Q. It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?

I’ve always loved the arts and spent a lot of time reflecting, so I started off creating for myself. I was raised by my mother and family in a large, loving, and crazy Caribbean household. It’s challenging to find peace and privacy in that environment, so I’ve always looked for it everywhere I’ve gone and in everything I’ve done and created.

Growing up, I read, wrote, drew, painted – and of course listened to music and watched TV; these were and still are my outlets. Around my middle school years, people started telling me I should model. I didn’t think I could model, and even though I loved music and movies, I didn’t seriously consider or pursue a career in entertainment; I experienced some of my worst years of social anxiety and depression in my teens.

I dual enrolled in high school and graduated in 2017. I was still unsure what to pursue but I knew I wanted prove the negative voice in my head wrong. I did; I started modeling in fall 2018. I graduated from PBSC with my A.A. in Studio/Fine Art around that time. Over the years as I got into modeling, I continued painting and writing stories, poetry, and music, mainly for myself.

I got where I am today by creating from experience, being inspired by other artists, leaving my comfort zone, collaborating, networking, getting mentorship, and sharing creations – both mine and others’ – via social media and in person at local events.

Q. I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?

Success hasn’t come easily and it’s still on its way to me, but the obstacles are lessons. Some of the challenges are juggling my hats, businesses, creations, mental health, and personal life/relationships while I’m healing and getting to know myself as an individual and a creative.

For years, I’ve had an unhealthy relationship with myself and others I’ve let into my life. I was smoking and getting into “situation-ships” by my teens. Most people haven’t known this side of me but it shaped a lot of my story.

Fall 2020-spring 2021, I started converting some of my poems and journals into music and scripts for my show/short film/ebook The Diary of An Anxious Black Girl. Throughout that same time period, I experienced an unexpected pregnancy and my grandfather’s passing.

Summer 2021, I recorded a song and performed for the first time. Before and after summer, I fell in and out of depression and slowed down on creating.

I went to therapy for a few months then stopped. Since the end of 2022, I’ve been working on being healthier.

Q. Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?

I’m a Neo-soul artist and creative director. My creations follow a young black artist’s experiences – my experiences – with health, alter egos, and vices.

It’s about creating more than it’s about competition for me – though of course competition is a factor to consider in any industry or business.

Someone should work with me because I’m making a conscious effort to be my multifaceted, original, honest, and authentic self. I’ve made a lot of my life about creating this angelic image to make up for my insecurities and anxiety. Now I want my image and creations to be truer to me and what I’m living, not some wave, some trend, or what I think other people want.

Q. What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?

Put your health first – before relationships – not just romantic but also platonic. Put yourself before social media and your business; what you pour into you is what you get out of anything else.

Network, get mentors – especially in your industry – and use guidance to create/get to know your own standards and story before immediately just trying to live like your mentors. Be true to self, always. I’m working on all this myself; when I live by it, things flow best.

Q. Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?

In my eyes, success means peace, happiness, and freedom in every part of my life. Success means getting up and being able to live, to exist knowing we have more than everything we need. It means thriving consistently; being alive beyond day-to-day survival. Success is being able to be.

Q. What’s next for you?

What’s next is creating my first EP, music videos, and short films, and curating events for their releases. My EP “Divine Intervention” will be about overcoming and living a happier, healthier life. I want to focus on having more fun with the process this time.

Q. Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?

People can connect with me and learn more via email, my website, or social media. Email is the best way to get in contact with me for any business-related questions.

Email: iamchaikey@gmail.com

Website: www.ichaikey.com

Instagram/Tiktok/Twitter/Youtube: @ichaikey

Facebook: Chai Key