Sigma Alpha Iota

8 Winter 2024 • sai-national.org Alumnae A rtistically poised pianist Kayla rtistically poised pianist Kayla Waters, an initiate of the Delta Nu Waters, an initiate of the Delta Nu Chapter, is a chart-topping Chapter, is a chart-topping recording artist, composer, recording artist, composer, producer, and film-scorer. Aer signing a new producer, and film-scorer. Aer signing a new record deal with Shanachie Records, Kayla record deal with Shanachie Records, Kayla victoriously releases her brand new musical victoriously releases her brand new musical offering offering Presence Presence, a life-giving creative work , a life-giving creative work alluding to the beauty of the ocean and God's alluding to the beauty of the ocean and God's abundant love. Beautifully composed and abundant love. Beautifully composed and eloquently written, eloquently written, Presence Presence is a stunning is a stunning addition to her repertoire following albums addition to her repertoire following albums Coevolve Coevolve and and Apogee Apogee. As a four-time Billboard . As a four-time Billboard number 1 artist ( number 1 artist (I Am I Am, , Zephyr, Zephyr, Full Bloom, Full Bloom, and and Open Portals) Open Portals), Kayla made history by becoming , Kayla made history by becoming the first female pianist to reign atop the chart for the first female pianist to reign atop the chart for six consecutive weeks. six consecutive weeks. Recently, Kayla's musical achievements have Recently, Kayla's musical achievements have been extolled on prestigious platforms, as she was been extolled on prestigious platforms, as she was honored with the Rising Star in Jazz Award (Black honored with the Rising Star in Jazz Award (Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Foundation of Women in Jazz and the Arts Foundation of Atlanta) and the Best Jazz Artist Award (e Atlanta) and the Best Jazz Artist Award (e Wammies & e Musicianship) in Washington, Wammies & e Musicianship) in Washington, DC, where she is based. e spotlight has humbly DC, where she is based. e spotlight has humbly created opportunities for Kayla to play and created opportunities for Kayla to play and perform with music legends and prominent perform with music legends and prominent recording artists, including Stevie Wonder, Patrice recording artists, including Stevie Wonder, Patrice Rushen, Avery*Sunshine, Maysa Leak, Sheila E., Rushen, Avery*Sunshine, Maysa Leak, Sheila E., and Dave Koz, to name a few. Passionately and Dave Koz, to name a few. Passionately alluring, Kayla gracefully flourishes on stage, alluring, Kayla gracefully flourishes on stage, having played exhilarating and exuberant having played exhilarating and exuberant concerts at intimate venues, illustrious theaters, concerts at intimate venues, illustrious theaters, and acclaimed festivals worldwide. Laced with and acclaimed festivals worldwide. Laced with purpose, the luminous artist shined brightly on purpose, the luminous artist shined brightly on national television at BET's acclaimed "Black national television at BET's acclaimed "Black Girls Rock" awards show, revealing her tenacity Girls Rock" awards show, revealing her tenacity and musical diversity by performing with legend and musical diversity by performing with legend Gladys Knight, Marsha Ambrosius, Corinne Gladys Knight, Marsha Ambrosius, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Imani Uzuri. Kayla was also Bailey Rae, and Imani Uzuri. Kayla was also invited to be a featured keyboardist at the invited to be a featured keyboardist at the inaugural Fender Rhodes Fest in Los Angeles inaugural Fender Rhodes Fest in Los Angeles alongside a host of music contemporaries. alongside a host of music contemporaries. A classically trained pianist who grew up in a A classically trained pianist who grew up in a jazz household, Kayla's parents observed her jazz household, Kayla's parents observed her innate passion for music when as early as innate passion for music when as early as 10-months old, "baby Kayla" frequently made her 10-months old, "baby Kayla" frequently made her way into the living room and began "playing" the way into the living room and began "playing" the family's Brentwood piano. Enrolling in piano family's Brentwood piano. Enrolling in piano lessons at the age of six, she instantly fell in love lessons at the age of six, she instantly fell in love with music and fervently began mastering her with music and fervently began mastering her gis. As the daughter of iconic jazz saxophonist gis. As the daughter of iconic jazz saxophonist Kim Waters, Kayla closely examined the inner Kim Waters, Kayla closely examined the inner workings of the music industry by studying and workings of the music industry by studying and admiring his successful career. Kayla's admiring his successful career. Kayla's observations naturally inspired her to pursue her observations naturally inspired her to pursue her calling and passion-purpose as a pianist. In calling and passion-purpose as a pianist. In addition to being featured on several of her addition to being featured on several of her father's albums, she tours and performs with him father's albums, she tours and performs with him at a myriad of concerts and jazz festivals at a myriad of concerts and jazz festivals internationally. ese rich experiences nurtured internationally. ese rich experiences nurtured her creative artistry, serving as fertile ground for her creative artistry, serving as fertile ground for Kayla's evolution as an emerging pianist, Kayla's evolution as an emerging pianist, composer, and producer. composer, and producer. With aplomb, Kayla is elated to be an official With aplomb, Kayla is elated to be an official Yamaha Artist and a voting member of the Yamaha Artist and a voting member of the Grammy's Recording Academy. As a Summa Grammy's Recording Academy. As a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Howard University where Cum Laude graduate of Howard University where she earned her degree in Piano Performance, she earned her degree in Piano Performance, Kayla credits the institution for her pianistic Kayla credits the institution for her pianistic success. Spiritually grounded, she revels in the success. Spiritually grounded, she revels in the opportunity to share her God-given gis of