Poetry, Lyrics, and Music: A Conversation with Creative, Kae

I, Jhazzy Jhane, had the pleasure of interviewing my good friend, Kae. Kae is a 27-year-old creative and mother of two. She was born in Maryland and raised in Atlanta. She is an artist in many forms and has been since she was a child. Kae said, “Creativity isn’t just a hobby or a pastime. It’s all elements of life wrapped in one.” Our conversation was a deep dive into the heart of that creativity, and I’m excited to share it with you.

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey into music, songwriting, and poetry?

A: My creative journey really started with music. I picked up the violin in 3rd grade and the saxophone in 4th grade. I was a 1st chair violinist throughout middle school, which shaped a lot of my discipline and love for music early on. Around that time, I started to dabble in the cello. By the time high school rolled around, I got way more serious about it. Around fifteen, I taught myself guitar and started to dabble a little in piano out of curiosity about the sound. 

I think I started writing music in middle school. A few friends wanted to start a musical group. I was mainly a rapper in the group. At some point, my stepdad, who is a very talented singer, helped me write a song for the group. After that, songwriting came naturally to me. It just sort of clicked. Poetry became an extension of that. I realized that, sometimes, I felt restricted by melodies, and that's where my poetry was born. 

Singing didn't come into the picture until high school, when I was thrown into choir. I honestly never thought about singing before then. During section placement, my choir director, Mama Williams, heard me and told me I had a beautiful voice. She really encouraged me to step into that space, and I've been singing ever since. 

I also started to doodle a little bit over the years. I don’t think I’m very good at it, but I enjoy it. I see it as another avenue to express myself. Overall, the arts have played a huge part in how I navigate through the world. It's how I tell my story.

Q: Thank you so much for sharing this. These are things that I didn’t even know, and I’ve known you for a while. Can you talk a bit more about being thrown into the chorus? Give us some context there.

A: Sure. I got my schedule on the first day of school, and the chorus was on there. My advisor would not change it unless my mom wrote a note, and, at the time, she wasn't able to give me one.

Q: Were there particular artists—visual, musical, or literary—who first inspired you to create? 

A: Of course! Growing up, Missy Elliott, Left-Eye, and Aaliyah were huge inspirations to me. Honestly, I think Missy Elliott is one of the most slept-on creatives of our lifetime. Her songwriting, her production, even her music videos were years ahead of her time. Left-Eye is another artist I admire deeply. Her lyricism is unmatched to me. Her Supernova album really taught me the importance of authenticity at an early age. Even when it isn’t supported. 

And then there’s Aaliyah. Everything about her had a beautiful and effortless essence to me. I grew up listening to her, and even beyond the music, she's been a strong influence. I loved her fashion sense, and a lot of my style choices draw inspiration from her. I even named my daughter, Journey, after her rendition of “Journey to the Past.”

Even though Left-Eye and Aaliyah passed away so young, their music still sounds current to me. There’s something timeless about both of them that I admire. 

When it comes to writers, Zora Neale Hurston is my favorite. Their Eyes Were Watching God is hands down my favorite book. Her storytelling is so vivid. As for poetry, Rumi’s writing has always stood out to me. The way they capture love, loss, longing, and growth so beautifully is something I aspire to do one day. 

Visually, I’ve always been drawn to Van Gogh. You can feel his pain and emotion through his work. 

Q: Thank you for that. So many great artists you mentioned. I love Aaliyah. As you know, my dad almost named me after her. At Three Panels Press, we explore the connection between art and literature. How has visual art influenced your songwriting and/or poetry? 

A: I remember you saying that about your dad almost naming you Aaliyah.

Honestly, I see art everywhere. Not just in museums or on canvases, but in people, on buildings, in storms, and in stillness, too. I think God is the greatest artist of all. The way the clouds move, the way flowers bloom in the most unlikely places, the way a child laughs... All of this is visual poetry to me. 

Emotion opens my eyes to art in other ways. When I feel, sometimes, I think I'm able to see art in things I would've missed otherwise. Like when I care about a person, I notice the way they smile. The way the sun reflects off their skin. The way their energy fills a room without them even trying. That kind of beauty finds its way into my writing. Not just to be described, but to be felt. 

Even my tattoos hold visual meaning that influences my creative process. For example, I have a lotus on my wrist, a reminder of growth despite what I've been through. It grounds me in a survivor's mindset when I write. 

So when I think of visual art, it's not just paintings or drawings. It’s everything that makes me stop, look, and feel. It's God's work. It’s architecture. It’s love. It’s resilience, and it shapes my songwriting and poetry. 

