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Kellee Maize is one of the original artists in The MIC MVMT. She's a successful indie artist who has released six albums and is currently working on three more studio albums! She's MIC's prime example of the IMBM Pyramid's "Level 2: Money" because her bigger quarter-million fan base allows her to do "Lifestyle Branding" activities (more info on that in later Sanctuary posts!), like acting! That's IMBM Level 2: Money gold, guys.
She was invited to be a guest star on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim TV Show Decker:Unsealed this past winter. One thing to know about Kellee is that she doesn't do anything halfway -- so on top of the acting, she's also now releasing a whole new album inspired by the "Popp" character she played!
The MIC team just helped release the first single, "Crown", from that album (also titled Crown). Listen to it in the video below or on all your favorite streaming/download sites like Spotify, Google Play, Soundcloud, and here on Youtube! You can also download it for free here on Jamendo!
The fourth episode “Private Sector” features Kellee as Popp the pop star villain, and it premiered on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim this weekend! You can now watch it streaming on Adult Swim, for free on the Tim & Eric App, and on iTunes.
Kellee also released a brand new Snapchat kaleidoscope-filter music video, the first of its kind, for "In Tune" this week! Watch it by clicking here (or by scrolling to the top of this article).
Now let's share everything about her crossover acting-music experience with you!
How was working with Decker and Adult Swim?
It was a blast. Abso Lutely Productions was an awesome group of really talented people. Getting to know the various actors and people behind the scenes was a wonderful experience. They were all so incredibly nice and made it fun!
How did you relate to/get into Popp, your character?
Popp represents herself in one way in public but has an underground, hidden life. It was interesting to imagine her life and try to figure out which type of persona she embodied. After asking the director, we both decided the character was more of a Madonna than a Britney Spears type of personality. Her wardrobe was rather sexy, and I dress a bit differently when I perform and am an open-book in real life, so it was a little challenging, yet still very fun to play the part. I also like how the show is basically insinuating that white people and generic pop music are the real terrorists lol. I also have an obsession with the goddess Isis, and I was always angry that we call the terror group by its acronym. Truth be told I am not a fan of our president and have made that known in my video. It felt like a huge synchronicity and was really behind the inspiration itself.
How is your Popp album different, and what about your role inspires your music?
The album is different because it is centered around my interest in studying the seven chakras. I am intrigued by Popp’s storyline and what happens to her during my episode. I thought it would be fun to look at the chakras from three different perspectives, and Popp represents the greatest imbalance of chakras in terms of my upcoming projects. I relate to Popp’s imbalance because I went through a lot of struggles during my life and channeled a lot of ideas through what I thought her life would be like. That’s the fun thing about acting: envisioning other parts of characters' lives and what they would be like. Normally, I write from my own perspective, and I feel very inspired by many things that happen in the world, so thinking from Popp’s perspective is something that makes this album unique.
What was your favorite moment on set?
I had a lot of fun performing on the episode, and it was super fun dancing and wearing the crazy costumes. The whole performance was very different from how I would perform because I looked like a dominatrix and had a gun in my hand, which was quite a trip as I consider myself a pacifist. It was awesome to be in the moment of it, surrounded by amazing dancers and an unbelievable set.
What was it like working with your dad?
Ironically, we never actually ended up being filmed in a scene together, but it was really cool because I got to go watch him film his scenes. It was also great communicating about it and having a window into his world. He was super encouraging and excited about me doing the role.
What is your favorite track on your new album, and what is it about?
My favorite at this point is the title track, which is also called "Crown." It is about the crown chakra, and it being out of balance. Because my character dies on the show, this song is meant to be from that perspective. I actually talk about seeing my father who passed away when I was younger, and I imagine Popp, the character, would have also lost a parent. Also, many say the crown chakra connects to life beyond death. There are also undertones of religious supremacy because my character was a terrorist and tried to kill the president. Given our current U.S. president treats his position as if he were a king in a monarchy and not a democracy, I am suggesting that I am wearing the crown instead. This is in and of itself, demonstrating the imbalance in the crown chakra because balance would suggest oneness and not superiority over others. I imagine many people won’t look that deeply into the lyrics, but I wanted to mention that I also talk about how to bring things into balance in the verse, and I meant for listeners to see double meanings in the hooks. Hopefully, you get the Popp undertone. From that you should know I really intended for this to be an empowering song, especially for women.
So do you think Popp would be into the Crown Chakra if she were a real person?
I would say maybe. A lot of people who meditate and seek enlightenment are focused on wanting to connect and use their crown chakra. They want it to be open and clear. I was writing the song, "Crown", in a way in which Popp’s isn’t too clear, but maybe she thinks it is, and so the song is kind of a joke. Having your crown chakra open means being one with life and not having the attitude that you’re awesome, better than your neighbor, or “wear the crown.” But it’s impossible, I think, for humans, or at least for me, to always be in balance. So not only do I hope it feels empowering, but also represents that all women are queens and should be treated as such. It really is time for feminine leadership...not of a queen, but of millions of queens and feminine-oriented men who want to govern via cooperation over competition.
