Words by Isis Nicole for Jungle Gym Magazine

Lili K. heats things up with the very heartfelt “Highlight The Moon” directed by Addison Wright— also known as my favorite song off of Lili K and Peter Cottontale’s Metal Petals. “I don’t know how it came to be that/that you weren’t the one in my destiny…” Tell-me-all-about-Tuesdays!

Metal Petals is available for download here and you can also check out her features on Chance The Rapper‘s new mixtape ACID RAP right over here.

Words By Isis Nicole:

Chicago based songbird, Lili K – made in music heaven – consoles broken hearts with her latest music video “Never Ever” off her sophomore EP Metal Petals. It’s a wistful journey (produced by collaborative partner, Peter Cottontale) that carries out the wounds from Cupid’s arrow, also known as the aftermath of love. Rule of thumb, if he breaks your heart, break his MPC. Kidding! But he would never, ever see that one coming.

Words By Isis Nicole

Lili K. and Peter Cottontale welcome in the holidays with “A Christmas Song”, a warm electro-soul medley of Christmas jingles. “A Christmas Song” music video features some of Chicago’s rising artists (Chance The Rapper, ShowYouSuck, Stefan Ponce, and more), coming together during the most wonderful time of the year! Ya see, Chicago can be cheerful too!

‘A Christmas Song’ Soundcloud

‘A Christmas Song’ Free Download

Words By: Isis Nicole for Jungle Gym Magazine

I hate to get personal when writing about music for a site that is not my own. It’s like…the tackiest, most biased, colloquial thing a blogger with a BA in journalism can do. But tough tit! I will probably be able to get away with it just this once.

Lili K’s Metal Petals is out and I can honestly listen to it from start to finish. Not because I have recently gained the advantage of becoming her friend…because honestly friends can get the bigger boot of criticism if you think about it. It’s because she’s got a voice that warbles up this feeling that Christmas is just around the corner. What can I say…jazzy tunes get me in the mood (lifts eyebrows twice)…to cry and reflect on the love that I wish I had (pouts bottom lip.)

“Never Ending”, “Highlight The Moon”, “My Name Is (Remix)”, and “One Date (Remix)” are my favorites. After you download right here please, please, please tell me what are yours!

Words By: Isis Nicole For Jungle Gym Magazine
 

Lili K released her first official music video “Curtain Call” expected to be featured on her sophomore EP Metal Petals coming late October. Directed by Young Wonder, the tracks soulful organ funk commands a twist of attention under Lili’s committed jazz vocals. Metal Petals is scheduled to have features from Chicago acts including Chance The Rapper and Sulaiman of Treated Crew. Keep it up girl!

Words By: Isis Nicole For Jungle Gym Magazine

 
 Treat your ears to a placid fix with the new release “Let Me Know” by Lili K x Na$im Williams. This track is their first collaboration part of Na$im’s EP Nightmare On Erie Street II, scheduled for release September 22nd featuring Chicago acts, ShowYouSuck, Doc, and Vic Spencer. If soft bluesy bolly-soul Cadillac music was ever such a thing, this is it.
 

Words By:

For Jungle Gym Magazine

Photography by: Jeremy Franklin

Lili K, a 20-year-old refined vocalist who blends elements of Jazz and soul, proves that steezy ladies do exist in the Midwest! Since opening for Dwele she’s released her sultry summer single “Come In” produced by Thelonious Martin, and featured on Chicago’s newest act Chance The Rapper’s “Hey Ma”. Her stride within multiple genres enriches her natural neo-soul meets vintage panache. Upon listening to her songs, there’s a sense of timeless sophistication leading each of her tracks. Lili K is scheduled to debut a new single with a music video next month, but this Milwaukee born, Chicago based singer/songwriter didn’t get started overnight. Inspired by Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, and Andre 3000, the refreshed soul got her origins in music when she began song writing at the age of 10. It wasn’t until she moved to Chicago at age 18 that she started to polish her fusion of sounds (Soul, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Electro). Since her move, she’s linked up with producer Peter Cottontale, formed their band The Secret Garden, and completed her EP “A Prelude To Hello” released almost a year ago. Typically spotted rocking the dopest manicures, a septum nose ring, bangs and a messy bun, the amiable fresh face songbird is destined to revive romance, heartbreak, and growth conceptually through her gift as an artist. No gimmicks included! Take a listen to her single “Come In” below.

