BimROCK Magazine Issue #3 Black | Page 53

However, at the age of 16, Kristen had a scare that threatened to derail her dream: she lost her voice for three months. “It was awful!” she proclaimed - now able to speak again. She has been extremely cautious since then. “I just learned what not to do so that it doesn’t happen again.” Kristen ensures she eats the right foods, use the correct vocal techniques, and avoid singing when she knows her voice is tired. Trials behind her, Kristen’s rise to notoriety began in 2013 through a viral video where she performed a cover of Lana Del Rey’s “Summer Time Sadness”. That was also the year she featured in the all-female Honey Jam showcase. The platform not only gave her invaluable lessons about the music industry but it allowed her to become known to a wider audience. “It was a good experience. I don’t think people really knew who I was before, besides my friends and other people that saw me singing,” she says. “Up to today people ask me ‘Oh you’re the girl who did Honey Jam?’.” Kristen’s distinct ability to make a cover of a song “hers”, has been winning fans over. The singer/songwriter is also continually growing her fan base by harnessing the power of the internet through her strategic use of social media. Her voice exudes pure emotion throughout her soul-filled performances, drawing many comparisons to notable rhythm and blues artists - both past and present. The old adage ‘hard work pays off’ rings true for Ms. Walker. After two years of constantly working on her music, she finally released her debut single “Wind Blows” at the end of January. “I wrote ‘Wind Blows’ last year summer,” Kristen tells us. “I was having