We recently connected with Kiéla Adira and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kiéla Adira, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Throughout my childhood, I loved to sing and would perform for family and friends at school events any opportunity I would get. There are numerous individuals that have been fundamental to my growth as an artist, but I credit Gallery 37 Center for the Arts — a program founded by former first-lady of Chicago, Maggie Daley — and HHW School for the Performing Arts as being the most vital formative experiences for me musically. I have always had a love for music and the arts, but it wasn’t until joining HHW Vocal Arts Ensemble in High School that I really began to sharpen my skills and discover my passion for performing. HHW introduced me to the music business for the first time and helped me expand my knowledge of music theory. My mentors also taught me the art of good stage presence, how to be a great group member, soloist, leader, spokesperson and so much more. One of the things I love most about this program is that they encourage and award young teens for investing in themselves. This After School program was my first dollar earned as a creative. After I auditioned and was accepted into the program I was then given the opportunity to be trained by elite music and business professionals who nurtured me and pushed me to be my best, most hard-working self. Through HHW, my voice has reached prominent audiences; We sang for the Vice Premier of China, the French Delegation, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, and in 2019, the inauguration of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Although I had a lot of fun performing for such esteemed audiences, at the time I didn’t believe in myself enough to think that I could actually make a career out of the arts. Self-doubt and fear impacted me so much that it began to stand in the way of me learning more. By the time I attended college, I had convinced myself that pursuing a degree in the arts would be a waste of time and unsustainable if I wanted to achieve success and financial freedom. The truth is, If I had followed my heart and not been so closed off and concerned about being a “starving artist” I could have learned a lot more about the ins and outs of the entertainment industry, and gotten much farther ahead with my music theory and musical abilities. While there are some things that held me back from excelling in some areas, I did learn many valuable tools and lessons that are still helpful over a decade later. Studying the performing arts at HHW gave me the skills to command any stage, stay on pitch, be professional, reliable, and a quality public speaker. Studying at Gallery 37, and being trained by the artistic geniuses of HHW was the gateway for many incredible opportunities and set the stage for me being a full time artist, entertainer, and healer.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and creative director born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. I am passionate about creating art that can be used as a vessel to help, teach, and inspire people. My debut music projects “GROWTH.” and “Fool’s Croon” were released in 2023 after many years of self-introspection, making mistakes, developing my voice, and growing into the person and artist I am today. My music and sound range across multiple genres including r&b, soul, jazz, and hip hop and are inspired heavily by my city and upbringing. Being an independent artist is not easy, but it is a great feeling to know that I am able to reflect the beauty of my experiences and surroundings through my music.

I found my love for the arts and started developing my performance skills by the age of four – I played the flute and violin, sang in choirs, performed in theatrical productions, and played several sports. High School was when I began honing in on my musical talents by joining the school choir and some amazing arts programs. Singing with the HHW Vocal Arts Ensemble at Gallery 37 also propelled me forward as a well rounded performer and gifted me with amazing mentors who continue to nurture and support me to this day. While attending Oberlin College in Ohio, my love for dance and theater deepened and my directing and leadership skills sharpened.

During my time at Oberlin, I was heavily involved in the arts community. I choreographed and danced for two hip hop dance groups, was co-chair of the step team, danced in Oberlin’s West-African Dance & Drum group, sang in 2 a cappella groups, and was heavily involved in main stage theater productions on campus. One of my hobbies that developed at Oberlin, which turned into a passion, is curating events and producing shows. These activities continue to give me the opportunity to bring people together while creating unique, enjoyable, and impactful experiences. Senior year at Oberlin was when I stepped into some other creative roles and began to break out of my comfort zone. In 2018 I was assistant director, supporting actor, hair stylist, and intimacy coach for “The Bluest Eye” mainstage production. I also produced and directed Oberlin College’s first annual Black History Month Fashion show and produced my very first video project, a concept video for Drake’s song “Nice 4 What,” inspired by the official music video directed by Karena Evans. These projects were the highlight of my time at Oberlin and gave me a chance to put all of my different skills to use.

