We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kittie Chamille a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kittie, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I’m sure you hear this all the time, but I have been singing all of my life. There literally is not a time that I can recall when music did not hold a place of priority for me. My first public performance was at five years old. I was singing a Whitney Houston song and vividly remember there was not one dry eye in the building after my performance. However, my professional career began with me singing background for a few independent artists from Atlanta in 2007. I worked to hone my gift and eventually, was referred to do background for some “celebrity” artists, like LeToya Luckett, the late Michael Henderson, and Glenn Jones.

It is indeed an art form to vocally support an artist as a background vocalist. It requires one to display your talent in a way that enhances a show but doesn’t distract from the experience. I love it and I truly adored being a background vocalist. But, over time my clan encouraged me to take center stage. My closest friends and family refused to let me settle on being in the background and consistently pushed me out in the front until I became comfortable performing as a lead vocalist.

Because I had been on the Atlanta music scene for a few years then, I was known by a lot of the most prominent musicians here. And I was fully honored when they started calling me to perform for shows and gigs around town.

When I started performing “in the front”, I was working as a paralegal. I thoroughly enjoyed working in the legal profession. But after being in an office for nine years building someone else’s dream, I decided to put fear aside and fully pursue my own passion.

I am thankful that since then, God has sustained me and caused me to be presented with so many amazing opportunities which have allowed me to develop my brand as “Atlanta’s favorite brown girl”. Now that I’ve stepped out from the background and stepped out on faith, I am performing several times each week, working on original music for myself, and have never lacked anything that I have ever needed to sustain a comfortable lifestyle.

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

I am a singer, songwriter, and vocal coach. I perform often around the city of Atlanta but have also been honored to perform in other cities across the U.S.

My entire family sings; so music is all that I’ve known for as long as I can remember. I matriculated at the illustrious Claflin University where I majored in Vocal Performance and joined the greatest sorority ever, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated!

I started off as a professional in the music industry as a background singer in Atlanta. Over time, my gift caused the people closest to me to encourage me to step out as a lead singer….and I did!! I immersed myself in music and began doing it full time, performing, writing songs, and recording music… Being able to operate in this industry with integrity is my goal and becoming Atlanta’s favorite Brown Girl has been a blessing. There is absolutely nothing like watching your gift make room for you and being compensated well for it. But make no mistake about it; I would do this free because I love it that much.

I am proud of my evolution as an artist and the way in which I’ve grown into my voice and performance style. I am comfortable with who I am as a woman and as an artist. I am certain of who I want to be and I only allow that to dictate what opportunities I pursue… not money. And that is the accomplishment I am most proud of.

I want people to know that I am a soulful R&B singer and currently have a single out which is titled, Saving All My Love. I am also working on a full project, From Lust Til Dawn, that I hope to have ready to release around my birthday in September.

Day to day, I am a wife to an amazing man who fully adores me. I am a mother striving to raise beautiful, productive people. I am also the owner of Her Sweet Essentials (a Bath, Beauty & Home Essentials company), which I have successful operated for a year, while doing music full time. I love working with my hands and finding new ways of creative expression.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe society can best support independent artists by showing up for us the way in which they do for the mainstream celebrities. Society will buy $200 concert tickets for a mainstream artist while second guessing the purchase of a $20 concert ticket for a local artist they love. That perplexes me… so my desire is that when an independent artist that you love has a concert, buy a ticket and show up!! When we release music, purchase and stream our songs!! And don’t stop there; share it with other people who you believe would also enjoy it.

I’ve found over the years that many people offer adoration for our craft, talent, work ethic, and the performance or products we put forward. But most of them don’t show up when it counts. That is why I am grateful for every person that shows up for me. Whether it is through a like or a follow on social media, buying and streaming my music, attending my concerts, or sharing my performance videos, or referring me for opportunities. But I am most touched by those who send me kind words encouraging me to continue pushing because my voice is needed.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I am a huge fan of Sarah Jakes Roberts!! So her book, “Don’t Settle For Safe” was a great resource for me. Also, “Wholeness” by her husband, Toure Roberts, was quite instrumental in shaping my philosophy on life. Although these books are not specifically about management and entrepreneurship, they set me on the path to becoming my best self. These materials have helped me to change the way I see myself, given me a better understating of who I am and what I am called to do in this Earth. Knowing those things translates to me being a better performer on stage. Because having confidence in myself personally, gives me a greater confidence in my gifting.

Contact Info:

• Website: KittieChamille.com & hersweetessentials.com
• Instagram: @kittiechamille
• Facebook: @Kittie Chamille Music
• Twitter: @kittiechamille
• Other: I also have a business called HER SWEET ESSENTIALS which provides bath & body products for both men and women. We specialize in scented luxe beard oils, sugar scrubs, nourishing body oils, bath teas, and room deodorizing sprays. WWW.HERSWEETESSENTIALS.COM @hersweetessentials on Instagram