Photo by Casey Shamis | Triangle
On Oct. 5, Drexel University hosted Dragonfly, an annual concert known for hosting big-name artists. This year’s show filled the DAC with fans eager to see iconic headliner Tinashe and opener Slayyyter. For those who arrived on time, the night started with an energetic DJ set by music industry student Kari who opened the show. After the performance, I had the chance to sit down with Kari, peek behind the scenes, and learn more about the rising star herself.
Veronica Pagliaro: Congratulations on your performance as this year’s Dragonfly student opener! Your set impressed everyone in the audience, and now people want to know who Cali is.
Kari: My name is Colin Keenan. Kali is my DJ/production project. I’m 20 years old and from Madison, Wisconsin. I’ve had a passion for music since I was a kid, watching DJ videos on YouTube from my dad’s iPod and trying to figure out GarageBand on the family computer. I’ve been producing and DJing more seriously for over 6 years, but decided to pursue music as a career rather than just a passion, which ultimately led me to come to Drexel for the Music Industry program. So here we are!
VP: What was the process of being selected as the Dragonfly’s starting pitcher? What did it mean to you to be selected?
K: I saw Dragonfly post on social media that they were looking for student artists, so I decided to take a chance. I sent them a bunch of music and they chose me for an interview. I had no idea what to expect as I interviewed with some really talented friends, which made it all the more meaningful that they chose me. I guess they thought I was a good fit for the headliners, Tinashe and Slay Year, who are great artists, so (it) meant a lot. A setup like (Dragonfly) is really special. Professionally, it has given me a lot of new ears for my music. I’ve played a lot of my songs and people have responded positively, so it’s really good to know that people like what I’m doing.
VP: Dragonfly is one of the biggest Drexel entertainment events each year. Give us the scoop: What was it like behind the scenes?
K: It was so much fun behind the scenes. The staff arrives very early (in the morning) to start the process. I arrived in the afternoon and took all my DJ equipment with me. I had my own private green room, which was great. The entire Dragonfly team was very kind and helpful. I got to see the soundcheck for both of the headliners, which was pretty cool. Then we did a sound check and talked to the lighting and sound staff. I was nervous during the sound check because I finally got to stand on stage and see what it actually sounded like. After that, we just waited for a long time in the dressing room, eating food and putting the finishing touches on the set. Now, it’s time for the real thing! As an artist, the work is done in the weeks leading up to the show, but the staff also takes their work seriously on the day of the show, which I really appreciate.
Vice President: Your opening performance really set the mood for the headliners. What was the process of curating a set that matched the tone of the show?
K: To be honest, we didn’t know who the other artists were going to be until a few weeks before the show, so we already started building the set a month or two before we got a feel for it. So I just wanted to be myself and hope everything would work out, and it did. Really it was up to the Dragonfly crew. They knew the atmosphere they wanted and did a great job of choosing the lineup accordingly.
VP: How did you prepare for this or any other live performance?
K: I’ve done a lot of DJ performances and they never go as expected. I always plan my sets, but I have to keep in mind that reading audience reactions and seeing people’s reactions is unpredictable. For example, a quick transition may be needed to get people going again. So I always have a backup plan, extra songs, and am ready for anything. It’s a lot of mental work, but it’s worth it. I think Dragonfly achieved the best result. It was probably one of the best sets I’ve ever done, and I think that’s because I spent so much time preparing it.
VP: Your set was very energetic and engaging. How do you incorporate the audience into your music choices and performances?
K: I try to put my own spin on songs that people already know, like old pop songs from the 2000s inverted to the modern underground electronic scene. I want them to enjoy a different style of music while singing and dancing together. Some pop songs just stop being hits over time, so it’s my job to strengthen them and make them more energetic. The key is to pick familiar music that people can get into, but still make it new so they can enjoy it.
VP: Your music is so unique and versatile. Which genre do you consider yourself to be?
K: Music is difficult to categorize, so I try not to limit myself to one genre. The genre we played at Dragonfly night is something like a subgenre of hyperpop called hyperflip or dahliacore. There, people put a million pop songs together and go crazy creating them. It’s something I’ve been playing a lot in my sets lately. Because it involves the audience by giving a new twist to familiar tracks. But other than that, I’m working on so many different genres for other projects. For example, I’m in a grunge band called Sub Mold. I’ve produced rap beats, dubstep, and hyperpop. I have gone through so many stages and am still expanding.
VP: As a student artist balancing your studies and music career, what does a typical day look like for you?
K: Balancing music and school can be difficult, but it’s rewarding. I went to school for the music industry, so sometimes making music feels like a job rather than a passion. Music and homework can become synonymous. Both parts of my life are very intertwined, but I try to separate them as much as possible to keep passion projects alive and separate from things that feel like work. What works for me is creating a schedule for myself where I do school work on the weekends and work on personal projects during the week.
VP: What do you think about your future as a musician?
K: I want to keep doing what I’m doing and be heard more in the electronic scene, the rap scene, the grunge scene, all the areas of music that I work in. I want to continue meeting and connecting with people through music, and I want to make my listeners happy.
VP: Where can I keep following your musical journey? K: You can find me on Instagram @kariofficial__ and I post almost all my music on soundcloud.com/karimusicc . I’m Cali from Spotify. New music will be released there soon. As for upcoming events, my DJ collective Helix always has events in University City. For more information, visit @helixhelixhelixhelixhelix on Instagram.
