Canadian Pop/Rock Artist KHAY Unveils Debut Single “Broken”
Powerhouse performer and “soul-stirring artist,” Canadian-born Pop/Rock Singer/Songwriter KHAY (Kh-AY) unveils her highly anticipated debut single, “BROKEN.”
With a vocal tone that is powerful, rich, and deeply affecting, KHAY’s authenticity as a musician and artist forms the cornerstone of her music. Drawing inspiration from iconic figures like Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin, KHAY’s music bridges soul with hints of rock, seamlessly fusing alternative and pop influences.
“BROKEN” serves as a gritty and soulful anthem, shedding light on the fragility of the human spirit and the power found in vulnerability. Produced by Marito Marques, the track showcases KHAY’s earthy vocals and vulnerable lyricism, inviting listeners towards introspection and self-discovery.
In reflecting on the creation of “BROKEN”, KHAY shares,
“The release of “BROKEN” represents years of work. A labor of songwriting love, this song has been a source of inspiration for me in so many ways.” She continues, “I am thrilled to finally share this recording with the world.”
As a seasoned vocalist and instrumentalist, KHAY continuously pushes creative boundaries, crafting music that challenges listeners to explore deeper emotions and perspectives. With a performance history that spans Broadway to the North Pole, KHAY’s solo music journey is rooted in a passion to create legacy music that resonates with audiences worldwide.
“I insist on consistently stretching my creativity as a songwriter, recording artist, and live music performer,” says KHAY. “My dedication to creating truthfully honest music underscores my commitment to my craft.”
KHAY brings a wealth of experience to her music career, including a lengthy history of professional Musical Theatre (Broadway’s “Ragtime,” Stratford Festival, and Fosse the musical in Toronto). Additionally, she has portrayed principal roles on Television and in film, sharing the screen with Angela Bassett, Tessa Thompson, and other esteemed actors.
KHAY as a new artist highlights her fresh perspective, despite her extensive background in the entertainment industry. As a Black Female Musician/Artist breaking away from the R&B stereotype, KHAY’s Pop-Rock sound offers a unique angle that resonates with diverse audiences.
The message behind the music is universal and speaks to a wide demographic. “BROKEN” is a powerful, honest, and uplifting tune that delves into the raw and challenging human emotions we all experience. It validates feelings of brokenness while inspiring strength and resilience.
Words to describe KHAY: Authentic, powerful, poised, gritty, unapologetic, relentless, and unwavering.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
It really is a pleasure to make this connection with Canadian Beats and thank you for having me. My name is KHAY, and as a solo recording artist, songwriter, instrumentalist, and creator, I live in daily gratitude for the gift of being able to live and breathe music making. Formally trained as a dancer, vocalist, and musician, I’ve been a student of music my entire life. Life-long training in multiple areas of the creative arts has allowed me to form a strong foundation for all things creative but, music has always lay at the heart of everything I’ve created as an artist.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
My latest release “BROKEN” is a testament to the truth of what it means to be a human living in this ultra fast, overstimulating, emotionally charged modern world.I wrote “BROKEN’ as a gritty and soulful pop-rock anthem and as a rally cry to provoke listeners to get introspective. This song highlights the fragility in all of us and leaves space to recognize how much power exists in exposing the truth of that fragility. My goal for “BROKEN” is for it to grab listeners into consciousness and awaken them to what’s real and what isn’t within themselves.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
I get asked this question often and I love it because the songwriting process/ creative process is so unique to each of us as creators. It’s one of the most fascinating aspects of our craft. For me, it begins with one of either two things….The first… sitting down with either my guitar or at a piano and structuring a chord progression that moves me emotionally. With this method of writing, I’ll typically continue to play with this harmonic progression, change chords around, and just organically allow the harmony to evolve without trying to think of melody just yet. Melody and lyrics will come later once the progression feels authentic. The other method of songwriting for me, is to begin with some form of a drum pattern that speaks to me and then add a really simple bass line that again feels like it works with that pattern. This approach is kind of like starting from the ‘ground up’.I say this often… having grown up training as a dancer, rhythm lives so deeply inside of me that it’s impossible for me to listen or to create music without some connection to what’s happening rhythmically within the composition. Songwriting and composition is by far one of my favourite aspects of being a musician and creative.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
Absolutely YES! Another incredibly gratifying aspect of putting music into the world is following up on what is born of the initial recorded offering. We’re excited to be releasing the official music video for ‘BROKEN’ in mid-March 2024. I’m extremely excited about the collaborations I was so fortunate to be a part of on this video project and look forward to sharing the details on the incredible team who helped bring this creative endeavour to fruition. Stay tuned for the official “BROKEN” video release date.
Additionally, I invite Canadian Beats readers to stay connected via (www.iamkhay.com or @iamkhaymusic) for upcoming live show announcements for Summer 2024.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
There have been SO many pivotal moments on my journey as a musician, songwriter, and creator BUT, the most pivotal would have to be my first recording session in a professional studio. As I sat in the control room of that first studio session and listened back to my vocals through the system speakers, I remember so clearly knowing that THIS is what I wanted to do with my career. I remember the rush of elation and pride in hearing myself ‘outside of myself’ and fully appreciating the magic of what is possible within the recording context. It was beyond anything I had imagined and it was just so moving. It was so early in my journey but, I’d have to say that was the moment the catapulted me into the realm of ‘recording artist’.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
Ohhhhhh I love this question also… paying it forward is SUCH an important part of what it means to be a fully present and collaborative artist operating within a community. I’d have to say that Allison Russell is most definitely on my radar for 2024. As an artist of colour with an incredibly authentic sound and approach to songwriting, I’m very excited to follow her journey as her star rises. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a musician. With more exposure and visibility for so many of us whose musical offerings are less traditional, there is so much more space and grace for us to create and produce authentically.