SoCal Artist Kali Arcaris diminishes the line between pop and modern day country music. Singing since she could talk it’s surprising to find out that she wasn’t focused on music as a career but music found her. When she walked through the doors of Cali Co. Music Group one day it’s almost as if owners Bryan Lanning and Daniel Martin could see the potential without hearing her voice.
Arcaris has released three songs since starting her creative journey at Cali Co. Her hit being NVM - a slow song about truths paired with the excellency of Kali’s high notes.
Courtesy of Kali Arcaris
BC: When did music start for you?
KA: “I started performing locally when I was eleven - My older cousin who played at local venues would hear me sing at family events and told me that I should do a show sometime with her. I then started singing at The Merk in Old Town Temecula and I started going to my cousin’s vocal coach, Gwyn Sanborn. I was doing that for a few years and we did a cover song exercise at Cali Co. (Music Group) one day and that’s when Bryan reached out to me. He had asked how serious I was about music which it was always just a hobby to me.” Kali shares. “He had asked me to come in for a meeting because they were interested and It all went up from there”.
BC: It all seemed like it happened so fast for you - what was getting signed like when you weren’t looking for a career like this?
KA: “I wasn’t expecting it at all. I had come into the studio for the first time with a bunch of Gwyn’s students and we all did a cover and we left. So, it was definitely a shock and I didn’t really know what was going on.” Kali confesses. “Everyone was telling me this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and that I needed to take it. I jumped in and I’m so glad that I did.”
BC: What was the cover that you sang at the event?
KA: “It was Lady Like by Ingrid Andress - when the song first came out I loved it, it fit me perfectly vocally and my vibe.”
BC: Which artist or band has influenced you the most?
KA: “I would say Maren Morris, she has always been a big influence of mine musically. Her, and Tenille Arts have always been drawn to. Their style, energy. I definitely pull from them.”
BC: When you sit down to write, is there a goal you have in mind for certain songs?
KA: “I don’t like singing songs that I can’t relate to on a personal level.” Kali shares, “I want to be able to feel them. I want the song to really mean something to me, I want it to be really genuine and authentic. All my songs I sing are all pulled from real life experiences and I want them to portray that. I don’t ever want my music to be fabricated.”
BC: Since you let out songs about your life, are you ever hesitant about releasing songs because of how vulnerable they are?
KA: “Yes but at the sometime I’m an artist and that’s what I do.” Arcaris says, “Most of my songs have been about relationships so far and I’ve had a lot people ask ‘is this song about this ex?’ and I say, “it most definitely is and I’m sure he knows that.” Kali smiles. “It doesn’t matter to me though because he did what he did and I’m a singer so I’m going to put it out there,” she laughs.
BC: What are longterm goals you have as an artist?
KA: “I’m looking forward to getting an album out there and I also want to do more shows because of Covid I haven’t be able to do that. I want to be out there in the public and work on my stage presence and engaging with the crowd. A big goal for me would be to perform at a music festival - I’d love to do that one day!”
BC: Who is a dream collaborator for you?
KA: “The dream would be, Zach Bryan, I love his music!”
BC: What kind of challenges have you faced coming into the music industry and what have you faced from those?
KA: “A big challenge has definitely been being vulnerable. Not everyone is going to be excited for you when you put yourself out there. I’ve have a lot of people make fun but it doesn’t matter,” Arcaris says, “because Im doing something really cool and something I never dreamed I would be doing.”
BC: What can you tell us about your song, NVM, how did that become the song we hear today?
KA: “One of my co-writers started writing it as a love song and he sent me a portion of the first verse. I was new to this so I wasn’t all that good at giving feed back or stating what I wanted. I thought the song was good but it wasn’t something I could relate to. We brought it in and showed my producer and he said, ‘love songs don’t really seem like your kind of thing,’ so we flipped it and turned it into a rejection song which was something I could get behind.” Kali says. “It’s really cool how we transformed that song from a love song to a rejection song."
BC: NVM was added to three editorial playlists on Spotify such as: Next from Nashville, New Music Nashville and Young Nashville - what was going through your head when you found out?
KA: “Bryan sent me one of the editorial playlists that it landed on and the next morning he had sent me three more playlists that my song was on. I was looking through the playlists thinking, ‘how am I on the same level as these other artists?’” Arcaris says. "Bryan had put on a country playlist he usually listens to while he was cleaning the house with his family and he heard the intro and he checked and I was on it. He freaked out, sent it to me and I freaked out. That was definitely a big thing for me”.
BC: Who was the first person to hear NVM outside of management and your producer?
KA: “My best friend, Nathaniel. We have been friends for seven years and he’s always been my biggest supporter as far as music and anything I want to do. I sent him the song and told him to be honest and he called me and said, “You are unreal. This is so cool, I’m so happy for you.” He’s always had my back and I’m really excited to send him my new single thats coming out soon.”
BC: What can you tell us about the new music?
KA: “I just finished recording my new song called, When You’re Sober. It’s another really vulnerable song that I didn’t expect to make but I really needed to get it off my chest,” Says Arcaris. “I’m really excited about this one, it might be my favorite so far. I’m also going to be shooting a music video for that one soon, as well.”
BC: If you could say one thing to the whole world right now, what would you say?
KA: “I wish that everyone could be more honest and vulnerable, shoot for the stars and do what they want to do,” Arcaris tells me. “Don’t think about what anyone else has to say about it just be yourself - be genuine and honest and be you.”