Has your style changed since becoming a mom?
I have written a ton of lullabies, but I guess it has changed a little in the sense that I think about my son, Mateo, listening to my music in the future. I stop myself from swearing for that reason. I was already starting to do that already, however, because I know younger people do listen to my music. I still talk about topics that are more risqué, so it will be interesting to teach Mateo about them when he is of age. Once you have a child, I think your level of empathy and care increases even more. Now, I think I am more focused on the positive things that happen in the world. It is even harder to deal with the negativity in the world because you have this sense of wanting to protect your child and create a healthy community for them. I have become more focused on the beautiful things that could turn it all around. One quote I love that says it better is, “The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new,” by Socrates.
In the future, are you planning on more releases, and, if so, what are the themes of those albums?
I have two more albums coming out. One is more a more chill vibe influenced by yoga, which I have been practicing for many years. I hope that album will be something people practice to. Yoga is one of the many things that made me interested in studying the chakras. That album has 7 songs also and is from a more balanced perspective of the chakras. My other album is called Body, which has 7 songs about chakras as well. It is much more from my own personal perspective and will be a middle ground in terms of my interpretation of chakras, especially because like I said, I am a normal human. I am in balance sometimes and sometimes I don’t have my shit together….yoga and meditation have made those moments less serious and are a good signal that something needs to shift.
If you got the opportunity, would you like to be featured on Decker again?
Yes, I would. It is a very cool community, and I feel like there are lots of ways in which my character could continue on the show.
Do you plan to do more acting in the future or do you plan on staying music-focused?
I am open to whatever comes across my path and do not really have a definitive track I want to follow as far as acting. I am open to opportunities but still busy with my company Nakturnal and being a mom. I will be acting in the fall again in a project by Peter Joseph, the creator of the Zeitgeist movies. Regardless, I am going to keep making music. Even if I wanted to stop that, I couldn’t.
Once again, make sure to tune in to watch Kellee’s episode on Decker: Unsealed on Adult Swim and look for the release of her new album! Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on Kellee’s new releases and for news as she continues to pursue other singing and acting opportunities.
Kellee Maize is one of the original artists in The MIC MVMT. She's a successful indie artist who has released six albums and is currently working on three more studio albums! She's MIC's prime example of the IMBM Pyramid's "Level 2: Money" because her bigger quarter-million fan base allows her to do "Lifestyle Branding" activities (more info on that in later Sanctuary posts!), like acting! That's IMBM Level 2: Money gold, guys.
She was invited to be a guest star on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim TV Show Decker:Unsealed this past winter. One thing to know about Kellee is that she doesn't do anything halfway -- so on top of the acting, she's also now releasing a whole new album inspired by the "Popp" character she played!
The MIC team just helped release the first single, "Crown", from that album (also titled Crown). Listen to it in the video below or on all your favorite streaming/download sites like Spotify, Google Play, Soundcloud, and here on Youtube! You can also download it for free here on Jamendo!
The fourth episode “Private Sector” features Kellee as Popp the pop star villain, and it premiered on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim this weekend! You can now watch it streaming on Adult Swim, for free on the Tim & Eric App, and on iTunes.
Kellee also released a brand new Snapchat kaleidoscope-filter music video, the first of its kind, for "In Tune" this week! Watch it by clicking here (or by scrolling to the top of this article).
Now let's share everything about her crossover acting-music experience with you!
How was working with Decker and Adult Swim?
It was a blast. Abso Lutely Productions was an awesome group of really talented people. Getting to know the various actors and people behind the scenes was a wonderful experience. They were all so incredibly nice and made it fun!
How did you relate to/get into Popp, your character?
Popp represents herself in one way in public but has an underground, hidden life. It was interesting to imagine her life and try to figure out which type of persona she embodied. After asking the director, we both decided the character was more of a Madonna than a Britney Spears type of personality. Her wardrobe was rather sexy, and I dress a bit differently when I perform and am an open-book in real life, so it was a little challenging, yet still very fun to play the part. I also like how the show is basically insinuating that white people and generic pop music are the real terrorists lol. I also have an obsession with the goddess Isis, and I was always angry that we call the terror group by its acronym. Truth be told I am not a fan of our president and have made that known in my video. It felt like a huge synchronicity and was really behind the inspiration itself.
How is your Popp album different, and what about your role inspires your music?
