A Name to Watch: CALICA

On Thursday, September 19th CALICA performed for the first time since releasing her debut album Yes, It’s About You at Floyd Miami. Since then she’s moved to Los Angeles to continue to push her career and vision forward, but she’s a Miami girl (and former Cane) at heart and was very eager to share her inspirations and motivations with WVUM. 

1. You're a pretty young performer and you said that Thursday's show at Floyd was your first performance as CALICA but I'm sure you've been doing music for much longer, could you tell me a little bit about how started and how that turned into CALICA?  

-I’ve been doing music since I was really young. I started piano lessons when I was 6 and started singing when I entered middle school. I attended magnet middle & high schools for music, and after high school I went on to study at the Frost School of Music at UM. I majored in Music Business and decided I actually didn’t want to be a performer, but that changed senior year when I met my producers, SMLE. I went through the breakup that inspired my album, and channeled all my energy into writing music, something I had never thought I was any good at. SMLE and I would spend hours in the studio just having fun recording tracks, and that eventually turned into Calica! 

2. You're also a Miami native, how has growing up in South Florida informed your music and your taste? 

-I feel so lucky to have been able to grow up in South Florida. I LOVE Miami so much and I’ll never forget where I came from. My music taste has 100% been influenced by my upbringing in Miami. I love my indie, alternative bands but I also am a sucker for the reggaeton, hip-hop, and salsa bangers I’d hear at everyone’s quinces. 

3. Your show Thursday had a lot of fun covers from JT to Kali Uchis, can you talk a little bit about your influences and how they inspire your overall sound and fashion style? Also how you plan to differentiate yourself from them in your music. 

-My top 3 musical inspirations would have to be Lianne La Havas, Tame Impala, and Lily Allen. Lianne’s vocals are just stunning and I really pride myself my vocals in and out of the studio, and her lyrics are beautiful. Tame Impala’s music is so easy to listen to and I draw a ton of inspiration from Kevin Parker’s production. Lily Allen has been my GIRL since like 6th grade and I love how cheeky her lyrics are, she was a huge inspiration when I was writing “Bitch”. I feel like my songs don’t sound too similar to any of my influences’ music because my own individual experiences shape them. I have my own sound and I draw inspiration from all over the place. 

 4. You dropped your debut album 'Yes, it's About You' on all streaming platforms, that's so exciting! Could you talk a little bit about what you set out to do with this record, the overall experience, and your hopes for it going forward? 

-So I wrote this record 2 years ago after the end of a really serious relationship. It was a rough time for me, to say the least. I had never really considered myself a songwriter up until this point, but I needed some way to channel everything I was feeling. The album isn’t just about one person, though. It’s about a handful of people who really affected me during that time in my life. I think the title “Yes, it’s About You” is really fitting also because, at the end of the day, all of the songs are about me. They’re a time capsule of how I processed my emotions at the time, and it’s really amazing to see how much I’ve grown as a person and as a songwriter since writing them! 

5. My friends and I went absolutely ballistic when you started playing "Bitch"; it’s such a fun song with a not-so-fun subject matter, what makes you set out to write a song like that? 

-Hahah so “Bitch” is basically about my ex’s current girlfriend. Long story short, we used to be friends until some very unfortunate things happened. I wrote the song in the midst of all the drama and it helped me a LOT to release all the negative energy I had built up about the situation.  

6. During the show your dad talked to my friends and I and we were gushing about you and he seemed so thankful for that, and at the end of your set you acknowledged that it was the support and love from your parents that made the difference when deciding to pursue music full-time, could you talk a little bit more about your family and the other supporters in your life that have gotten you to where you are? 

-My family means EVERYTHING to me. My parents have been my #1 supporters since day one and I owe everything to them. They drove me to music lessons an hour away, school, rehearsals, and showed up to every single one of my shows growing up. I feel so lucky to have been blessed with such an amazing family and I know not everybody has the support that I’ve had in my life. I also have incredibly supportive friends who’ve always been there for me in times when I needed reassurance and I’m legit just so grateful to be where I am because of them. 

7. Finally, you're moving to L.A.! Congratulations! Have you been before and what are you most excited to do when you're there? What will you miss the most about Miami? 

-Thank you I just moved out here yesterday! I have been to LA a couple of times to work with my producers and shoot my two music videos. I knew from the first time I visited that I had to live here. I fell in love with the scenery, the people, and the overall vibe of L.A immediately. I’m most excited to be surrounded by people who are doing the same thing as I am. I definitely want to collaborate and write with as many musicians as I can and start playing more shows as soon as possible! 

Stream CALICA’s debut “Yes, It’s About You” on Spotify & Apple Music 

Instagram: @calicamusic