music opportunity to share her God-given gis of music in ministry on each and every stage she graces. in ministry on each and every stage she graces. Firm in her faith and wholly aware of her unique Firm in her faith and wholly aware of her unique purpose, Kayla never loses sight of God divinely purpose, Kayla never loses sight of God divinely orchestrating her every move. orchestrating her every move. Presence Presence features ten works, each with their features ten works, each with their own unique feel. own unique feel. Undulation Undulation melodically melodically illustrates the "ebbs and flows" of ocean waves, illustrates the "ebbs and flows" of ocean waves, composed to take listeners to a loy place of joy. composed to take listeners to a loy place of joy. On On Oceanz of Love Oceanz of Love, Kayla thinks of the beauty, the , Kayla thinks of the beauty, the depth, and the vastness of God's love for depth, and the vastness of God's love for humanity. "My fingers eloquently and naturally humanity. "My fingers eloquently and naturally fell in place to compose this piece of adoration in fell in place to compose this piece of adoration in A Major. What a gi it is to be loved by God! is A Major. What a gi it is to be loved by God! is piece also has a 'two-fold' meaning. e 'z' in piece also has a 'two-fold' meaning. e 'z' in Oceanz Oceanz is for my boyfriend Zo, who is a creative is for my boyfriend Zo, who is a creative photographer and also took the album cover photographer and also took the album cover shot." e title work, shot." e title work, Presence Presence, is so and sweet, , is so and sweet, meek and peaceful. " meek and peaceful. "Presence Presence is a piece that is a piece that captures the essence of who I am – a woman of captures the essence of who I am – a woman of God and a true worshipper. I feel most connected God and a true worshipper. I feel most connected to God at the ocean (as illustrated on the album to God at the ocean (as illustrated on the album cover) as He is 'Living Water' in my life as cover) as He is 'Living Water' in my life as described biblically in John 7:38. With this piece described biblically in John 7:38. With this piece and entire artistic offering, I invite all to come to and entire artistic offering, I invite all to come to the water with me and bask in the tranquility of the water with me and bask in the tranquility of God's presence," shared Kayla. God's presence," shared Kayla. When asked about her creative process, Kayla When asked about her creative process, Kayla shared the following: "Creating music that blesses shared the following: "Creating music that blesses others is a magnanimous gi that I am truly others is a magnanimous gi that I am truly grateful for! Each time I sit at the piano to grateful for! Each time I sit at the piano to compose, I seek to create work that purely, compose, I seek to create work that purely, passionately, and purposefully shares God's love passionately, and purposefully shares God's love in a unique way. My name, Kayla, means 'purity' in a unique way. My name, Kayla, means 'purity' and 'keeper of the keys' – perhaps alluding to and 'keeper of the keys' – perhaps alluding to unlocking musical keys of rich harmonies and unlocking musical keys of rich harmonies and sounds. sounds. I usually begin at my grand piano, as it is a I usually begin at my grand piano, as it is a living and organic instrument. Starting with a living and organic instrument. Starting with a series of chords that pique my curiosity or a series of chords that pique my curiosity or a fragment of a melody that inspires a concept for a fragment of a melody that inspires a concept for a new piece. From there, the ideas flow fluidly with new piece. From there, the ideas flow fluidly with a chorus or a catchy 'hook' being developed, and a chorus or a catchy 'hook' being developed, and before I know it, I've carved out the verse, chorus, before I know it, I've carved out the verse, chorus, and bridge components. Here's where the artistic and bridge components. Here's where the artistic elements begin to happen! Arranging the elements begin to happen! Arranging the structure of the piece (or song) always comes structure of the piece (or song) always comes next, deciding on how long each section is and next, deciding on how long each section is and where to place it. I play through the formatting a where to place it. I play through the formatting a few times in different constructs to feel which way few times in different constructs to feel which way resonates the most. When it's 'just right' there is resonates the most. When it's 'just right' there is an inner knowing present, and I transition to my an inner knowing present, and I transition to my studio to produce, orchestrate, and bring all of studio to produce, orchestrate, and bring all of these elements to life." these elements to life." "When I open my studio soware (Logic "When I open my studio soware (Logic Pro), I can already hear what I want to achieve Pro), I can already hear what I want to achieve musically from the drums, bass line, string lines, musically from the drums, bass line, string lines, percussive instruments, and ornaments," she percussive instruments, and ornaments," she wrote. "At this moment, I become a musical wrote. "At this moment, I become a musical scientist and put on my 'white coat' to create my scientist and put on my 'white coat' to create my masterpiece. Working strategically, I always begin masterpiece. Working strategically, I always begin with playing the chordal constructs with a rhodes with playing the chordal constructs with a rhodes or e-piano sound, then program the key bass line. or e-piano sound, then program the key bass line. From here, I program the drum kit consisting of From here, I program the drum kit consisting of the kick, snare, hi-hat, and toms – I call it the the kick, snare, hi-hat, and toms – I call it the 'core four' as it's the pulse of the piece and keeps 'core four' as it's the pulse of the piece and keeps everything else in place. Can you believe I can do everything else in place. Can you believe I can do all of this on my keyboard? As a conceptual all of this on my keyboard? As a conceptual A L U M N A S P O T L I G H T Kayla Waters

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