sure it's fine, it's, it's so fun, but it changes the whole game. You will be a whole different person, because now you're forced to put on another persona. Yeah, so I'm looking forward to that. I can't wait to see that. And if you want to talk about that man, you know, let me know, let's do it.
Speaker 3:That's, that's big stuff right there, yeah, and you're going to go crazy. You're going to love this, michelle, I promise you. I'm so excited.
Speaker 4:I'm actually enjoying the journey.
Speaker 2:I've been practicing in the shower already, yeah.
Speaker 4:He's not lying. No, I believe it, I believe it.
Speaker 3:You practice wherever you can.
Speaker 1:Even in the car.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah was I imagining numbers, kai, when I saw a song that had, was it over 800,000 downloads.
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh, streams, I believe Streams yeah.
Speaker 2:That's anything that I saw then on Spotify and then on one of your videos, but it's not a video, it's actually just a song playing, and that was over almost 220,000.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's how you do yeah.
Speaker 2:And yeah, those are impressive numbers.
Speaker 3:speaking of numbers, so, kai, you're making a little money then.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a little bit. Yeah, I do. So it's crazy too. I mean, a little part of me wishes I got to experience it, but I also wish I got to experience a true nine and five job as a high schooler. But at the end of the day too, yeah, I mean, I just I don't know, I just like to try new things Be careful.
Speaker 4:what you wish for, I'm telling you.
Speaker 1:But I guess music was actually that gateway for me to actually make a couple, like you know, a good amount of money as a high schooler without having to work a job.
Speaker 3:So I'm not going to get into numbers, but how consistent can that be for you?
Speaker 1:You know, as an artist it could be very good, but it's all how much work you put into it. So, for example, I feel like, if I definitely if there's no promotion going on in that month and I'm just trying to being lazy the number the paycheck will go down for sure for the next month. The way it works, too, is the music distributor. They pay you, so it's like a two month, like two months, delay to where they're calculating your streams. So like, for example, like this month is November, you're calculating streams from September, even August sometimes. So it definitely fluctuates. But once you get to that point, to where your music is staying consistent and you create that fan base, the numbers either stay the same or they go up, and so that's something I love, like I love about it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I wanted to ask that question because you know I'm trying to do some of that, yeah, but I got lazy.
Speaker 4:And I need to be really honest.
Speaker 3:And so it's easier to just perform live.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3:I'm trying to offset that. But the drawback is that if you want to take a break from the live, you still got to have that digital to fall back on yeah, for sure. And so I'm just telling you straight up once you start doing both, winning so I can say winning.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can't wait.
Speaker 3:And when I say that, it's not just about money. But, you want to be paid for your craft, for sure. You want to be paid for the tools that you are able to pull out and say I can do this. Yeah, and not very many people can.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 3:So that's why I say that you know For a fact.
Speaker 1:I look forward to that one day.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:For a fact. So Kai is going to be back on here, but I do have a question. My last one for this episode is what advice would you give to someone aspiring to enter the field or pursue something that you do?
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, first and foremost, I would say you know, be true to yourself, Know who you are. Don't let, I guess, other people skew that version of you and just be authentic. I feel like a lot of people nowadays, especially on social media, they love people who are authentic because they can relate to that person or they know that it's not a facade. So be authentic, Stay true to yourself. Stay you know. Know what you want. If you have a specific style you like or that you give off, you know, keep that. You know that's who you are and so there's definitely a market for everyone, and so just do that. I feel like you know, continue to work on your craft and kind of like block out the noise sometimes. Sometimes you got to like listen to your own thoughts and people call you crazy. I guess that's, you are kind of crazy, but that's okay, that's a good thing, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 2:I love that you said that, because our company is called Genco Sound Company and our motto is make some noise and the reason why we say that is because everybody wants to give you their noise and you kind of just have to produce your own, because when you listen to that, it can be very heavy, right, like people are saying which way you should go or they're very critical of what you're doing or not doing, and sometimes, unfortunately, there are people who will talk bad about you and what you're trying to put out there.