The album is different because it is centered around my interest in studying the seven chakras. I am intrigued by Popp’s storyline and what happens to her during my episode. I thought it would be fun to look at the chakras from three different perspectives, and Popp represents the greatest imbalance of chakras in terms of my upcoming projects. I relate to Popp’s imbalance because I went through a lot of struggles during my life and channeled a lot of ideas through what I thought her life would be like. That’s the fun thing about acting: envisioning other parts of characters' lives and what they would be like. Normally, I write from my own perspective, and I feel very inspired by many things that happen in the world, so thinking from Popp’s perspective is something that makes this album unique.
What was your favorite moment on set?
I had a lot of fun performing on the episode, and it was super fun dancing and wearing the crazy costumes. The whole performance was very different from how I would perform because I looked like a dominatrix and had a gun in my hand, which was quite a trip as I consider myself a pacifist. It was awesome to be in the moment of it, surrounded by amazing dancers and an unbelievable set.
What was it like working with your dad?
Ironically, we never actually ended up being filmed in a scene together, but it was really cool because I got to go watch him film his scenes. It was also great communicating about it and having a window into his world. He was super encouraging and excited about me doing the role.
What is your favorite track on your new album, and what is it about?
My favorite at this point is the title track, which is also called "Crown." It is about the crown chakra, and it being out of balance. Because my character dies on the show, this song is meant to be from that perspective. I actually talk about seeing my father who passed away when I was younger, and I imagine Popp, the character, would have also lost a parent. Also, many say the crown chakra connects to life beyond death. There are also undertones of religious supremacy because my character was a terrorist and tried to kill the president. Given our current U.S. president treats his position as if he were a king in a monarchy and not a democracy, I am suggesting that I am wearing the crown instead. This is in and of itself, demonstrating the imbalance in the crown chakra because balance would suggest oneness and not superiority over others. I imagine many people won’t look that deeply into the lyrics, but I wanted to mention that I also talk about how to bring things into balance in the verse, and I meant for listeners to see double meanings in the hooks. Hopefully, you get the Popp undertone. From that you should know I really intended for this to be an empowering song, especially for women.
So do you think Popp would be into the Crown Chakra if she were a real person?
I would say maybe. A lot of people who meditate and seek enlightenment are focused on wanting to connect and use their crown chakra. They want it to be open and clear. I was writing the song, "Crown", in a way in which Popp’s isn’t too clear, but maybe she thinks it is, and so the song is kind of a joke. Having your crown chakra open means being one with life and not having the attitude that you’re awesome, better than your neighbor, or “wear the crown.” But it’s impossible, I think, for humans, or at least for me, to always be in balance. So not only do I hope it feels empowering, but also represents that all women are queens and should be treated as such. It really is time for feminine leadership...not of a queen, but of millions of queens and feminine-oriented men who want to govern via cooperation over competition.
Has your style changed since becoming a mom?
I have written a ton of lullabies, but I guess it has changed a little in the sense that I think about my son, Mateo, listening to my music in the future. I stop myself from swearing for that reason. I was already starting to do that already, however, because I know younger people do listen to my music. I still talk about topics that are more risqué, so it will be interesting to teach Mateo about them when he is of age. Once you have a child, I think your level of empathy and care increases even more. Now, I think I am more focused on the positive things that happen in the world. It is even harder to deal with the negativity in the world because you have this sense of wanting to protect your child and create a healthy community for them. I have become more focused on the beautiful things that could turn it all around. One quote I love that says it better is, “The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new,” by Socrates.
In the future, are you planning on more releases, and, if so, what are the themes of those albums?
I have two more albums coming out. One is more a more chill vibe influenced by yoga, which I have been practicing for many years. I hope that album will be something people practice to. Yoga is one of the many things that made me interested in studying the chakras. That album has 7 songs also and is from a more balanced perspective of the chakras. My other album is called Body, which has 7 songs about chakras as well. It is much more from my own personal perspective and will be a middle ground in terms of my interpretation of chakras, especially because like I said, I am a normal human. I am in balance sometimes and sometimes I don’t have my shit together….yoga and meditation have made those moments less serious and are a good signal that something needs to shift.
If you got the opportunity, would you like to be featured on Decker again?
Yes, I would. It is a very cool community, and I feel like there are lots of ways in which my character could continue on the show.
Do you plan to do more acting in the future or do you plan on staying music-focused?
I am open to whatever comes across my path and do not really have a definitive track I want to follow as far as acting. I am open to opportunities but still busy with my company Nakturnal and being a mom. I will be acting in the fall again in a project by Peter Joseph, the creator of the Zeitgeist movies. Regardless, I am going to keep making music. Even if I wanted to stop that, I couldn’t.
Once again, make sure to tune in to watch Kellee’s episode on Decker: Unsealed on Adult Swim and look for the release of her new album! Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on Kellee’s new releases and for news as she continues to pursue other singing and acting opportunities.
Find us @theMICmountain on social media because we, too, are humans on our phones.
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