Khalia gears up for Latin America

Rising star Khalia is set to leave the island on February 5 for a tour of Latin America. The tour will include shows in Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Chile and Colombia, as the opening act for reggae artiste Alborosie. She said that when the opportunity came up she couldn’t say no. “It just made so much sense since I have been gaining some traction in Latin America, so we, of course, could never say no,” said Khalia.

Khalia is excited about the prospect for the tour that runs until February 16. “I’m really looking forward to performing to a different demographic who have a genuine love for reggae and dancehall music. I also hope to meet some of the people who support my music in that territory.”

She continued, “The people in Latin American countries love the music. Most of the comments that I receive online are in Spanish or Portuguese, showing crazy and genuine love. They are a very loyal part of my growing fan base and have been patiently waiting to hear more, having enjoyed what I have released so far’.

Khalia currently has two singles out, Ocean and Designer, both produced by Tony ‘CD’ Kelly. She shared that the inspiration behind both songs were from personal experience. “Honestly, one day I was just fed up with the men who constantly judge and have a backward view of females. Even some people who may read this will hold these sexist views. Views that have been passed down through centuries, and they refuse to let go without realising the damaging effects it has on a woman and society as a whole. But that’s the place where Ocean came from. And, I put that frustration into the song.”

Designer, she says, came from Instagram. “I was scrolling while in the studio, and the track was playing, and from seeing a picture of a girl in designer shades, mi just bawl out ‘Dolce and Gabbaaaana,’ just like how you hear it in the song, and the rest just kept flowing from how I felt the song should move. I’m always looking to uplift, so that’s the route I took.”