HIGHXTAR. meets | LIA KALI

From the slopes of La Teixonera, her neighbourhood perched high above Barcelona, Lia Kali has built one of the most distinctive careers in Spain’s new urban music scene. Her voice has taken her from homemade covers to major stages, establishing her as one of the most authentic artists of her generation.

Now, as she celebrates her nomination for the Music Moves Europe Awards, Lia Kali takes on a new role as a JD ambassador — the British brand that has turned street style into a form of identity. It’s another step forward in a career that continues to grow without losing sight of its roots.

HIGHXTAR (H) – You come from an independent scene. What do you gain and what do you lose when the industry starts taking a closer look at you?

LIA KALI (L) – That’s a tricky question. On one hand, I feel I’ve gained a sense of stability, especially financially — now I can dedicate myself 100% to my career. But at the same time, and it might sound like a paradox, I feel I have to make an extra effort not to forget why I love music so much.

H – You’ve been nominated for the Music Moves Europe Awards. How does it feel to see your name alongside artists from all over Europe?

L –  It’s always a joy to have the love and time you’ve devoted to something recognised, so I feel grateful.

H – Your new single, En la cuerda floja (“On the Tightrope”), seems to explore the balance between who you are and who the world expects you to be. When was the last time you felt on the tightrope yourself?

L –  I’m quite an all-or-nothing person, so I find myself walking that tightrope quite often — even when everything around me is going better than ever.

H – You’ve said that En la cuerda floja marks a “return to your roots”. What do those roots mean to you today?

L –   Well, for me, my roots mean everything. They’re the driving force and the reason I started, and they’re the one thing I can’t afford to lose if I don’t want my identity as an artist and as a person to fade away.

H – You’re now a JD ambassador, a brand that also celebrates origins as a form of strength. What drew you to this collaboration, and how did you make it your own?

L –  I’ve always loved sportswear. I really appreciated that they wanted to work with a woman like me — I love that they’re giving visibility to women who don’t fit conventional norms and helping to break the dominant stereotype. In the end, I think JD’s clothes have always represented not just elite athletes but also lots of people who love the sport-inspired look.

H – You’ve said that JD is part of the world you grew up in. What does it mean to you that a global brand takes an interest in that local identity? JD stands for energy, authenticity, and movement — what connects you to that spirit beyond the collaboration?

L – You only have to take a walk around the neighbourhood where I grew up to see that JD is part of the everyday scene. When I was 18, all of us from the rap scene would meet up at night by the Bogatell air vents, and JD’s style was already there. So it feels completely natural to me — and I think it’s brilliant that JD, in turn, feels proud to be part of that same scene.

H – What role does fashion play in shaping an artist like Lia Kali?

L – When it comes to the public side of things, clothes are like a calling card. As the public aspect of my career becomes more and more important, it’s something that both my team and I pay closer attention to.

H – A piece you can find at JD that represents you.

L – The TNs and the Shox… absolute essentials! Honestly, I couldn’t love them more — they’re amazing, and they go with absolutely anything.

H – JD is opening its largest store in Spain this November, right in Barcelona. Do you feel that the city is entering a new creative era?

L – Well, to be honest, I actually moved away a while ago and I don’t live in Barna anymore. I’m now almost completely isolated in a small village of about 3,000 inhabitants, an hour from the city, so I’m a bit disconnected… from the world in general, really! What I do sense, though, is that a lot of artists from Barcelona have moved to Madrid — I suppose because much of the industry did that years ago, and now it feels like everything happens there. In any case, Barcelona has never stopped being a hive of artistic and cultural activity — musically, in film, theatre, and beyond. Even though I’m no longer part of its day-to-day life and don’t hang out much with people from there — partly because I don’t live there anymore, and partly because there’s a bit of a generational gap now — I still get the feeling that loads of exciting new projects are emerging from the younger crowd.

H – If you could go on a shopping trip around the new store, who would you take with you and why?

L – Easy — I’d take my boyfriend, because we both love going shopping.

H – Where do you feel most like yourself: on stage, in the studio, or walking alone through your neighbourhood with your headphones on?

L – Lately, I feel most at peace at home, listening to music with my loved ones.

H – What do you think about artificial intelligence writing songs?

L – On that topic, I think we have to accept that the use of AI — both in everyday life and in artistic processes — is here to stay. I think it’s a great tool in many ways, but at the same time, we do need to be careful.

H – What was the last lie you told in an interview?

L – I don’t know, I can’t remember… maybe something like saying I was comfortable? Hahahaha! Have I not told you yet that I hate interviews?

H – Who would you love to have a long, off-camera conversation with?

L – I’d love to sit down with Rosalía or Nathy Peluso… although meeting Omara Portuondo would be incredible too.

H – What phrase would you like people to remember you by?

L – “If I’ve got something to say, no one’s going to silence me anywhere.”

H – What can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

L – I’m going back to my roots — that’s all I’ll say for now.

CREDITS

Photography: Kali Elias @kalielias
Photo Assistant: Juankar Gibson @juankargibson
Fashion: Alfredo Santamaría @gothic__sport
Fashion Assistant: Lidia Lara @lidiatl_
MUAH: Ana Paola @anapaolamend
Interview: Mar Piera @marpiera
Production: HIGHXTAR.lab/ Marta Aguado @martaguado13 Mar Piera @marpiera Paloma Molinos @palommc

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