@lilikjazz + @spifster = peep their interviews here and here

Interview By:

Lili K is a refined concoction of sorts. A little bit of Jazz and spritz of soul, hence a new age vintage product of rare Milwaukee finds tired of that ‘good for a white girl’ shit. Yes, steezy bitches DO exist in the midwest! And Lili K has got the voice to prove it (ahem, she opened for DWELE…). But forreals, as someone always drawn to the gems who standout on campus, it only made sense to squeeze in an interview, so when Lili K agreed my eyes lit up! Check out our discussion on music, nails, and inspirations after the jump.

Name Lili K

Hometown Milwaukee

Age 20 

Blog lilikjazz.tumblr.com  

Most Known For Sangin 

Unknown For Photography & graphic design 

So way back when, like at a ‘Big mouth’ open mic series, I was introduced to you. Everyone’s reaction was like, ‘damn this white girl can sing!’. Is that the usual reaction still, or have they dropped the white girl shit?!
(Laughs) “Damn this white girl can sing” has been people’s description of me my whole life. Part of me loves it, part of me hates it. Like, people never expect me to sound how I do, and I love the looks on their faces when I open my mouth, but I really wish race didn’t have to be a part of establishing who is and isn’t cold. So yea, the white girl shit is still the typical reaction… that’s just how it is I guess.

When and why did you start to take your interest in music serious?
Singing is just what I do. I love it, it makes me happy… so I knew it would always be a focal point in my life. But once people started to react to my voice… that’s when I realized that I could actually make a living out of it. I started writing original material when I was 10, recorded and released my first song when I was 15 (laughs), it was sooo R&B! After that, I started singing plenty Hip-Hop hooks and doing gigs with Jazz combos. So I’ve been recording and writing for about five years, but it wasn’t until I moved to Chicago when I was 18 that I really started to polish my sound of this Jazz/Soul/Hip-Hop fusion and seriously pursue a career in music.

How would you describe your style, voice and fashion included?
Man, I’m all over the place. Jazzy and vintage are the main components, but just like I throw some Hip-Hop in my music, I’ll throw a pair of Jordans on with a vintage sweater; or my Timbs with a blazer. I’ll wear my hair curly one day, bun on top of my head the next, or a random head wrap if I just don’t feel like doing my hair at all. And on top of all of that, I have all these tattoos and piercings that just throw people off… like “Wait, she’s not a rock singer?” All of these different fashion elements translate perfectly to my sound as well; a little Jazz, a little Latin, some Soul, some Hip-Hop, bits of Electro. It all comes together cohesively though.

You have a nice voice by the way, smooth and lovely! Are there any routines that help get you inspired to be all jazzy?
Thanks lady! Routines? (Laughs) I don’t know. I memorize Ella Fitzgerald and John Coltrane solos. I sometimes pretend my voice is a trumpet, I listen to Hip-Hop and steal rhythmic ideas from Andre 3000 and Q-Tip, I listen to Stevie Wonder and and try to copy his runs… those are things I do vocally. Just being around people I love also inspires me. If I’m relaxed and chillin with people who put me in a good mood, my voice sounds better. If I’m all stressed and shit trying to record a happy song, I’m just gonna sound like a liar. I don’t really know if those are routines… but they’re things I always do, (laughs) Oh! And tea, I drink PLENTY tea with honey. 

Speaking of routines, let’s talk nails! When did you get into nail art?
To be honest, fairly recently. I was one of the girls who started getting fake nails after I got my first job. Those fat, square cut, long, french manicured, swirly Asian designed nails. Then I stopped because I realized the fakes were ruining my nails, and started only getting random manicures. I did Biggest Mouth at Columbia last year in the Spring, so of course, I had to get my nails done. When I did, I just remembered how much I missed keeping nice nails, so I decided to keep them up from that point on. I’ve been really into nail art and have been growing out my natural nails since then. 

Why do you think that there is this crazy buzz around nails, especially in Chicago?
Nails are just a huge trend right now, I don’t know when or how that happened, but I’m glad it did. We’re lucky to have amazing nail artists here, so a lot of attention is put on nail art in our city, it’s something we can pride ourselves in. I also really think Tumblr has a lot to do with it. People copy everything off Tumblr; style, music, and now, nails. You know this! But I’m cool with the whole nail aspect of Tumblr, because I think it’s a beautiful thing when a lady keeps her nails done.

Any nail trends you wish to see leave?
Square nails, like the SUPER square nails. Subtle, more natural looking ones don’t bother me. I prefer rounded, very natural cut. I’m cool with the pointy nails too. But the square cut ones just remind me of high school prom. Ugh.

Maybe you can create a song about nails!
Ehh, I’m not too sure about that one, (laughs).  Maybe I’ll throw a nail reference in a song soon. If I do, you’ll get a shout out for the idea!

3 closing words of encouragement using your lyrics only
Only 3 words!? Hmm… “Refresh my soul.”

@lilikjazz