KAL MARSHALL

Interviewby:EbonyJackson

We met Kal Marshell in a quiet intimate steakhouse in Los Angeles,Ca

He was fashionable and understated, With great skin and a warm smile, dressed in all black he took off his black roundsunglasses.

His look included a signature gold locked-on love necklace which he designed and released last year. A black long sleeve T-shirt with white letters saying INDIE Artists Of The World Black velvet joggers that he paired withblackDiorB23High-topsneakers.

As he welcomed and embraced me, he was inviting and smelleddivine. Icomplimentedhimonhisscentandaskedwhathewore Iinstantlyfeltlikewekneweachotherforeverhewasone ofthemostcharmingmenI’devermet.Hethenrespondedwithawarmsmoothvoice.

Hello and thank you! It is my pleasure to meet you and your beautiful readers and I’m currently wearingLaLabo

Wewereabletodiverightintoourinterview:

EJ:Whendidyoudiscoveryourpassionformusic?

KM: Keeping it one hundred, I never discovered my passion for music, because music discovered me Music is my happy place, I believe it’s because of my mother She’s a singer and musician so from conception she was playing the organ/piano, singing, learning songs, or practicing music at alltimes.

I never had to discover my passion for music, my life has never been without it. My prayer has alwaysbeenformusictohaveapassionforme.

EJ: You are a native of Chicago IL, how did your surroundings growing up impact who and where you are today?

KM: I am a Chicago native!

I’m fortunate to have lived all over the Chicagoland area

Growing up in the suburbs and going to church in the city of Chicago allowed me to have the best of both worlds I learned a little Hebrew with my Jewish friends from school and had an out-of-body musical/spiritual experience as a child at church

I became an entertainer because I feel I was born to do a little dance, make a little love and get down When I grew up it was education, church business, and show business.

Since artists never interacted with music royalty from the 20th & 21st centuries but I did, because I was in Chicago These moments allowed me to honor the rich history of my city and the historians allowing me to truly understand the stories within the music I believe that when you respect your elders and the past, you honor your future

I grew up meeting and performing with icons such as Albertina Walker, Aretha Franklin, Shirley Cesar, and many more so the progression to become an entertainer was natural I’ve performed and opened for secular artists/icons as well such as Miki Howard, Ginuwine, and Jennifer Hudson and the list goes on

I’m grateful my upbringing and surroundings instilled the importance of being a compassionate person, a professional, and a patient man that gives one hell of a show.

So that’s how my surroundings impacted me and I’m pretty happy about it

EJ: Can you reflect on your earliest example of entrepreneurship?

KM: I definitely can, honestly, it started in church when I was a child

(After a chuckle, Kal lights up the room with a quick smile of excitement so warm it’s infectious He settles and responds )

I wanted candy from the church candy store but didn’t have the money to get what I wanted and I couldn’t steal So I realized, if I helped out / worked every Sunday I could get out of service early and get paid in snacks! I was 8 years old and bartered my deal. I was on top of the world happy with my company perks. I told Ms.Bonnie I helped my great aunt in her home candy store from the ages of 6-8 and could help her. I then resold some of those snacks to my suburban classmates, I was a “boss” for an 8-year-old he laughed

Wow, that’s my earliest memory Thank you for helping me to remember

EJ: What has been your greatest lesson in entrepreneurship and music?

KM: My greatest lesson in both entrepreneurship & music (After a pause Kal thinks for a moment and completes his thought )

It might sound cliché but it would have to be to never quit "A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits “

If you find or know your passion, study it That’s how you find your purpose, within your passion Then no matter what life throws your way, you will always have the will to push through and continue on

As an entrepreneur and artist, I’ve lost more than you’d believe I will probably lose more than I can mentally conceive at this moment. I also understand that if my purpose is fulfilled in this life, it’s all worth it because I will leave this earth fulfilled with actual joy

So keep going and never quit that’s my greatest lesson so far

EJ: One of your accomplishments has been losing over 250lbs naturally, can you share a little about your weight-loss journey and your tips for keeping motivated?

KM: (His expressive face looks shocked as he’s surprised by this question

Kal responds to me with a laugh and says: I see you do your research

Honestly, I lost weight because of Lizzo. I absolutely adore her and the body positivity movement.

For me weight was always a struggle and when I moved to Los Angeles, CA I had slimmed down considerably from my 500 lbs high school stature Although slimmer I was still heavy and as I sat in my drop top, on my way to an event

I realized I was unhappy, I couldn’t stop sweating and had the most uncomfortable shapewear on because I wasn’t being honest with myself I realized in that moment I didn’t truly love myself and I wasn’t feeling “good as hell” That night I stared in the mirror and implemented my philosophy Either love yourself as you are or fix what you want to change

That night I swore myself to a year of no-shape wear and that is what started me on my path to love myself 3 years ago Now 275 lbs later the love I have for myself is what keeps me motivated daily I realized it was never about the weight it was always about honesty and to me that’s body positivity.

EJ: Tell us about your newly released single "Come Thru", can you share the message behind it?

KM: Well, Come Thru is my new baby, a sultry and sophisticated song that I’m grateful radio stations and people across the nation are enjoying When I wrote Come Thru the producer Jay Rence was like where the hell has this guy been?

I wrote it feeling like currently I’m missing in music Everyone sounds amazing, but everyone sounds the same So I wanted to let folks hear a male balladeer, sing about romance, love, and happiness So the message was simple, I wanted people to feel me

So the message was simple, I wanted people to feel me

It’s an authentic and elegant love song about saying yes to desire A new type of song for me more sensual than my previous recordings but we all must evolve and I’m just grateful to love who I’m becoming

EJ: What is next for Kal Marshell?

KM: There are a few projects in the works: Movies, music, books, and more spectacular things that I’ll be sharing on social media and my website www KALLIVE com

I would be honored if your readers decided to sign up for announcements and special gifts

I am excited to share that I’m preparing for my first live recording in Wheeling, Il I’ll become a part of history this August as the first African American to record a live album in that city. Wheeling is one of the suburbs in the Chicagoland area where I grew up.

I’m excited because I’ve partnered with great businesses as well to give an amazingly immersive and intimate experience for the audience

I appreciate the support I receive and you can find me on social media at @KAL.LIVE. I may be coming to a city near you soon and would love to meet some of your amazing readers in person.

EJ: What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?

KM: Often times the word hustler can have a negative connotation people think pimp, prostitute, swindler, and people of ill repute.

For me, I hustle hard but when I say hustle I define it as

H is for Healing the community

U is for Understanding others

S is for Studying & sharing knowledge

T is for Tact and talent in every aspect of life

L is for Learning lessons in all environments

E is for Ethics because you can never lose your light if your intentions are pure

I am a man, entertainer, and entrepreneur who understands making things happen is necessary to succeed To ensure I keep going in a positive direction I try to always remember what hustle means to me

This is my definition of what it means I have the T-shirts to prove it.

Thank you for having me and I appreciate this opportunity so much

(Hustle T-shirts for men & women are available now at www Kallive com )

ConnectWithKalMarshell: https://linktr.ee/KalMarshell https://youtu.be/qd4TqI8I2u8 www.Kallive.com