Get to know rising artist and recent Cinematic signee Luh Kel.
At the young age of 17, Luh Kel is already viral sensation, literally. Born in Tennessee and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Luh Kel started singing at the age of 2 before going on to join a music group at 14. Eventually Luh Kel left and began pursuing a solo career at 15, 16-years-old, and today at only 17 he sits with hit record “Wrong” which debuted at #39 on the Hot R&B and Hip Hop charts, his music video for the same song has over 25 million views and he recently signed to Cinematic Records, so obviously he’s been doing something right.
Luh Kel is nothing short of an internet sensation, after releasing a snippet of “Wrong” produced by BubbaGotBeatz on his Instagram page earlier this year, his fans took the snippet and with the help of popular music video app Tik Tok created a dance challenge which went viral. Shortly thereafter, Cinematic CEO and producer Jonny Snipes reached out to Luh Kel via Instagram and collaborated on the music production for the music video with fellow producer 11VN. Find out more about Luh Kel and his upcoming EP below:
The Knockturnal: What’s it like being 16 and experiencing this type of success and notoriety?
Luh Kel: Well I had just turned 17 on the 20th. It’s cool, I mean I’m adapted to it, but I’m not really used to it all, but I’m adapting. Just got to keep pushing.
The Knockturnal: What are three highlights or favorite moments you’ve had since the release of “wrong?” Something you never thought you’d be doing as a 16 or 17-year-old.
Luh Kel: One thing I love doing is traveling. Traveling is always fun. Doing things that people don’t usually do –
The Knockturnal: What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to so far?
Luh Kel: New York, for sure. It seemed like a family environment. My second favorite thing is me going out in my own city and people running up to me always feels good because it shows me I’ve made an impact on a lot of people.
The Knockturnal: A third big moment for you was signing with Cinematic, can you talk about that experience, please?
Luh Kel: Actually that was a couple months ago and that was just from me posting on Instagram. I posted a snippet and my snippet started going crazy and went viral and that’s when I was contacted by Jonny (Snipes) and Abby who is an A&R.
The Knockturnal: What’s the experience at Cinematic been like so far?
Luh Kel: It’s good it’s like a family vibe. I always got a say in what I do and it’s always up-tempo, it’s always a happy vibe and they love to work and I love to work too so it’s just matching vibes.
The Knockturnal: Wrong is a crazy record, Did you get to work with Jonny or 11VN in the stu for the remix?
Luh Kel: Actually I found the beat on YouTube. It was from BubbaGotBeatz and I started working with it and writing to it and that’s when Jonny and 11VN, they edited the beat and added bass and different elements to it, so it was like a collaboration type beat.
The Knockturnal: Did you expect this reaction from your followers when sharing the snippet for “wrong?” Did you think it would go viral and have a dance challenge associated with it?
Luh Kel: I knew it had the potential to accumulate a lot of views, but in terms of dance challenge I didn’t know all of that was gonna happen.
The Knockturnal: Can you talk about your upcoming EP? When is the slated release date and tentative title?
Luh Kel: By the end of the year, and I don’t have a set name for it yet, but I’m going for a mixed emotions type of name, so you can feel every different type of vibe.
The Knockturnal: Will we see more production from Jonny on your upcoming project? Are there any features you can share?
Luh Kel: Most definitely, I’m working with many people from producers- It’s a lot going on, on this project. I’ve already started recording. I just did a song with (Lil) Tjay, it’s all organic right now.
The Knockturnal: How long are you planning to make the project and where will most of the recording take place?
Luh Kel: About 10 records and most of the recording has been in Cinematic studios in New York, but I’m about to travel to LA to be in the studio with a bunch of producers and different studios.
The Knockturnal: Is there an artist or producer you’re looking forward to working with?
Luh Kel: I know I’d love to work with PnB Rock right now, that’s one person I’d say rep because I feel like we vibe together, we got the same type of vibe I our music and I think fans would love that.
The Knockturnal: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten since signing?
Luh Kel: The best piece of advice I’ve got is to stay focused because if I focus on a lot of females and money and all that then I’m gonna lose my check and my headspace.
The Knockturnal: You’ve been singing since you were 2, but how old were you when you started taking music seriously and knew this is what you want to pursue?
Luh Kel: I was about 14 I’d say and part of a music group, it was a mindless behavior Pop-ish R&B type of feel.
