I’m always excited to bring the talent that this region has to offer to the forefront. I was fortunate to be able to interview yet another very talented artist that uses his voice to connect with each and every person that listens to his music. His passion can be heard in every note and is delivered in every song—so without further ado, meet Josh Ki.

ReddRoxx: Thank you for taking the time out to do an interview for the ReddRoxx Rundown! Let’s start out by letting the people know who you are.

Josh Ki: I am Josh Ki—real name, Joshua Paki Mattai—a singer/songwriter hailing from Buffalo

RR: So where are you from?

JK: I’m originally from Martin, Tenn. but relocated here with my parents when I was young.

RR: In your bio, you said that “music is your destiny.” When did you first learn that you had a talent?

JK: I began singing at a very young age, probably three or four years old in the church choir. I guess others noticed that I had a gift then, but I didn’t really think too much of it until the girls started to tell me I had a nice voice. Then you couldn’t stop me from singing! (laughs) I knew that music was what I wanted to do after watching Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker…that movie changed my life.

RR: A lot of great singers started in their church choirs. To me, it seems to be a part of the recipe for success! Michael Jackson also influenced many of today’s biggest singers and, speaking of Michael,  I can hear that you are also very versatile in your music. Who would you say is your greatest musical influences?

JK: Obviously Michael Jackson, but I drew a lot from the old soul singers like Sam Cooke and Al Green. My parents raised me on that stuff, so a lot of that music still inspires me. More currently though—Anthony Hamilton is a big influence.  Cee-Lo Green, John Legend and the greatest after Michael…Usher Raymond. I’m also very much into gospel music. Fred Hammond is my all-time favorite.

RR: You’ve named a lot of musical geniuses there! That would explain why your music is a culmination of different sounds. It seems like you are very passionate about singing—what do you love most about making music?

JK: The immediate connections music generates in us. Music is such a broad medium. The fact that you can connect to something I’ve been through, having never met each other, through music; it’s profound. You can put a song to any great or major experience you’ve ever had and every time you hear that song it takes you back to that point in time. Emotions, memories…everything

RR: I definitely agree, music does make a connection between an artist and the person listening. That’s why I feel it’s so important for an artist to be real and put emotion into their music. Being that you seem so aware of the musical landscape, I’m curious to know what your perception of the local music scene is?

JK: I feel that there is so much talent in Buffalo, but maybe we don’t support each other as much as we should. Little too much competition and not enough love. It’s so hard to break the ranks sometimes because people only bang with who they bang with. Sometimes, they’re not so open to new things.  It’s been difficult here for me in Buffalo, to say the least, but Toronto has showed me so much love and I’m grateful because of that. I feel like Buffalo, which is home to me, is beginning to listen. I feel like it should be vice-versa but I’ma put on regardless—B-Lo is my home and I love it.

RR: Many of the artists that I interview say the same thing—there needs to be more support for the local talent. That’s the goal of The ReddRoxx Rundown, to help that to happen. Getting back to your music, are there any artists that you would like to collaborate with, both locally and national?

JK: Locally, I’ve had the gift of collaborating with quite a few of the artists I’m a fan of—G5-Gi, Valed and Rachel Palumbo. I’m working on finalizing a track with Shane Gramz. I kind of came up under A.K Reed, so having a track with him would be a monumental honor.

Nationally…I’d love to get a track with Drake—I’d like one with Yeezy (Kanye West). I’d really like to work with Cee-Lo Green and explore the music we could make. I’d also love to work with John Mayer—big fan of his work. Coldplay would be a dream as well.

I’d like to constantly evolve what I’m doing and grow as an artist—so I’d want to work with people like Miguel and Justin Timberlake, who’d make me better as a musician because they’ve done it themselves. When my money’s right though, first dude I’m getting on a track is Pusha T, dude is crack!

RR: You definitely have your sights on some heavy hitters! As of right now, do you currently have music available for purchase or download? If so, where?

JK: Absolutely…I’m focused on building a brand right now, and generating a buzz, so I’m more focused on giving people new and exciting content and not so much the sales, so everything is still free and available for download on either Reverb Nation or Soundcloud.

RR: Cool—theres’s nothing wrong with making sure your music is accessible and affordable. As far as projects go, what are you currently working on?

JK: I’m working on my first official mixtape now, called Kingdom Rising. It will be hosted by the lovely Kip Force, a.k.a Blonde Baller from VH-1’s A Real Chance of Love 2. Just giving you a little heat for the end of the winter.  It has G5-Gi on there, Valed, Rachel Palumbo and a few more surprises I got cooking up, so keep your eyes to Twitter for the official release.

RR: That’s what’s up! I am a fan of Rachel Palumbo and G5-Gi as well and will be checking out some of Valed’s stuff too. I’ll definitely be looking forward to Kingdom Rising so make sure you keep me in the loop for the release! I’ve seen that you have had some performances in the past, are there any future performances on the schedule?

JK: No shows just yet, at least not in the area. Again, just focusing on getting the music done then when I have a catalog, I’m sure everyone will want to hear it live.

RR: Great! Now speaking of building a catalog, what can your fans expect from you in 2013?

JK: Nothing but great things—my obvious ascension to the throne and another mixtape for the summer.  As well as lots of shows, and hopefully a major distribution deal. My management and my label are being very aggressive and believe in my product so I’m aiming high and shooting higher so we’ll see what God has in store for us.

RR: Well that’s the first step, believing in your product so you’re already half way there!  In the meantime, while you’re cooking up those hits, how can the people connect with you?

JK: I’m a Twitter fiend so you can always catch me lurking on there and that’s the fastest way to get updates for the music. The Josh Ki app will be up and running soon as well, for Apple and Android

RR: Leave us with one of your favorite quotes:

JK: “Place they delight in the Lord and He will grant thee the desires of thy heart.”
-Psalm 37:4