#BlackAltBae: Tee Kitonyi

I've been friends with artist Tee Kitonyi on Facebook for a while now (where she likes to post a billion selfies a day), but I only recently found out she made music. It was a pleasure to complete this brief interview with her on December 17th, 2023.

So I finally sat down to listen to your music. You are a weirdo, lol. You are a Weirdo with a capital W. I've heard a lot of the electronic/metal/trap type of music, but you're in a class of your own, lol. How long have you been making music and what drew you to this style?

I love electronic music, what preferably drew to to this kind of music is FKA twigs and Sevdaliza and I've been producing, for a year but writing music and singing for a long time.

What is your creative process?

I usually write and then make the beat and then record afterwards.

That's right--you do make your own beats! How long does it usually take you? Do you experiment with sounds?

It usually takes me up to 45 minutes up to an hour but not that long to make a beat, but yes I do blending/experimenting with beats; it's my favorite thing to do.

I'm a fan of "D!e Mad" and "Tyrant"; you kind of took me back to my days of Atari Teenage Riot/Nic Endo and Lolita Storm, so thank you for that. Who are your inspirations?

FKA Twigs, Sevendust, Sevadaliza, Angelspit, Emilie Autumn, Glorilla, Cardi B, Doja Cat, basically. I also love nu-metal and black metal too. I like to blend genres like nu metal, electronic, trap rap, R & B.

We've been buddies on Facebook for a while, and I love all your selfies. You really love the camera; are you doing any professional modeling?

Actually I've been looking into alt modeling now as we speak. 

And what does that entail?

Emails, phone calls, auditions, casting calls.

Are you an artist full-time or do you have a day job?

I'm am artist part time and a witch part time as I do tarot readings and spells as a job.

Who are you favorite Black alternative artists right now?

ALT BLK ERA and Cinnamon Babe music are my favorite right now.

Have you performed live? Do you have any upcoming shows?

I will be starting in 2024, I'm gonna start in my hometown and go from there.

Do you ever collab with anyone?

Yes; my first collab was Skitz0phrenic, but I don't if we're on good terms right now, lol. And my next collab Is with Derek Owens, another rapper. I hope to do more in the future.

If you could collab with anyone, who would it be?

TINASHE, a definite, she's also an inspiration; Jaden Smith/Willow Smith/Asher Roth, Kehlani, Doja, Jack Harlow.

What does the future hold for the unusual Tee Kitonyi?

Well, I am a jack of all trades: more music, art, merch soon, will be on Spotify after Christmas, makeup looks, and also hope to have my own fashion line for black alt men/women, they/them, etc.

Tee, thanks so much for doing this.