We’re thrilled to bring you an e-interview with a compelling artist whose debut has already left a significant mark from the moment we wrote her review. Kitahrah’s debut single, her breathtaking cover of Dayseeker’s “Homesick,” landed on our desks and immediately became a permanent fixture on our playlists, earning a phenomenal 4.9 on the Echo Scale™. Her profoundly emotive voice and masterful minimalism have proven that exceptions are made for extraordinary talent. Today, we’re diving deeper with Kitahrah to explore her journey, her inspirations, and what the future holds for this remarkable artist.
Deep Dives & Artistic Insights
Echo Rebel: Your debut single, “Homesick,” is a cover of a Dayseeker song that holds a special place for many, including us at Echo Rebel. What drew you specifically to this track for your debut, and what personal connection did you find within its lyrics or melody that you felt compelled to share?
Kitahrah: Homesick (acoustic) by Dayseeker is an emotional song about death, grief, and heartbreak, but also trust and connection. Rory’s emotional vocals is what drew me towards this song, and I wanted to capture those same emotions within my cover. While I haven’t lost anyone close to me to death, I have dealt with the ending of relationships, and the loneliness, sadness, and grief that comes along with it can consume you. During those times, I wished that I had someone who understood, cared, and helped me in my time of need. So, while there are similarities between Dayseeker and I, I believe the experiences are different.
Echo Rebel: The review highlighted the “masterful minimalism” of your “Homesick” arrangement. Can you walk us through the creative process behind stripping back the original and deciding which elements to keep, enhance, or introduce, particularly with the piano and backing vocals?
Kitahrah: The acoustic version of Homesick is beautiful because of the instrumentation, which enhancces Rory’s emotional vocals. When I decided to cover this masterpiece, I wanted to capture what I heard: soft but raw vocals, and instrumentation that complimented them, and what better way to do this than to include the most beautiful and melodic instrument: the piano. Once I heard Kevin’s track, I knew that I had made the right choice, and his instrumentation fits perfectly with my soothing and emotional voice. As far as the backing vocals, I wanted to capture the elegance that I heard with Rory’s vocals. As a constant music listener, I’m always drawn towards harmonies. When you combine lead vocals and harmonies and they fit together perfectly, there’s a sense of pride and accomplishment as you listen back to that combination. What I love about Rory Rodriguez is his vocal range and his ability to “hide” backing vocals. The first time I listened to the acapella of the original version of Homesick, I was surprised by the backing vocals in the bridge, and I told myself that I would master those if it was the last thing I did. I was rather proud of my ability to harmonize in this song, so I allowed my harmonies to be more pronounced.
Echo Rebel: Your motto, “Inability, not disability,” resonates deeply, especially given your powerful debut. How has your unique perspective and life experience as a blind artist shaped your approach to creating music and expressing emotion through your voice?
Kitahrah: I have never allowed my blindness to hinder me. From a young age, music has been present: singing r&b and pop rock as a child, writing song lyrics about love and heartbreak, performing in my first talent show in fourth grade, performing as a soloist at the Ohio State House with my high school’s choir, and participating in the world’s only blind marching band. I’ve never viewed myself as different due to my blindness, but have used my unique way of living to inspire and help others. I’m the type of person who will say “watch me” if someone says “you can’t”. Marching band shaped me into who I am today. I learned about leadership, resilience, grit, hard work, teamwork, and dedication, and that’s where my motto comes from. My band director, Dan Kelley, was also blind, and he constantly gave us pep talks/nuggets of wisdom. He never allowed us to quit, and I think that’s where my determination and perseverance comes from. As an artist, I want to show that a disability doesn’t have to define you. It can be your reason behind your “why”.
Echo Rebel: Beyond “Homesick,” what themes or emotional landscapes are you most eager to explore in your original music? Are there particular experiences or messages you feel driven to convey through your artistry?
Kitahrah: Since discovering heavy metal, I want to learn how to scream. I’m fascinated by female fronts who can scream such as Courtney LaPlante, and I want to continue to combat stigmas. Girls can sing heavy metal too! As far as emotional landscapes I wish to tackle in my original music, I feel that anger and sadness are common themes within heavy metal music. These emotions are taught to not be expressed, and I want to combat that as well. Love and heartbreak are also common themes, and I want to showcase that rock/metal doesn’t have to have guttural screams, loud guitars, and booming drums.
