Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kobe Warner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kobe, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I started releasing original music in 2020 when the pandemic cut my senior year of high school short. I had been performing for a decade already at this point, though I’d never taken to creating original art. I started singing in the theatre and church mostly when I was a kid. I also sang the national anthem at many events, both locally and nation-wide. I digress… It’s been almost two years since I’ve put out any original music, but the drought is ending very soon. The songs I’ve been making in my time away have been liberating for me. They’ve allowed me to explore genres and sounds while also expressing how I feel about myself and my surroundings. Translating feelings, negative or positive, into art is so cathartic for me. This upcoming release is going to be major, and there’s more where that came from.

Kobe, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! The name I was given at birth is Kobe Warner, but the name I gave myself is koblizzy. Like I said, I’ve been performing for years. I’ve released 3 solo singles and an EP to date under the mononym koblizzy, and I’ve grown a lot since I started. I’ve explored many genres thus far – including rap, hip/hop, R&B, pop, and piano/vocal – and I’ve written every song I’ve ever put out. I’ve collaborated with talented producers such as Travis Palmer, Brandon Grant, and Luke Brown over the years. I’ve teamed up with Travis again on some new songs that are coming out verrrrry soon and I’m so excited to share them with you. It’s not time to discuss it *just* yet though, I hope you understand. Follow me on Instagram @koblizzy so you don’t miss anything. I also model, act, and host a podcast aptly titled “KOBLIZZY.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It’s always been my dream to entertain, whether it be 5 people or 5,000. Hell, I’m content performing to pictures on the walls of my bedroom. I love performing that much; it courses through my veins. Creating art fulfills me in a way that nothing else ever has, and I will always find a way to center creating in my life. It’s super meaningful when something you create resonates with somebody else, and that’s why I love music. Obviously all art forms are subject to interpretation, but everybody hears every song differently. I love that people are allowed to fill in the lines in between the lyrics of their favorite song. I know my imagination runs wild.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I was 15, I was approached by the worship leader of the church I’d volunteered at for years. Not in person… he sent me a text. Long story short, he was reaching out to apply pressure to me due to a Facebook post I’d made supporting Pride month (it was June.) He said to me that whether or not I support LGBTQ+ people was a “crucial” pillar in the “future of my leadership at the church.” Like I’m a dummy. I left the church right then on behalf of my family and myself. And that was before I even told my family about this confrontation! I was a ballsy kid, and I’m proud of myself in retrospect for how I handled that situation. With that being said, being ostracized from a community you’d been a part of for nearly a decade was… disorienting, to say the least. And really unfair.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.koblizzy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koblizzy/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thekobewarner/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/koblizzy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@koblizzy
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@koblizzy

Image Credits
All photos by Sarah Eaves