Speaker 2:So we've always said make some noise, because it's so important to be able to drown that out. And we definitely do practice this where we stay grounded and we're very aware of what we're trying to put out there and just secure in that. And I think we have that in common, kai, with who your source of truth is and where your security comes from, and that is the one fail-proof plan. I think that exists and I hope that people who listen to your music find that truth for themselves, because it's more than positive. It's based on truth, and so what you're doing, in my opinion, has eternal value, and I think that is something profound and that a lot of people don't touch on.
Speaker 2:We want temporary gratification. What you're putting out there is lifetime and then some. So I just want to commend you and, of course, corey myself. Mom, everybody's so proud of you and this is honest feedback.
Speaker 3:I'm not giving this to you because we're related.
Speaker 2:But you have just a vast amount of talent and it's fun to see you experiment and be creative every day. Thank you, I look for your reels every day because it inspires me. So thank you for your content and just the gifts that you're sharing with the world.
Speaker 1:Thank you, it means a lot.
Speaker 3:For sure. My last statement and question to you is a little similar to what Jen is saying. I look forward to seeing some things from you as well. And what's crazy is I know I can just send you a text or call and be like you're good, everything all right, and you're like what's up and everything's good. I'm like cool, cool. It's important to have those people that you can just say what's up to. They don't want nothing. I don't want anything from you, you don't want anything from me, and if you did or I did, I'm sure we'd be able to figure that out. But it's always really good to be able to just say what's up. Shelly's like that as well. Auntie Marie is like that, the family should be like that, but we both know that it's not always like that. Who's your go-to person like?
Speaker 1:that Just in general.
Speaker 3:Yeah, just in general.
Speaker 1:My mom always told me that's kind of like a good sense of a group that I chose so I could go to multiple people. So I mean I can make a whole list of lanes right now.
Speaker 3:That's good, don't make nobody jealous then.
Speaker 4:No, yeah he has a great group of friends, even the new ones that have come through. Definitely quality friends.
Speaker 1:So I guess his name's Braylin Gabriel, another one named DC, Jermaine, Savage, Eric.
Speaker 4:Those are my boys.
Speaker 1:Another one called Gabe. Yeah, there's just a lot of them that, like even the ones that help me with my music and videos, they know I don't want it to be, hey, I'd like a text message like, hey, you want to shoot a video for me? I'd rather be like, hey, you know how you been If you haven't talked in a while, just to check up. I think also, too, if you are an artist and you have a team behind you, that's just like a good CEO, kind of like. That's just a good leader, to kind of like check up on their people.
Speaker 2:Said like an excellent CEO, like a true CEO, that's just like what I learned low key from school.
Speaker 1:If that's the only thing I learned, that's something I'll learn.
Speaker 2:There you go. I love that. I love that there's the formal education piece, and then there's the education you get from experience and what you observe.
Speaker 2:So that's pretty awesome. Um, before we end this episode and I'm not going to do too much for this, michelle, because you know I love you like crazy I just want to say that the things that I've seen in you as a mom, in a mom and as a person in general, is your consistency and your love and your dedication to people that are in your lives. I'm not surprised at all that your kids um, I'm getting emotional because I'm so proud of you.
Speaker 2:I'm so proud of you, like when I think of your kids and Eden's on a freaking little Melinda billboard, you know. And then you've got Kai over here, of course, darian, who we're crazy about and just seeing how he's growing, and of course, as a riot, like it's just amazing and I definitely want to put that out there that as a woman you are such a strong force. Yeah, I, but I knew that in you as a kid, like it was just so obvious. So when I see you, kai, I see a lot of your mom in you. Yeah, for sure, that creativity. It may look different for your mom, but it's definitely something that she's given to you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, lots of hard and long love that is long lasting. I'm going to give a couple of shout outs and I want you guys to feel free to do the same, but to the Santos family, to the Lowe family, to the Tabula family.
