Kelis The Kelis About the Chef, Singer, and Multi-Passionate Creative Blog
Even if you don't think you've heard of Kelis, you have a connection with Kelis. The song "Milkshake" has brought everyoneof us to the park in the early aughts, and while she's had an illustrious singing career but she's now adding a new kind of food-related inspiration to her job as a chef who is thriving.
Kelis"Early Life and Career
Kelis was born on the 21, 1979 and she was born in the Harlem neighborhood in Manhattan located in New York City. Her mom, Eveliss Rogers, was an artist and fashion designer as well as her father was a minister as well as a jazz musician, so Kelis was raised in a world of many creative people.
Her artistic interests were never stifled, and she cultivated her musical talents early on, from singing in the congregation at the church of her father to playing violin, piano, and saxophone at her school private. Feeling a calling to performing, Kelis finished out her primary school days in the famed LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
Being surrounded by other talented musicians provided her with plenty of opportunity for creative growth. During her high school years she formed her first musical group. She began to attract the attention of folks who work in the business, and even singing backup on songs for famous rappers and R&B artists.
She also had to face some of the more difficult aspects that come with being an artist in the workplace. Her parents moved out of the house at 16 due to some disputes, and then worked at a bar and a store selling clothes to make ends meet. To say the least, this wasn't what she wanted to do. "I did not want at a desk all day," she said in an Entertainment Weekly interview. "So I thought"What do I have to do? It seems like it's time to do what I've been doing all my life , and get paid for that."
Kelis' Singing Career
Luckily for Kelis, she was already being courted as a promising star in the R&B business. As she was finishing school, a friend introduced her to production duo The Neptunes (comprised of none other than Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo), and they assisted her in signing her first record deal pretty much straight out of high school. The first album she released, Kaleidoscope, was produced and written by The Neptunes and released by Virgin Records in 1999.
Kelis went on to create five more studio albums from 2001-2014--Wanderland, Tasty, Kelis Was Here, Flesh Tone, and Food--and collaborate with many more artists. A lot of her songs made it in the Billboard Hot 100 and she was awarded many nominations and awards in recognition of her work. In addition, she traveled around the world in the course of her concert tours (something will surely come to shape her food career later on in her career).
What exactly are Kelis Songs?
While Kelis' "Milkshake" is undoubtedly her most well-known song, her musical style extends beyond that famous pop song, incorporating influences ranging between R&B and rap to disco and funk. One of the most effective ways to get acquainted with the diverse and eclectic style of Kelis is to check out her music!
What's the reason Kelis Quit Singing?
Around in 2006, Kelis found herself at the point of reaching an blockage. A long-running dispute with a record label resulted in her not being signed and feeling a little tired of the music industry. And, considering she had been a bit entangled in her career path, she soon found herself wondering what she actually wanted to do.
It was around this time she began to pursue her interests in food, and this ended up launching an entirely different side to her music career (more about that in a second). But it's also worth noting that Kelis did not stop singing completely, and has recorded numerous albums and singles with more to come.
Kelis' Chef Career
Kelis never imagined becoming a chef her whole life, even though she was influenced by her mother's cooking abilities and had always been a fan of food (which is evident in her numerous albums as well as the song's titles).
One day, as she was 27 years old and considering what else she could do with her time, she spotted the commercial to take a cooking class on TV and was struck with the concept. She immediately began looking for alternatives in her region and within a few days she was enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu full time.
Similar to the beginning of any creative venture, Kelis was terrified--but also very excited about the new possibilities for her in the future. "I am certain that, no matter what, this was one of the best things I would ever accomplish," she said to Tastemakers.
After graduating culinary school back in the year 2008, her used her newly acquired cooking abilities in many ways. She introduced her own brand of sauces that is available under the name Bounty and Full. In 2014, she was a guest on the Cooking Channel show called Saucy and Sweet and hosted a food truck as part of SXSW as she promoted her new album Food. In the year 2015, she published her first Kelis cookbook, My Life on a Plate.
What is Kelis Doing Now?
Today, Kelis continues to look for new ways to live her dual creative lifestyle and mix these two parts of herself.
In 2020 she appeared on the Netflix cooking show Cooked With Cannabis as well as her own British edition of The Masked Singer. She is planning a tour for her music and will also be continuing to develop her food brand and expanding it to include spices, vinegars, oils, and much more. She teased a new song that is due out in the name of "Midnight Snack"" and--in case you missed the announcement--just released a course for making delicious sauces. her first venture into teaching culinary skills.
Who's to say what's coming next for the multitalented Kelis however, we know it's likely to be delicious.
Where Can I Find More Kelis
Want to keep up with Kelis? Follow her here!
Learn to Cook With Kelis!
The Creative Kitchen: Simple Sauces to Elevate Every Meal .