Contributor’s Note: There is something to be said about the city of Detroit that is near and dear to this ol’ heart. It is the pride of the city, the hard work making amazing music ranging from the days of Motown to the days of Eminem and Kid Rock and seeing amazing bands like KALEIDO come to the surface. We were lucky enough to have Christina Chriss of KALEIDO sit down with Madness To Creation on going DIY with their independent EP entitled “NO RLY…I’M FINE”, which can certainly be used as a candid piece for a solid discussion on mental health awareness. We also talked about their single “Pretending”, along with some other really cool topics like what makes her laugh and touring life, and the recent gig with Asking Alexandria. Fans can find Kaleido at the following locations:
Madness To Creation: The single for “Pretending” means so much from a mental health standpoint. I want to thank Kaleido for writing and arranging the song. What was the mindset when you created the song and how important it is to you to have this conversation about mental health?
Christina: You are so welcome, it makes me really happy to know that the song is out in the world touching people’s lives and helping them! The lyrics came out initially from spoken word, and I added a melody and turned them into a song, “I’m tired of pretending I’m okay/It’s okay to not be okay sometimes”. That’s exactly how I felt: I think mental health deserves to be taken more seriously and I hope this song helps to shine a light on it. I’m sure many people can relate.
Madness To Creation: Who or what do you turn to when times are difficult?
Christina: I write, I walk. I try to get in nature and re-center myself. I reach out and talk to a friend. My philosophy is try not to worry so much- just move forward. Tomorrow’s a new day and a new chance.
Madness To Creation: Please name Five songs that are your go-to jams when you want to release some stress or get through tough times.
Christina: “Aggressive” by Beartooth, “Happy Song” by Bring Me The Horizon, “Low” by Wage War, “Counting Worms” by Knocked Loose, and “Right Back At It Again” by A Day To Remember
Madness To Creation: Let’s say I magically grant you a weekend off where money is not an object, what does that weekend look like?
Christina: I’m getting to work on my music! All expenses paid in a badass studio, YES PLEASE!
Madness To Creation: Favorite thing about Detroit’s music scene and where do you see Kaleido making its mark?
Christina: We work hard in Detroit and we have a lot of heart. There’s a lot of authenticity here. I think Kaleido makes its mark with authentic songs that evoke real and raw emotion. We hope our songs are memorable enough to span space and time.
Madness To Creation: Your band thrives on hard work and dedication to your craft, how do you want people to remember Kaleido 25 years from now, what legacy do you want to leave for your fans, family and friends?
Christina: We stayed true to ourselves and wrote music that not only helped people, but changes their lives. I hope it bleeds passion into eternity.
Madness To Creation: Favorite moment about creating the “NO RLY… I’M FINE” EP?
Christina: It was watching the songs we wrote come to life in the recordings, we are so happy with the way they turned out. The songs on this EP are my most personal lyrics yet.
Madness To Creation: Can you give a few words of encouragement to anyone that reads this?
Christina: Life is hard. Many of us are in an internal battle with ourselves daily. Your mental health is important and so are you. No matter what, keep fighting! Chase your dreams and passion, and never give up. Reach out for help when you need it, because you’re not alone.
Madness To Creation: What’s a moment that always makes you laugh?
Christina: Late night after a show when we’re all trying to be quiet and fall asleep but we just keep giggling and burst out laughing!
Madness To Creation: What is your favorite moment about sharing the stage last Sunday with Asking Alexandria?
Christina: My favorite moment was watching the crowd light up and come to life when we walked on stage. We almost didn’t make the show because we blew a tire and broke a coolant line about an hour and a half from the show. It was Sunday and all the repair shops were closed, so we called a tow truck. We put the van on the back, hooked up the trailer, and had the driver bring us to the show. We walked in, got our gear on stage, changed and went on stage. It was a close call and all worth it in the end!
Madness To Creation: Anything you want to plug in regards to the band?
Christina: Check out the new EP “NO RLY…I’M FINE”. We released it completely independently, and we’re super proud of it. We just released a new lyric video for “Blood” that we’d like everyone to go and check it out. Sign up for our email list at www.kaleidoband.com to stay posted on our upcoming tours and follow us on social media @kaleido band on Instagram and Twitter.
And there you have it! Kaleido has several gigs coming up. Check out the gig dates below:
Sat. 8/31- Arts Beats & Eats 2019 in Royal Oak, Michigan
Fri. 10/11- Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey
Sun. 10/13- HMAC Stage on Herr in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
For tickets and further information, click here.
- Photo Credit: Steve Sargent
