We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kimi Tortuga. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Kimi, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
This is a great question because rarely do we ever say what we genuinely feel. I believe people struggle with their own agency, their own power, both singularly and collectively. Less powerful people are often coerced into positions their honest selves would never take, like excusing war crimes by their government or remaining silent in the face of human rights violations on their own soil. Because the powerful control the resources of the less powerful, people remain frightened of challenging tyrrany.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Of course! I’m Kimi Tortuga, a singer-songwriter from Tampa, FL and a small business owner. I sing, play guitar and piano, and write and produce my own music. My work is very fulfilling as it affords me the ability to travel and have beautiful experiences I would otherwise miss out on. I was just out at Lake Tahoe near Reno, NV for performances and the view and energy of that space always takes my breath away.
What makes my brand unique is that it’s very organic and truly independent. I am not beholden to any interests except my own, which allows me to make the best executive decisions I can. The freedom that comes with this way of life is nothing short of glorious!
My story is this: I grew up playing piano with my mom and then changed my focus to clarinet in middle school where the love of classical and jazz music really took hold. I also picked up a few other wind instruments like the bassoon and the euphonium before graduating high school, by which point I had participated in the theater pit, big wind ensembles, jazz groups, and the like. Then I discovered karaoke which was absolutely not on my bingo card! After I learned I could actually pursue singing (in the most fun way, might I add), I picked up the ukulele and guitar and made my way around Tampa Bay’s open mic and blues jam scenes. The future had become my present! (Queue Kimi Tortuga’s “My Future Self”)
In short, the instruments came first and the voice came later. I do my best to make the instrumentation shine through on my audio productions, which is an entirely different universe from simply performing well on the record. The production of my two all-original albums has taught me things about music that I never learned in school, and I am very grateful to have been able to put those two records out. There is a third record in production, though there are many details that still need sorting out. I can divulge, however, that there will be several pro-people anthems, so buckle up for some very loving bangers full of joy, intensity, and spirit!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
These questions are excellent! I didn’t realize I’d be getting therapy, thank you! The part of myself that needs to be released now, but which was highly effective in its purpose, is the part of me that felt pure, unadulterated hatred for injustice, specifically for human rights violations. Growing up with domestic violence, I developed this reaction from a very early age, and it manifested itself as obsidian dark thoughts and red hot rage. I was a very, very angry child. Screaming, running away, hiding, crying unconsolably, or just being stone-faced were all normal states for me. Thank heavens for Mr. Snyder and that middle school band because I am not exaggerating when I say that his bandroom saved my life a hundred times over. I often wonder where he is and how he’s doing.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
The event that triggered this evolution is probably not something I should divulge here, but I will say that I could not imagine myself living as a victim for the rest of my life after it occured. I also realized that my reaction to the event was valid, and those two things were all I really needed to remind myself of the strength I carry within that no one can take away. And still I rise, as Maya would say.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I would die for is liberty. Ironically, it is currently being threatened on the global stage by a handful of powerful men that are determined to dictate how everyone else should live. While they claim to want to protect and promote freedom, their actions say they prefer to control others. Life as an artist has prepared me for this moment of confrontation with tyranny as I’ve dealt with it my entire life, having been underestimated by those that believed they were stronger or more powerful than I, or that I am not capable of any measure of strength at all. I take comfort in knowing that those of us willing to die for our right to self-determination are many in number, much greater than those who would seek to disenfranchise us.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Thankfully, I am super content with my work! Not to harp on the concept of freedom, but I have a lot of it and I do my best to take full advantage whenever I can (within reason, of course). Especially when there is travel involved out west or overseas, I’m always pumped for the show! Some of my favorite adventures include tripts to Toronto, Barcelona, Lake Tahoe, Savannah, and Costa Rica. I’ve been to some of these places several times before to play music, and I love them more and more each time. I can’t imagine a better vocation for myself and I’m the most content I’ve ever been!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimitortuga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimitortuga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimitortugamusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kimitortuga
- Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kimi-tortuga/1435184967
Image Credits
Photographer: Kimi Tortuga
