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

Kamodah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I knew I wanted to do music since I was a child. I was that kid that practiced singing in front of the mirror. When I got to a certain age, I would make sure I was alone when I sang. I mean I would check the garage, front yard, back yard, and the whole house. There was one time where I thought I was home alone and began practicing. After about twenty minutes, I hear my mom call out to me from her room and I froze, a wave of disbelief washed over me. I rarely shared my passion with others, mostly due to fear.

Even though I knew as a child that music was what I wanted to do most, I never allowed myself to believe it was a possibility. Doing music professionally was certainly not an idea that was encouraged by my family. “How are you going to support yourself?” was the constant, thudding question. See my dad is a musician, and a damn good one. He’s a drummer, vocalist, and songwriter; he has played in numerous bands and obviously, has influenced my love of music. However, while growing up music was a point of contention in our household. His gigs were considered not worth the time for the money, and music always coincided with his addiction to alcohol. So music was a complicated topic to me because it was what I loved the most and at the same time, I feared my love for it.

But music has always been there for me, and that is why I dedicate my life to it. Regardless of where this journey takes me, each movement remains melodious, every step is in beat, and the intention is honest. My favorite artist is Jimi Hendrix (for multiple reasons), although my music sounds nothing like his. One of his most famous quotes is, “Music is my religion”, and that’s how I feel. Music has helped me so much in life, it allows me process everything constructively. Every song I’ve made reveals my emotional state and headspace at that time, and I’m so thankful to have them to reflect on. Since my music helps me so much, my greatest wish is that it helps others. That is why I have doubled down on honoring that little girl singing alone in front of the mirror.

Kamodah, 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?

Kamodah is the name I chose for myself to represent my music. Kamodah is a beauty and beast; full of shadows and light, mirrors and smoke. As Kamodah, I feel free to express my thoughts and creations on a variety of topics. The topic that I love addressing the most, and often comes up naturally, is self-discovery within societal structures. I have a song called “Recalibration”, and the core message of that song is, “What you’re looking for is within you.” In our society and capitalistic system, we are often taught to look outside of ourselves for validation, acceptance, fulfillment, the list can go on. In my opinion no external factor is superior to inner understanding, inner love, and inner peace. For my life, intrinsic motivation has always produced better quality and outcomes (particularly for art) than extrinsic motivation.

I am proud of all the art that I have shared as Kamodah and I can’t wait to see what other ideas come forth. As the great Maya Angelou said, “You can’t use up creativity, the more you use the more you have.” Recently, I have been making music videos which is an interesting, involved process; it’s an extension and interpretation of a song’s idea. I enjoy a good theme, and I’ve used themes of clowns, dystopia, fairytales, the ancient Egyptian goddess Sekhmet, etc. to convey the overall feel of the songs. Seeing a visual all come together is particularly rewarding because I have the challenge of my budget. I am currently the artist and the patron. Current mainstream artists with massive budgets have music videos that are pristine, digitalized almost to the point of animation. My videos still have that rawness and realness to them. I’ve been so fortunate to have friends and acquaintances that have participated in helping me bring these ideas to life. Whether they’ve been recording, editing, hairstyling, doing make-up, providing wardrobe, or being in the actual video. I appreciate them all so much for believing in my ideas. Taking Kamodah to the next level, I’ll be able to honor their efforts more.

Regarding the music itself, I do not stick to one style. I draw inspiration from a myriad of genres, including soul, EDM, rock R&B, and classical music. I don’t like to place limitations or boundaries on the music I make. So my song, “Upon” sounds completely different to “Recalibration.” I enjoy range and versatility, it’s important to be constantly evolving. I believe that overall, not just musically.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, is obviously the art. Every idea/song is a puzzle and I love puzzles. It requires patience and dedication. Sometimes a song comes together seamlessly, that’s when I know that this idea had to come out; the emotion behind it was so strong and pressing. Other times, the idea will be left uncompleted, and when I return to it it’s evolved into something else entirely. It’s a constant process that is a lesson in acceptance. Some days, you’re in that flow state and effortlessly can channel ideas. Other days, for whatever reason, it’s harder to tap in. Regardless, you have to love and commit to the process no matter where it leads. Create for sake of creation.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal for my life is to become the highest version of myself. As Kamodah, I know I can do that. This creative journey that started as a kid singing in front of the mirror, to practicing piano, to composing simple melodies, to songwriting, to producing and performing…has helped to release and reveal myself honestly. Self-work is a constant and never-ending process. But when you truly begin to understand yourself, you can then understand and have greater acceptance for others. This leads to a better world. We’re all on our own creative journeys, and I’d like for Kamodah to be a reminder of that for people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kamodah.com
• Instagram: Kamodah
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kamodah
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11zYKlaCneqU185f5UiUZp?si=FiIKhPh8The4_GuRuC02BA

Image Credits

Marcella Nikolic

Jeremy Mooney