Artist Interview: Luna Kali

By Resonate | April 21, 2024

Words by Binki Elsbury

Resonate’s Binki sits down with Bristol-based creative and BIMM ambassadors to talk community, the gatekeeping of knowledge, and why there needs to be more friendly faces within the scene. 

There have only been a few times when I’ve interviewed someone, and the script has truly flown out the window. Before I sat down with the Bristol-based multi-hyphenate, I was feeling downtrodden after a series of half-hearted interviewees who felt determined to hide behind the mystique, perhaps a little too cool for school, which Luna Kali later echoed in our discussion of the state of Bristol’s scene. So, with that in mind, I prepared a series of questions and prompts, expecting to have to mine for just that smither of knowledge on how the BIMM artist has positioned herself within Bristol’s creative community. I knew that feeling was wrong as soon as Kali joined me inside Cafe Kino, a familiar cafe and venue in the heart of Stokes Croft; her presence immediately lifted me out of my uninterested mood. 

Kali then introduced herself as an RnB artist with her hand in all areas of the creative process, from writing and producing to mixing, even engineering some of your favourite live acts at Bristol staples such as The Gallimaufry. It was at this venue that I was first introduced to Luna Kali the performer, attracting a crowd determined to ride the wave of her set, camera flashes on, with Kali backed just by her electric guitar in hand. And after ending with a reworking of a foregone Jessie J track, I could hear that Kali was following in the footsteps of artists such as Mahalia and Raye, flying the flag for the RnB that’s always been bubbling just under the surface until recently here in the UK. 

But although Kali has certainly created a home for herself within Bristol’s creative community, her roots were laid back in Lisbon, Portugal, where her family still lives. Here, Kali was exposed to her family’s love of Brazilian and Latino music, which I could see in her energy and clothing, which I imagined reflecting a summer in her home country. But what struck me the most was the difference between her university experience and her peers, often waiting months to see her mum catching up over video calls and text messages. It’s a circumstance that Kali seems to take in her stride, having gone on to lead BIMM’s International Student Society, coordinating their “Chilli Jam Sessions” at The Canteen and other essential social events, bringing students from different backgrounds together to share in the common experience of having to break through and create community for themselves in a university where a lot of students and musicians might take that for granted. Kali described one French student who sought her out, hoping to connect with other French or French-speaking musicians in Bristol. Although there wasn’t a network of French musicians within the society, the student could connect with others who felt similarly eager to build community in a new city, something super important to Kali and those who need connection.

What Kali doesn’t take for granted is the opportunity to challenge the norms in Bristol. This dichotomy between an open and diverse range of talent on stage and the persistence of ‘all-knowing’ men behind the scenes is what Kali is breaking through, describing how she has taken control of her live sets by speaking the language of the engineers behind the desk whilst also challenging these professionals in her shadowing of sound engineers by asking ‘why?’ in the face of blank expressions and “because I do it this way” attitudes. Luna Kali urges not just for more womxn and people of colour to occupy spaces off the stage and away from the camera, but for the gatekeeping of knowledge to come crashing down to allow them to do so.  

But for Kali to inspire others, there must have been creatives in Bristol that she has also looked up to. Bristol-based emcee and musician MADLY is one of those role models for Kali, incorporating French-lyricism in her bars and being a supportive force behind The Gallimaufry’s hip-hop social Family Business. It was here that MADLY encouraged Kali on stage, just like the now Mahalia co-signed TIANNA and BIMM newcomer Lily Mackay. The warm embrace she received from MADLY was powerful in a jazz-jam community that can often feel stuffy and elitist. This friendliness is something that Kali believes doesn’t have to be sacrificed at these events after being invited to join the Family Business open mic hip-hop night’s house band alongside occasional desk duties. These jam sessions are less an opportunity to show off and network but a chance to feel inspired and empowered by veterans within the community.

Kali then found a home at The Gallimaufry, having done sound for the venue and the nu-jazz group BinBag Wisdom. Kali described the validation of hearing the veterans of Family Business’ excitement for the multi-hyphenate, refusing to allow her to disappear behind a successful night of sound engineering, ending their gig with a nod to Kali behind the desk; hoping that she’d be properly paid for her work. 

Sadly, this is not Kali’s experience of Bristol’s live circuit, even suggesting that sharing equipment between peers now comes at a cost. Kali found this to be in contrast with her time at home in Lisbon, defined by collective responsibility and a gift economy with no expectation of reciprocation or an invoice at the end of a gig. The international student found it especially surprising having chosen Bristol as a home because of its DIY reputation.

This is why Kali urges those not from an international background to join her and the community for their events at BIMM and The Canteen. The society hopes to set a musical and social responsibility precedent within a city that hasn’t acknowledged the scale of the contribution made to its culture by women of colour and students from around the globe. But the essential ingredient to these community efforts is Luna Kali; her charm and warmth can lift others out of even the most uninspired of moods, letting me know that a smile really does cost nothing.  

You can follow Luna Kali on Instagram @Lunakali.music