A Little Lighthearted Fun
Echo Rebel: If we could play a ‘bloopers’ reel of your recording sessions, what’s one hilariously awkward or unexpected moment we’d definitely see on it?
Kitahrah: So, when I’m recording, and I mess up or become frustrated with my voice, I tend to say “what” but with a twist. My friends and I all have old people voices, and so when I say it, I do so in my Grandma Gretel voice.
Echo Rebel: You mentioned indulging in soap operas, cartoons, and classic television. If you were cast as a voice actor in a brand new cartoon, what kind of character would you play, and what would be their musical catchphrase?
Kitahrah: Hmmm, interesting question. I’d love to participate in either a soap opera or a tv show where a blind character is present. I feel that disabled people aren’t accurately portrayed in television, and I feel that more recognition for people like us is rather important. If I were to star in a soap opera, I’d love to be a teenage girl who gets into lots of trouble often with her best friend, and the family friend/mobster has to always come to their rescue. Her musical taste would be emo/heavy metal music. If I could’ve played in a classic tv show, I would’ve loved to have been an older lady giving out all the wisdom, candy, and home cooking to the citizens. Her musical taste would be r&b/blues/soul music from the time period.
Echo Rebel: What’s the most unexpected or delightfully unusual place you’ve ever found inspiration for a melody or a lyric? (A bizarre dream, a grocery store aisle, a conversation you overheard?)
Kitahrah: I would say that this is unexpected, but I have an original song that came to me becuase of a line from a Dayseeker song. The line is: “God damn you for leaving when we needed you.” -Dayseeker, The Earth Will Turn I couldn’t stop humming it, and I came up with this line to replace those words: “Sometimes, I want to run away, run away”.
Echo Rebel: What’s the funniest or most unexpected thing about being a blind artist that most people might not realize?
Kitahrah: Hmmm, I’m not sure I have a definitive answer for this, but there is a stereotype surrounding music and disability that I want to share with you. There is this belief that people with disabilities who engage in music are “gifted, special, and inspirational”. However, while there may be those who have a trained ear or are skilled at identifying notes without needing prior training, not all of us have these skills. For example, I played snare drum throughout my years in marching band, and instead of reading music like the others, I learned my parts by ear, constantly listening to the parts until I could master them perfectly. Also, people with disabilities aren’t “inspirational” because we’re doing normal things such as marching and playing an instrument, holding down a job, or raising children. If anything, we are an inspiration because our disabilities hasn’t hindered us from doing these things, not because of it.
Peering Into the Future
Echo Rebel: “Homesick” has set an incredibly high bar for your debut. What are your immediate next steps after this release? Are you working on more covers, or is the focus now shifting entirely to original material?
Kitahrah: For now, I plan to work on cover songs. I have two either close to completion or on the way. I also plan to branch out and cover songs from other rock artists/bands such as Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace.
Echo Rebel: Looking further down the line, say five years from now, where do you envision Kitahrah as an artist? What kind of legacy do you hope to build, and what impact do you aspire to have on your listeners and the music world?
Kitahrah: Five years from now, I hope to be touring with well-known bands/artists such as Dayseeker, Beartooth, Spiritbox, and Wage War. My hope is that I’ll have four albums out, and I’ll have a dedicated team of people supporting me. I want to prove to other disabled people/younger generations that anything is possible, and that fear will only hold you back. I’d loved to be remembered as a fearless African American female leader who paved the way to success for those just like me by not allowing anything to stop me
A Final Word with Kitahrah
Thank you for joining us for this insightful chat with Kitahrah. Her debut with “Homesick” is a powerful testament to her incredible vocal artistry and unwavering spirit, truly embodying her motto: “Inability, not disability.” It’s clear that her journey is just beginning, and we at Echo Rebel are incredibly excited to see what she creates next. Keep your ears open, because we’re sure Kitahrah will continue to redefine expectations and inspire us all with every note she sings.
