Kristine Flaherty, better known as K.Flay, is a musical dynamo who grew up just outside Chicago. Her early influences include her father’s classic rock records and late-night dance sessions to Parliament-Funkadelic in the living room. In college, she discovered her musical voice by blending the eclectic energy of the Bay Area hip-hop scene with her unique style, drawing inspiration from strong, independent female artists like Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Fiona Apple and Liz Phair.

As a one-woman powerhouse, K.Flay crafts her beats, sings, raps, and plays guitar. Her lyrics are infused with wit and acerbic charm, and she stands out by serving as her own producer, meticulously blending hip-hop swagger with sonic exploration.

K.Flay has continued to evolve and captivate audiences. In 2023, she released her album ‘Mono’, delving into themes of vulnerability and personal growth. Her latest EP, ‘I’m Making Friends With The Silence’, features softer renditions of songs from ‘Mono’, reflecting her journey.

1. How did you get started? I was at university, chatting with a friend about hip-hop. At the time, I had just gotten into Bay Area rap and was insanely obsessed with Dizzee Rascal’s “Boy In Da Corner” and was like, why aren’t girls doing stuff like that? A kid in my dorm produced house music, so he and I started messing around with beats, and before I knew it, I bought a keyboard and was recording tracks and playing house parties.

2. What ingredients do you need to mix together to produce the recipe of your sound? Fat kick drum, a couple of synths, and a small amount of frustration.

3. Did your first gig make you hungry for more? My first gig made me feel completely terrified. But there was something about performing my own material – and watching an audience react – that was sort of amazing. It wasn’t until my fifth or sixth gig that I stopped being scared and actively wanted to get on stage.

4. What’s the biggest ‘cock up’ to date? Well, this isn’t a huge mess-up, but I’m constantly forgetting that time zones exist.

5. What is it that inspires you to make your music/sound? It’s a mix of things. Sometimes it’s listening to an artist or an album that inspires me to push my sound and try something new. Sometimes it’s feeling super lonely or crazy or happy. Mostly, though, it’s remembering that moment when I’ve just finished a track and the rest of the world kind of melts away for a minute.

6. What would be the icing on the cake? Cheesecake frosting. On red velvet cake.

7. How will you be remembered? (What will make you vintage?) Hmmm, I don’t know. I hope people think I’m nice. Oh, and I hope my kids (which I don’t have yet, don’t worry) are badass.

8. Describe your music as if it were a fine wine. Kind of weird tasting but will definitely get you drunk.

9. Digestive! If you weren’t doing what you are doing now, what would make you happy? Reading books and somehow getting paid to do that. So I guess being a graduate student? That would probably make me happy.

10. AfterMint! Does your musical style influence your underwear? Absolutely. I’m into patterns on underwear. And patterns in drums.

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For more information, visit www.kflay.com.
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