Q: Beautifully said. Can you share an experience where a work of visual art sparked a song, a poem, or another creative project for you?

A: I don’t think I’ve ever written a piece based on a specific painting or gallery piece, but visual inspiration is still a huge part of my process. There have been times when someone I loved could just look at me the right way, and that would inspire me to pick up my pen. That look became a whole song or poem. So, I don’t have something tied to a specific artwork, but I’m always paying attention to what life puts in front of me.

Q: Your work crosses multiple disciplines. How do you decide what form a piece will take, whether it becomes a song, a poem, or something else? 

A: I don’t think I always decide. Sometimes I'll be writing a song and realize that it’s strong enough to stand without a melody. Sometimes I'll be writing a poem and feel the beat it needs to be on. For me, it's less about choosing and more about respecting the feelings that come. 

Q: Nice. Do you find that music and poetry feed each other in your creative process, or do they exist separately for you? 

A: They feed each other for sure. Sometimes I'll write lines and realize they’d make a perfect hook. Other times, I’ll be writing a song and realize it might be better as a poem. It’s all connected. 

Q: How important is historical or cultural context when you engage with or create art? 

A: I wrote a poem called Soul Tie that leans into connecting historical context to current spaces. It’s about a love that travels across lifetimes. The kind of connection that feels familiar, like "something ancient in me recognized something ancient in you.” In the poem, I imagine myself and the other person as Cleopatra and Marc Antony in one life, Sappho and her muse in another, and even as lovers from opposing tribes who were killed for their forbidden love. I wanted to channel the tragedy of those stories and express the idea of being separated by forces bigger than you, but being hopeful even when the timing of life isn't right. I feel that history helps me build on things I feel in this life. History provides language and experiences that will help people connect to my work. 

Q: Love this. I remember reading that piece and thinking it was amazing. Are there recurring themes or emotions that you find yourself returning to in your work? 

A: Thank you! Love, intimacy, and connection are the center of almost everything I write. I’m a very tender person, and I feel things deeply. Personally, I think it's one of my greatest strengths. I think the way we as humans experience each other is one of the most important things in life. A lot of my writing dances between love, sex, and vulnerability. I think there is something beautiful about being seen, understood, and being held without judgment. It’s about experiencing someone's soul, not their body. 

Q: How does your identity influence the stories and emotions you explore through your art?

A: I am a Black woman. I am a mother. These titles mean carrying strength, softness, history, the future, resilience, and beauty all at once. Effortlessly. Being Black in America taught me how to be strong, but motherhood taught me the importance of tenderness. I think my art reflects that balance. Strength and softness can coexist in one being. I hope to be a voice for the women who were silenced before me and possibly a voice of inspiration for the Black voices that will come after me. 

Q: What role does collaboration—between art forms or between artists—play in your practice? 

A: Collaboration is all about connection. As I’ve mentioned, human connection is everything to me. I love creating with others because it allows me to experience their energy. I think art becomes so powerful when it’s shared.

Q: I agree. Collaboration is beautiful. What advice would you give to artists and writers who are looking to build bridges between different mediums? 

A: Stay true to you. Expression doesn’t belong in a box. Whatever you feel is ok. However you express it, is ok. Even if it's not perfect, it's ok. When you see a sound or hear a color, it only has to make sense to you. As long as it's authentic, it's beautiful. Don't let the fear of judgment keep you from releasing what's in your heart. 

Q: Beautiful. Thank you for that. Can you share what you’re currently working on, or any upcoming projects we can look out for? 

A: Absolutely. Right now, I’m working on a poetry collection with the amazingly talented Jhane. I’m also diving into a few music projects. One that I’m especially excited about is an album called Don’t Box Me In. I’m collaborating with artists like Martize, AshtonParker, and Sin City Records, just to name a few. I’m proud of the music we’re creating together, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.

Q: I am so excited to be working on all of the things with you! Finally, I always ask this question: Why are art and its history important?

A: Art is how we remember. History gives facts, but art gives emotion, and to me, both are equally important when it comes to teaching new generations. Art is how we connect—not only to ourselves, but to our ancestors. Art and its history are important because they show that even in the midst of a storm, we can create something beautiful.

Kae’s journey reminds us that art is more than a form of expression. It’s a lifeline, a mirror, and a bridge between generations. Her work lives at the intersection of vulnerability and strength, tradition and innovation, pain and beauty. Whether through poetry, music, or quiet reflection, Kae continues to create from a place of deep truth. And in doing so, she not only tells her story but invites us all to reflect on our own. Give Kae a follow: https://www.instagram.com/so.emotional/.