KILE J (they/them) is a proud non-binary artist and performer, based in New York City. Kile travelled to New York to explore their creative abilities after growing up in Houston, Texas, and has since worked with some of the industry’s greatest influencers. The multi-faceted performer possesses a wide range of abilities, including humour, acting, and, most importantly, music.
The first EP Honey is sensationally open and encouragingly genuine and is dedicated to making music that boldly showcases the struggles and intricacies of gay people of colour. The EP served as a therapeutic outlet for them, allowing them to deal with feelings of guilt and discomfort, eventually leading to self-love. The songs, which are bursting with beautiful sugary harmonies that counterbalance the sorrowful words, speak genuinely of their own experiences. Taking lines directly from journal entries and text messages, Kile revealed, “I found strength singing words that caused me pain, over beautiful warm instrumentals.”
Speaking on the EP, the artist explains, “There are moments where you can only understand if you’re a part of the culture, and there are also moments where I feel everyone can relate to it in some way.” They continue, “The underlying theme of the project is to tell black queer love stories authentically; not only ones about loving others, but ones about loving yourself as well.”
The title tune “Honey,” a blend of southern music, current pop, and R&B, charmingly shows Kile’s vibey style. The music is a shimmer of soundscapes representing warmth, comfort, and optimism, as they reveal the humiliation imposed on people who are striving to accept themselves in a world that forces them into hiding. It’s smooth soulful and dripping with an uplifting attitude.
As a performer, their work has received a lot of attention, with their musical endeavour Trak Joy being named one of CMJ’s 25 greatest songs of the week. They were also a featured reporter for Buzzfeed, where they discussed news and pop culture while breaking down gender stereotypes, as well as a finalist at YAAAS FEST, a New York-based LGBTQ comedy competition. Kile’s work can now be seen in Hunger Magazine, Teen Vogue, Redbull.com, Buzzfeed, and Afropunk, to name a few publications.