LA-based artist Kahlil Simplis has released his highly-anticipated project Safe House Vol. 1. The rising talent has gained buzz due to his art of story-telling and high-grade lyricism. By using his smooth melodic flow, Safe House Vol. 1 is a project that shows how Kahlil plans to elevate his life in all aspects. From speaking about past relationships with women to his journey towards self-growth, this artist has the gift of sharing the blueprint on how to overcome life’s most unexpected obstacles.
Safe House Vol. 1 is a project that has potential to take Kahlil Simplis to the next level in his career. The artist effortlessly describes his Bachelor-Esque lifestyle in a way that is relatable to listeners. As a former basketball player, an unexpected injury resulted in Kahlil changing paths within his career. Turning to music and poetry as an outlet to clear his mind, Kahlil realized that being an artist was his next route. As a result, Simplis has released straight fire ever since. Using his ability to sing and rap, this multi-talented artist has paved a lane in the R&B/hip-hop world.
The growth of Kahlil Simplis is exciting to watch; this artist has undeniable potential as he is on track to becoming the next emerging talent out of Los Angeles. Speaking about his humbling experiences, accompanied by extraordinary music productions and versatile melodies, Safe House Vol. 1 shows how serious and dedicated Kahlil Simplis is as a hip-hop artist. His visuals do not disappoint either; Kahlil’s latest video for the single “All The Way” shows how he makes a true effort to release mesmerizing content that brings his tracks to life.
We got the opportunity to interview Kahlil Simplis and ask him about his latest project. He speaks about his upbringing, the motivation behind Safe House Vol. 1, and what to expect from him in the future. Be sure to stream Safe House Vol. 1 out now on all platforms!
What city are you from/ Where are you based now?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I currently stay in Inglewood, CA.
What is your artist name? What is your real name? How did you get your artist name?
My artist name is my actual name, Kahlil Simplis. For who I am, I felt as if keeping everything authentic, from the music to my image, accurately portrays who I truly am and what I represent, authenticity.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music?
It was for sure after my injuries. I’ve always been in love with music, but it wasn’t until after my career-ending injuries that I decided to pursue music as my career. I wrote poetry during my depression that came with those injuries and while finding myself in a lost state, music became the outlet I needed to express how I was feeling and where I was most happy. The studio became a sanctuary and I haven’t looked back ever since.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
My upbringing was always about my craft (basketball), so that forced me to work my hardest at all times and never fall into the distractions that were around me to excel. So applying this to all aspects of my journey on earth, whether it was basketball, my self-work, or music, I saw the heights I could reach if I stay focused and disciplined with it. So the way that translates to my sound, I aim to inspire other people to do the same. I consider myself a perfectionist, so I focus on making my lyrics stand out while keeping it simple; and my actual sound as well, I want the music to be rememberable and everything to sound like a classic and I took my time on it.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I would describe my sound as sonically pleasing, uplifting, and authentic.
What ultimately inspired you to dedicate yourself to a music career?
– After my injuries, I realized like my purpose was greater than just me being a really good basketball player, and was about making a change in this world without a ball. I always knew I wasn’t put here to just work a normal job or live a normal life, and it wasn’t until basketball was taken from me, and I was able to tap in with myself on a spiritual, deeper level, that I was put here to spread a message. All the things in my life at that point were leading me straight into pursuing a music career, so I took the signs and told myself, I gave most of my life to this sport, so if I can’t give my all to hoop, I’m going to give my all to this music because of my love for it and see it all the way through.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?
I see how it makes people feel, I know music saves lives, saved mine at certain points in life, so I know it’s a way of healing and a way of true expression, which we all need because bottling up things only hurt us more in the long run. It’s good to feel our emotions, which I feel music allows us as people to do.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
I have a few hobbies, I help the director homies out with treatments for videos of other artists, I love bowling, I still hoop and enjoy that the most. I’m really big on self-healing and self-love, so meditating, crystal/chakra work, ancestral healing, and sound frequency healing are things I’m passionate about as well. These things help me stay fluid and in an open state so I’m able to create freely and trust my work
What were you doing before music?
Hooping and selling weed.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
My main musical influences are Drake, Kanye, Lil Wayne & Nipsey Hussle.
What are some of your music career goals for the future?
My main goal with music is to travel the world with it. The physical accolades are always nice, but my confirmation will come from inspiring others to be great and traveling the world to spread that message and energy.
Tell us the name of the project you are currently promoting? What inspired this project?
The project is called, “Safehouse Vol. 1”. The inspiration behind the project is women and the things we as men go through with them.
The date that this project dropped or is set to drop?
Oct. 22nd
What is this project about in your own words?
Every song on this project is a different scenario, a different story about me and the toxic love connection I’ve shared with a woman for a long time; who I’m trying to tell, to trust her intuition, come be with me and leave the man she’s currently with because she feels she deserves so much better which I agree with. We’ve been having relations forever but she is reluctant to leave him and the security of the relationship she has with this guy. The first song, “Safehouse”, which the project is titled after, is about me telling her we can treat my house as her “Safehouse” and she can use it as a getaway whenever she wants. Been Playing is a high-energy track where I’m describing how I want her but she’s the one that’s “been playing”. Options is a track where I’m telling her to not forget how I have options and me reminding myself not to get caught up in this too deep because I too have “options”. Skin is a slower track where she finally is giving me a chance & I’m describing how I just want to touch her “skin” and treat her right, expressing how I feel about her. Up To Me is her telling me that if I want her, it’s really “up to me”. Making It Easy is a song again, me expressing to her how she does not “make it easy” on me loving her, but I’m the one she should let love her. Nonsense is essentially me telling her how her still not being with me is “nonsense” and the things we could do is limitless. If I Knew Then is the concluding song on the project, and it’s just a recap of our situation, a recap of where I’m at in life, and where I’m aiming to go.
Is there a specific song on this project that speaks to you most? If so, what’s It called and what’s it about?
I truly feel they all speak to me and my situation
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
The proudest moment of my music career so far, I actually can’t disclose right now, but tune into Season 2 Episode 5 of STARZ Powerbook 2: Ghost, a song I have may or may not be on there.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for? Include some dates if you have them.
After the project, I plan to go get some downtime to be with family and to be in nature, recollect, recalibrate, recenter, before the new year so I can attack 2022 and be ready for everything unfolding.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and this project?
I just hope people can relate to some of the stories on here and they take away my versatility and be ready for what ill be releasing in the next year.
Where can we follow you on social media? Include links.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kahlilsimplis @kahlilsimplis
Twitter: www.twitter.com/kahlilsimplis @kahlilsimplis
