Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali Dean from Broward County Florida.
Kali, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Well, I’ve always been around music. I have friends in the music industry and a lot of them are DJs. That really sparked my interest. I moved to Atlanta in 2016 and linked with another female DJ, DJ Visionz, who showed me the ropes and how to push myself professionally. From there, I started posting my DJing videos on Instagram and they started going viral. I started getting booked and it’s been a really cool journey so far.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wouldn’t say it’s been hard, but there are some hurdles I’ve had to go through. The biggest is being underestimated Because I’m a woman and a lot of men think I can’t DJ or they try to get over. I have to shut that down real quick though lol I love proving people wrong. I’m more than just a pretty face and I’m about my business. Once people hear me perform, they know I’m the real deal.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
First and foremost, I’m a DJ. I’ve toured, performed at festivals, and rocked some very notable venues. On top of djing, I also a model. Within the last year, my modeling opportunities have picked up so I’ve been doing both interchangeably. I would say I’m known more for DJing. So far, I would have to say performing at Rolling Loud has been my proudest moment and going on tour with Asian Doll. Those experiences taught me a lot and I had so much fun. It’s crazy. I’ve only been DJing for four years but I’ve been blessed with some really cool opportunities.
What sets me apart from others is my style and my sound. I’m Haitian and Puerto Rican so my musical influence is very coastal. I mix Caribbean, hip-hop, R&B, pop, and old-school. So when people hear my sets, I’m really trying to take you into my universe lol. My style is sweet but the street. The 90s mixed with some spice girl energy! I believe, as a DJ, you have to embody both. Back in the day, people looked at DJs for style inspiration. I’m trying to uphold that notion so my style is always going to be unique and on-point.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a girly Tomboy. I have always been laid back and free-spirited. I love going outside and playing sports with the boys lol. I use to collect sneakers. I had almost every pair of Jordan’s that came out. I also collected CDs. I would hang my CDs up on the wall and would act like if I was walking into a studio. I would always dance and listen to music in my room. I would blast the music as high as it can go at any time of the day. Growing up, I would ride around with my dad in his Donk/cut list with the trunk beating. He had all the latest CDs. I would say I got my music taste from him lol.
Contact Info:
- Email: kalideanbookings@gmail.com
- Instagram: Kalidean_
- Other: Soundcloud.com/kalidean
Image Credit:
Still going designs, Ntro4k, childishart, simbalic, savag3 productions, Sethrwelch, yv_dotty
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