We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kashi-Tara a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kashi-Tara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

There are so many things my parents did right! Support is the first thing that comes to mind. Their support allowed me to explore my imagination and express myself in unique ways. They broadened my horizons by providing outlets for my emotional expression which helped me process my feelings and experiences in a constructive manner. Their encouragement in the arts lead to me developing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and empathy. Their support and encouragement boosted my confidence and my self esteem which in turn reinforced the idea that my talents and my voice was of value. My parents made me feel that I mattered!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Music and the stage are in my blood. Which is why I love live performances so much. My musical roots come from my mom, K. Shalong, a jazz singer, and my dad, a percussionist of Honduran descent. They infused rhythm in everything they did. Watching my mother rehearse and perform always fascinated me. The ability to bring so much joy and freedom to the audience has always been impactful and I wanted to do that! My mom saw my desire and put me in everything “performance arts.” From storytelling competitions to talent shows. From theatrical productions to competitive classes/programs/ensembles/troupes. The more my passion grew, the more encouragement I received from my mom, and kept the fire burning.
My senior year in college I had the incredible opportunity to audition for a 5-girl singing group led by TEO Aron Lee and Darryl Minus, students at Hampton University. I made the group and after several vocalist changes, the 3-member group KEI (Kashi, Eboni & Iris) was born. We were signed to Atlantic Records. That roller coaster ride was filled with exciting experiences, notable exposure and immeasurable lessons. We sang background for the iconic duo Salt-N-Pepa. We appeared in the movie ‘Kazaam,’ starring Shaquille O’Neal, contributed to the soundtrack of “Space Jam,” and sang background on Patra’s album, ‘Scent of Attraction.’ But with the music business being what it was and bouncing around to different record labels who struggled with envisioning our unique brand, we were shelved. This experience caused uncertainty and self-doubt. Ultimately mismanagement and disappointment took its toll on the group, and we separated. I felt like giving up. I had a decision to make and chose to go it alone. I had the honor of performing with renowned artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Michelle Indigoicello, and Cheryl Crow at the Lilith Fair. My solo experience taught me more about the business of music as well as shedding light on the ills. For many reasons, that part of my journey disappointedly ended and again, I contemplated giving up. I decided to take a different angle and began exploring my more theatrical passions. This led me to study acting at The New School in New York, where I honed my Acting craft and took classes under the guidance of renowned mentors such as Susan Batson and Joi Lee. I also served as a resident actor for Arena Stage, in Washington DC, as a part of their educational outreach division . I performed a one-woman show by Dael Orlandersmith, “The Gimmick”, under the direction of Ralph Remmington, Director of Cultural Affairs for the San Francisco Arts Commission. I had the privilege of performing at Arena Stage in August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” directed by Tazewell Thompson, and at Columbia’s Rep Stage in ‘The Piano Teacher’ directed by Kasi Campbell. I combined my love of teaching with my passion for theater by being a resident actor for the New Theater of Medicine, a new kind of theater under the direction of Jeffrey Steiger. I LOVE Acting yet still, that didn’t feed the totality of my artistry and in the meantime, life was lifin’ and I now had 3 sons depending on me. Responsible decisions had to be made, and I chose to give up performing and focused on teaching the Arts. During this time, I received numerous acknowledgements and awards including the Montgomery County Executive Community Award for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities for my work with the Finest Performance Foundation (my family’s nonprofit organization). I wrote and directed several plays and created award winning youth performance troupes. I poured all of my passion into my teaching. That part of my creativity was truly fulfilling and still is. But I missed the stage. I missed performing. I missed singing. After years of ups and downs I found my way back to the mic as a vocalist. Currently, I am a solo artist with a local independent record label WIAW (World Inside a World Records) owned by Grady McCain and I frequently perform throughout the DMV with Bruce Gardner and the BGX band. I am a Creative Movement/Dance teacher at a prestigious private school in Potomac, Maryland, where I get to nurture the artistic spirit of the next generation. Clearly “giving up” is not an option.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I believe that non-creatives may struggle to understand several aspects of the creative process and mindset. Non creatives might find it difficult to grasp that creativity is not just about artistic talent but it involves a complex process of experimentation and refinement. Creative work involves subjective interpretations and emotional expressions which can be challenging for non-creatives to fully appreciate or understand when there may be a difference in personal taste. Many creatives invest significant emotional energy into their work, making them vulnerable to criticism and rejection. This emotional intensity may not always resonate with those who think more analytically. Non-creatives may not see the amount of effort, discipline, and dedication involved in the creative process that goes well beyond the final product. Another thing non-creatives may not understand is that inspiration is unpredictable and we as creators often face creative blocks or periods of low motivation which does not equate to laziness or measure our seriousness and dedication to the art. Many creatives thrive in “flexible” environments that allow for experimentation and this may be confusing for non-creatives who are used to a more conventional structure. Non-creatives may not understand the economic challenges that creatives face in trying to make a living from their work and the difficulty in marketing their art. I believe that by understanding these different aspects, non-creatives can have a more meaningful interaction with creatives and appreciate the complexities of the creative process more fully.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The driving force behind my artistic journey is the freedom to express and connect with others. Creating and performing is therapy for me. It allows me to process emotions, cope with trauma, and manage stress. Singing, writing, acting and performing allows me the platform to address and process topics that could lead to personal connections and discussions. I’ve always wanted to be an example of what “following your passion” looks like. I’m a performing arts teacher and every day I encourage my students to explore their creative gifts, to use their imagination and to think outside the box. I want them to understand that they are limitless! I want to live what I profess. I want to make a living off of my talent and creativity. I want to inspire my children and others to spend their existence “living” their authentic selves, not just surviving. I believe the best way to model that, is by LIVING mine!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiawkashi11/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Free2BeMe11/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kashi-tara-barrett-94196615/
• Twitter: https://x.com/kashi_tara
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@worldinsideaworldrecords85
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-912845611
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kashitara11

Image Credits

Photography by: Grady “Alias” McCain for “World Inside a World” Records