We were lucky to catch up with Gemi DaPhlo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gemi DaPhlo, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time, I would have started this earlier. I also know everything is supposed to happen when it’s the right time. I look around and see everyone being in their 20’s or people who have been doing this since they were children and I start to compare myself. I am 33 years old and sometimes, I feel out of place. I feel too old or that I started too late, but then I remember, everything happens when it is supposed to. My journey was meant for only me and I have accepted that, but sometimes it is a struggle between accepting where I am in my life, and feeling down about it. I just remember what an old boss said to me one day. He said that “there are two important day’s in your life, the day you were born, and the day you find out why.” Music is my why and I make sure to keep that in the forefront of my mind, so when I feel low, I remember why I keep going.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Gemi DaPhlo which is short for Gemini the Phoenix, my name previously was K’aynna. I am a soul singer out of Long Beach, CA. I am originally from Little Rock Arkansas. I initially did not want to sing at all. It wasn’t until I entered into a contest to win studio time with an artist named Big K.R.I.T., that I gave it any thought. I did not win, but I did receive quite a lot of votes. I did a rap and I sang. The comments were for my singing voice and I was shocked. I didn’t even want to join the choir in church, so how could this be a thing?! So naturally, I started to explore my voice more. My first song came out in 2016 and it was called “Beauty” and I put it out on Soundcloud. I still wasn’t sold on the idea of singing for a living. I was about 24-25 that year. I was also in college at that time. I attended University of Arkansas at Little Rock and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Social Work. I figured that was my calling. My grandmother and Aunt were both in the field and I didn’t know that until I got accepted into the program. Some time had passed, I got out of the Air Force, moved to Washington State, became the Program director at a Veteran Women’s shelter and I was on the daily grind. I did join a cover band called Prints of Soul while I was there. It was just a hobby at that point. I just made music for myself. Although, I did put music out on You tube, and did singing videos on Instagram, I did not officially release a song to streaming until 2019. That year, Charlie Wilson shared me on his page, I received accolades from Masego, Montel Jordan and Tawatha Agee from the 80’s R&B group Mtume. At that point, I decided to make a career change. I left Washington at the end of 2019 and moved to California. I stayed with my grandma. Covid started and I moved back home to Arkansas. As I got older, I felt like a career in music was drifting away from me. I had a lot of false starts and a bunch of setbacks and for a while there, I was scared. I thought it wasn’t meant to be. September 2023, things changed for me. I had a new lease on life and I haven’t stopped going since then. I do background vocals, and live music for all type of functions, like parties and ceremonies. I also perform my own music and I do shows around LA county. I think what set’s me apart is my work ethic. I strive to do the best work and I am always learning about my craft so I can be better. I want my reputation to precede me, so I always put my best foot forward. I am the most proud of how many times I got back up. Just because you are one a mission, doesn’t mean life won’t happen to you. I got back on my feet every single time,even when I didn’t believe I could. I am very dedicated and determined, and the people around me see that.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn how to have balance in my my life and unlearn the notion that self-care was a luxury rather than a necessity. If there is a goal I am trying to reach, I have tunnel vision. With that being said, at one point, the rest of my life started to crumble. My goal was right there in my face, and I did not see anything else. I ended up in the hospital, my health was so poor because I didn’t look out for myself. I didn’t see the need for self-care, because I wasn’t where I wanted to be. I needed everything to be perfect. At that time, I learned that If you don’t take a break, your body will make you take a break and it will stop you from doing anything. I got to a point where I couldn’t walk. The pain I was having was unbearable. I was so depressed because I couldn’t get up and do what made me happy, which was singing. I am so glad that I am healed and actually taking the time to check in with myself. Looking out for yourself just doesn’t mean physical health. It also means tapping into your mental and spiritual health. Really diving into how you feel and who you are can make you not just a better creative, but a better person from the inside out. It allows you to be more authentic, which in turn, helps with finding your voice.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is getting to listen to a finished product. It is so satisfying. It could be a tie amongst the creative process in general. Seeing or Listening to something that was once just an idea turn into magic, is the best thing I could ever think of. I’m always surprised at myself once I hear my own voice. Like, listen to me, I did that. I am so proud of myself. I often have an issue with finishing things in general and procrastination, so when I see a song to the end, I get butterflies.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gemidaphlo.fans/,
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GemiDaPhlo

Image Credits

Maurice Vizions, B Hutch