If you live in Southern California, you’ve
probably run into this supermodel-esque social butterfly.
If not then you’ve definitely seen her picture. And
you’ll be seeing a lot more of Kimberly Lola as the
months pass. That’s because this singer/songwriter/dancer/model/…everything
else is building her empire as you read this.
At age two, Kimberly Lola got her first taste of performing
in front of a loving crowd. A very young Ms. Lola sang Greatest
Love of All by Whitney Houston at a retirement home on the
east coast for her slightly older, but adoring, fans. Ever
since, she hasn't wanted to go a day without a microphone.
Gaining experience and training through her school choirs,
various musicals, talent shows, and childhood singing groups,
she is no stranger to bright lights and music notes.
Kimberly Lola was raised on old-school R&B
that soon became as necessary to her as sandals at the beach.
Poway, her hometown just outside of San Diego, also became
the source for many of her influences. Pop, Rock, and Country
being most popular in those areas, made it easy for her
to gain an eclectic collection of music. She used her many
influences, especially that of Mariah Carey, to train her
voice in preparation for her future.
“I used to sit close to the speaker
and study every inflection of [Mariah’s] voice. This
was back when we used cassette tapes. I would stop the tape
after every bar or so, rewind it, then listen to it again
until I was able to make my voice sound exactly like hers…
high-pitch and all (laughs).”
She recalls a time when she performed a Mariah
Carey song at a talent show. After the performance, one
of Kimberly’s classmates told her that she cried because
she was so touched by her performance. “That’s
when I realized performing was what I had to do, no matter
what happened in my life.”
Kimberly Lola uses her many life experiences
to fuel her pen and her passion.
“I used to write about things I didn’t
know about, things I read about or things that happened
to other people… even things I imagined happening.
I hadn’t realized that my life experiences were worth
writing down and singing to people. Now, my life experiences
are all you’ll hear in my music.”
A music major at California State University,
San Marcos, Kimberly wrote, produced, and even composed
music as part of her curriculum. The more people complimented
her on her music writing skills, the more she wrote. “English
was always one of my best subjects in school. Little did
I know, it translates to writing music, not just essays.”
But don’t be fooled. Ms. Lola’s
music will not have you thinking you’re back in school,
bored out of your mind.
“I am not a ‘fillers’ artist.
If a song I write and record doesn’t excite me, it
isn’t going on my album. I can’t expect anyone
else to fall in love with my music if I’m not ecstatic
about it first.”
Released on December 12th, 2012, Kimberly
Lola’s first EP, entitled "This Lifetime",
is filled with love, pain, hope, and real talk. And if you
see her in concert, expect to see a show; maybe a little
bit of dancing, possibly a little bit of theater, and definitely
the right amount of soul.
Following Kimberly Lola's This Lifetime (EP),
the R&B/Pop singer/songwriter has returned with an Urban
Contemporary EP entitled "The Light," released
on November 14th, 2014, and available for free download
on Bandcamp!
Make sure to check back for updates on interviews,
videos, and more!