Bio
Kaisha Lee – Bio
Roots
Eyes may be the windows to the soul. But anyone who has ever heard Kaisha Lee sing knows that her powerful voice, introspective lyrics and harmonious melodies are the doors to her soul.
Kaisha was born to create beautiful music. She grew up mostly in Toronto, Canada hearing tunes from her parents native Jamaica. Her first year of school was at Priory Prep in Kingston Jamaica but her stay on her blood island was short lived; a year later moving back to Toronto. She gravitated to playing the piano when she was barely six years old. Later, during her teen years, she strengthened and nurtured her voice as a member of several gospel choirs and a classical chorale.
Professional Career
Carving out a musical career as a multitalented artist is one way to ensure longevity in a rapidly changing industry. And Kaisha Lee is here to stay. As a young woman, she took her love of gospel music and Negro spirituals on the road with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. That tour covered numerous stops in Canada, the U.S.A. and France. Between performance commitments, Kaisha shared her considerable talents working as a vocal coach and piano theory teacher.
Versatility is key to the success of any young artist. Kaisha is not only an accomplished singer and piano player, but she writes her own songs. Her songwriting garnered her a Gemini award as part of the Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale. Kaisha’s music runs the gamut from soul to reggae, from jazz to dancehall. Incorporating a fusion of slow- to up-tempo reggae and soul-influenced R&B, her songs lift you up through life’s downs with messages of love, hope and inspiration.
With this varied repertoire of experiences, she was ready to launch her solo career in 2009. She released her first demo recording, Undefined, in 2010, and became a fast favourite on local Caribbean radio stations. The popularity of “Pirates In The Ship” was just the opening she needed to focus on setting more singles free — a smart move that produced two more hits, “Clean Heart Order” and “Be Mine”.
Her first feature album I Heart Reggae was unveiled at the end of 2014 with three memorable events, I Heart Reggae Montreal, Toronto and London, Ontario which showcased local reggae artists and venues in each city. Kaisha followed up in 2015 with an appearance on Global News, and a party for the newly released single, “Speak To You” at downtown Montreal’s chic Time Supper Club.
There’s nothing quite like a live performance to bond an audience with an artist. Kaisha and her captivating voice have won over hearts in a long list of shows that include Afrofest, Trane Studio Jazz Lounges and Follow Your Instinct (a talent showcase) in Toronto. In Montreal, she has poured her heart and soul into shows at Le Piano Rouge Lounge (where she was an in-house performer in 2012 and 2013), Club Soda, Belmont, Devi, The Jamaica Association of MTL, Club Balattou, MTL International Reggae Festival and Jambana.
Kaisha’s international appeal has taken her from open-mic night at Village Underground in NYC, to collaborating with British artists in London, UK and recording for the I Heart #Reggae album with reggae musicians at Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica. On the ground in Montreal, she has sung and played piano regularly at the House of Jazz and weekly corporate gigs with Top Corporate band “1945”. She also shares her gifts as a music educator and holistic vocal health coach.
With 20 years of experience teaching music, Kaisha is the owner and operator of The Instrumental Voice School of Music and Holistic Center. Her teaching goes far beyond book theory to finding meaning in her deep personal experiences. 10 years of physical struggle that threatened to derail her career have led her down the path to becoming the holistic vocal coach she is today. She also credits, among others, her voice teachers, Ali Garrison and the late master teacher Angela Hawleshka, with playing integral roles in her recovery and empowerment.
Using holistic practices, Kaisha successfully overcame the debilitating illness and back injury that nearly ended her career. Finding that freedom in her body also helped her find freedom in her natural voice. Her weekly performances with the corporate band “1945” included choreographed dance, as well as singing.
2019 Kaisha moved back home to Toronto with a soul Ballad release “My Love is Rare” that she had a hand in producing. In November, she followed up with a spiritual single she put together via her own notes on the story of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. The end of 2019 also found the singer/actress diving into her musical theatre debut with The Ward Cabaret. With all the changes of 2020, Kaisha is grateful for her new position as a voice professor to the actors at Sheridan College.
Her latest single was written in the first wave of the pandemic of 2020. It’s release in this second wave is meant to give us a sense of hope in each other and in life.
Her music can be found on all digital outlets and kaishalee.com
Highlights
Won a Gemini award for songwriting as part of the Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale (2006)
Performed at the inauguration of former US President Barack Obama (2009)
Launched full album, I Heart Reggae (2014)
Tribute to the Legends (2020)
One Love Fest (2019)
The Ward Cabaret (2019)
Opening Act for Mavado Alkaline, Jahmiel Fresh fest MTL (2018)
Best Kept Secret Opener for Kelissa Ottawa (2018)
Jamabana 2018
Jamaica Association of Montreal’s Queens of Reggae (2016)
Opening act for I-Octane at Club Soda in Montreal (2016)
Shared the stage with the highly acclaimed Beres Hammond at Montreal International Reggaefest (2016)
Solo show in Quebec City (2016)
Performance and interview with Global News (2015)
Opening act for reggae star Etana (2015)
Opened for veteran reggae artist Luciano (2013)
Performed at the annual Rastafarian celebration of Haile Selassie I (2011 Jamaica)
Opened for controversial poet Mutabaruka in Jamaica (2011)
Successful showcase in London, UK (2010)
Singles to Date
"Pirates In The Ship" (2010)
"Just To Be With You" (2010)
“Heart of a NinJah” (2010)
"Happy Holiday" (2010)
"3 Weeks" (2011)
"Prototype" (2011)
“Clean Heart Order” (2012)
“Rise Above It” (2013)
“Speak to You” (2014)
“Be Mine” (2015)
"Lift Your Soul Up" (2015)
"Look Cear In I " (2015)
"Up" (June 2016)
"4GiveMySelf" (2016)
"Woman" (2016)
“Foolish” (2017)
“Without You’ (2017-Remix 2018)
“My Love is Rare” (2019)
“Vulnerable” (2019)
“Haile” (2019)
“Let Go” (2020)
“Got Somebody” (2020)
Up Next
Pop Dancehall releases in 2021