Six years later, I am back in Chicago working as a full time performing and recording artist, educating the youth, and finding creative ways to collaborate with community organizations who uplift the city and have missions that align with mine. Some of these organizations include Obama Foundation’s Community Leadership Corps, Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation, Save Money Save Life, and Chicago200. I am constantly working towards growth, hoping to inspire others to join me on my journey of self-love along the way.
By sharing my original music on all streaming platforms, showcasing my artistry in live performances, and creating impactful experiences and visuals, my goal is to use my voice, stage presence, and positive messages to uplift, provide a pleasurable escape from life’s challenges, and motivate my audiences to positively engage with the world.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by my mission to create meaningful art that heals, uplifts, and gives back to the communities that continue to pour into me. I have been blessed with an extremely encouraging support system that gives me the strength to be unapologetically myself, and it is my goal to amplify the love and light that I receive and project it onto people worldwide through my artistry. Being an artist forces me to keep an open mind, be self-aware and has also required me to become vulnerable, patient, and courageous enough to share my story and my heart with the world. I have always cared for the well-being of others, so I have been intentional about using my platform to promote self-confidence, self-love, healthy life-style habits, and peace.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding parts of being a creative is consistently finding freedom in my artistic expression and having a platform to share my messages of love and hope with the world. As artists, we channel our thoughts and emotions into creative projects, releasing them to be digested, judged, praised, scrutinized, etc. It can be a daunting process at times, but getting over that fear and experiencing an insurmountable amount of growth is worth the challenges that come along with the process. Using my voice to evoke joy and healing to others is one of my favorite parts about being an artist. I love how well the arts bring people together, showcasing the power of collective work and the beauty of sharing our stories. Being a creative director and producer has given me opportunities to give other people a platform to showcase their skills and try new and exciting things. Every project that I work on highlights my love for cultivating connections between people, and my two projects released in 2023 were two of the biggest and most meaningful collaborations yet. One of the leading singles of my debut EP “GROWTH.” was a song called ‘Make a Way.’ ‘This single is an upbeat, feel-good song about perseverance, finding your power, and making a way when there seems to be no way at all. I decided to produce and co-direct an official Make a Way music video in collaboration with Paul Revere Elementary School and Endangered Peace Productions. We invited students from local elementary schools in Chicago to participate in the project. The students chosen to be in the video were given the opportunity to act, learn choreography, freestyle, express joy, experience being on a professional music video set, and so much more. The excitement that these kids exuded on set was the highlight of my summer. My mission was accomplished before we had even begun filming. My final project of 2023, an EP “Fool’s Croon,” also reminded me how lucky I am to be an artist. The making of Fool’s Croon brought me joy and also pushed me to grow as a musician and collaborator. I was brought onto this project by composer and co-lyricist, Jeoffrey Arrington, who asked me to join him and his producer/ songwriter brother, Judah Arrington, as the project’s lead vocalist and co-lyricist on the project. We had multiple songwriters, producers, instrumentalists, vocalists, and engineers on the team, which made the final product even more beautiful. We even got the opportunity to shoot a music video for the title track “Fool’s Croon” at the world’s largest goat tower, which was truly a mind-blowing experience for me. I live by the phrase “it takes a village,” so it is always an amazing thing to work with my friends and incredible artists who continue to inspire me.
Being an artist is a privilege because the arts challenge me to expand my mind and find beauty in all aspects of my life. It takes courage, dedication, determination, and is the epitome of making a dream a reality. I think about my ancestors and the dynamic artists who came before me and am filled with gratitude knowing that they paved the way so I can be the free, creative being that I am today. The resilience, power, and unbreakable spirit of these trailblazers lives on in all of us, and the greatest honor and reward of all is being able to follow in their footsteps and make them proud!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: kiela.adira
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiela.adira/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl_8vFiLncFEVY_bop7D8Kw
• Other: linktree: https://linktr.ee/KielaAdira

Image Credits
Photographers: Michelle Reid Michael Montiel Nick Moody Ashley Battle J’mme Love Victoria Sanders Dot Ward *Info to differentiate the photographers from one another* Michelle Reid – (Fool’s Croon EP studio photoshoot) Michael Montiel – (Fool’s Croon live at Epiphany Center for the Arts) Nick Moody – (GROWTH. outdoor photoshoot) Ashley Battle & J’mme Love – (Stills from the Fool’s Croon Video Shoot) Victoria Sanders – (Pitchfork Music festival ’23 photos) Dot Ward – My Vibe photoshoot (at Buckingham Fountain in Chicago)