It’s been said that music is universal. Buenaventura - Columbia’s Kasbeel takes that a step further and shows us that music exists in all corners of the world through her unmatched and noteworthy songwriting. We sit down with Kasbeel as she speaks on her artistic development, behind-the-scenes of creating her latest song “Yo Soy Dios,” and her goals as an artist.

(Translated by Andres Botero)

Abby Martinez: How did you get started in music?

Kasbeel: I’ve been writing for a long time. When I was a little girl, I wrote stories not songs. That's the way I used to see myself or see my writing, as more of a storyteller than a songwriter. I started posting on my social media a year and a half ago, and the way people started receiving my music content was really remarkable. 

AM: You live in one of the roughest cities in Buenaventura - Colombia, how has living under tough circumstances affected your music?

Kasbeel: I’ve been influenced by my city and everything that happens around me in a positive way, because cruel and strong experiences are important for me to live and express those experiences through art and music.

AM: How did you create your latest song, “Yo Soy Dios (I am God),” and what inspired it?

Kasbeel: Initially, “Yo Soy Dios” is a song that I personally wanted to be an expression against bullying. I found myself in situations in which people have bullied me because of my skin color, or what they assume are my sexual preferences.

And I wrote this song as a form of expression for myself and hopefully for other people, understanding that personal acceptance is very important, but it is a very hard process for each person to go through.

So it's a song about empowerment and believing in yourself. Apart from this, it was also a song that I wanted to transcend as far as the production values, as I had been putting out content that was organic from my house. But I felt this was an important song, and I wanted it to live in a production with production values according to the message that I wanted to promote on the set with the lyrics and the song.

AM: Do you write music by yourself or do you collaborate with other people to create your music? 

Kasbeel: I write lyrics all by myself. And when I think it's ready, then I socialize it with the rest of the team.

AM: A lot of artists write in really unconventional places, such as in a closet or under their desk, where do you write music?

Kasbeel: I used to write all over my house where I used to live. That house fell down. So now, in my new house, I write in my bedroom on my computer. It is important for me to be by myself. And in an intimate space.

AM: You are a drama student and you're an artist, so you are very artistic! How has being a drama student helped your music career?

Kasbeel: There's a lot of influence from my studies in drama, because it stimulates a more wholesome approach. It's not only feelings, but also logic, and the process of drama itself. Plus, being surrounded by other students and their creative processes and making them be a part of my project also brings different feedback and different opinions. My team are some of my classmates, who are also an important part of the project.

AM: Your music is so empowering! What are your other goals for your music?

Kasbeel: I want to be recognized as a fully organic artist. So I guess that being a true artist might be a good way to put that, an artist that people can relate to in a true sense. And another goal that I have with my art would be to be able to reach people and get to know people from all over the world.

AM: Would you rather speak all your thoughts or not speak at all?

Kasbeel: It's hard for me to decide which one of the two because it is the conflict that I am going through right now. Human beings are constantly deconstructing themselves with words and actions. And nobody knows what is really politically correct. So I am actually experiencing that precise question right now, and wouldn't know which one of the two answers is the right one.

AM: Do you have any future projects?

Kasbeel: My short term objectives are being able to solidify “Yo Soy Dios” and my musical content up until now into a great show. That's the first goal, and the second short term goal would be to make my first record.

Follow Kasbeel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/KASBEEL/about

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