Speaker 2:Oh you're, you're good with these names.
Speaker 3:Michael Michael, family, the valegas family.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 1:I don't remember.
Speaker 2:This is. Jackson family.
Speaker 3:This is all the families tied to this group of people that are sitting here, so I didn't want to go down the list. I got to say Vince, though, because Vince is my boy, you know. We got to shout him out Um, jen, did you tie Shelley? Anybody else want to do this?
Speaker 2:I second all of that.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm just thankful for how we were raised and even though some of us have strayed sometimes here and there, you've we've always had that to go back to you. It was something that was not conditional. The unconditional love in the families that you just shouted out definitely is something that has been consistent, and I think consistency is something is a theme here for sure.
Speaker 3:Yeah, oh, now I got to get myself a shout out the body family.
Speaker 2:Hello, the boy. What you got, Shelley?
Speaker 4:No, you named it, all you named, you nailed it. But also are um, in addition to our family, our friends you know we have a strong group of friends, but, um, I think you know um the. The true foundation here is, you know, faith. You know, I think um going back to, I think, a question you had asked before was you know what do I try to pour into him? Is you know um I you know, I think for everybody and I can only speak for myself.
Speaker 4:I try to like be, a better Christian every, each and every day. Um, be a, be a better, better wife. Um, you know, mother and all of the above, but, um, if anything, I, I really try to pray over the kids, pray over them, and I know that we have prayer warriors in our family that never, you know, cease. So we really appreciate you, because it really does take a village Um, so shout out to everybody and our friends, you all know who you are.
Speaker 3:Kyle, when you give your shout out, put your plugs in as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, all my friends too. You guys said everything that needed to be said. Also, my friends that I've, that I met, and people that are close to me Um, yeah, they know who they are too. It's a long list of names, but, uh, they're my core group. Um, you send my plugs.
Speaker 3:Yeah, when can we find you Listen? How can we know what's happening?
Speaker 1:Just search up, you know, at KAI Kai Uriah U R I A H. As simple as all, across the board, like that.
Speaker 2:There you go. I love that the this episode is one of our last ones for 2023. And it just reminds us of how important it is to recognize the people in your lives, and that it's about connection. I love what you said, kai. You got to check in on your people.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It can't be transactional. It's got to be something that's transforming and where we see people and hear people, and it's not about what we get from them or what we need from them. It's about the person and what they need. So thanks for these reminders, um, and I don't know when you're going to be your next, but, kai, we know that you're going to hit a hundred thousand, that's no doubt at all, in 2024. And I know you're giving it till the end of the year. So, anyone who's listening, please check Kai's music out. Um, it's, and I'm saying this, it's. It speaks to my generation. Kai, you are relevant to your generation, I'm sure, but our generation as well. I don't hear it and be like what is?
Speaker 2:this Like you know, sometimes I hear music like that from the younger generations. Like what is this? For me, it's a well planned, meaningful art form as far as the music you produce. Thank you yeah, so subscribe. Hello, help them get to under that and share his stuff.
Speaker 2:Like, if you've got social media, share it, be about it. Um, support the young generation who's trying to put their artistry out there. It's really important that we do that. We want to see you being an entrepreneur. I'm going to say I hope you don't have to work in nine to five and if you do, and that's where life takes you cool. But I think, as a creative, a nine to five can really limit you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think a tool bag like yours you would only work a nine to five if you say you know what For yourself you don't want to do this but you don't have those kind of tools in your bag and have to ever work a nine to five.
Speaker 1:It's just not it's not necessary.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's right, that's the goal and you got the support.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Hello so.
Speaker 2:All right, everyone. We hope you enjoyed this episode and that it elevated you, because you know us. At Take the Elevator, we say look up and let's elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevator, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate. Todasuthier net Elevate it every every day. Elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate, elevate.