Amariyah Mallory 
Up next in our FTG Spotlight Feature series is Chicagoland native Khari Ennui. He will be making his debut on the From The ‘Go stage next week. Keep reading to find out more about this up and coming artist!
What does it mean to you to perform at the From The ‘Go Fest?
Honestly, performing at the From The ‘Go Fest for me is an opportunity to share so much of, like, my new growth as an artist with the community that would be the most receptive to it.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe myself as a genre blender. I have a lot of influences from both rapping and singing and I like to find a way to blend all the different sounds that influence me in a cohesive manner.
How did your passion for music begin?
My father used to rap and DJ and my mother was once a signed label singer. She used to perform house music. She used to write Neo-Soul. My older brother Hitxion, and my older sister, Frida Ka$hflow, and I regularly perform; so music is a family thing.
Who are your musical influences?
It’s too many to count, but if I were to start, I would say a lot of my rapping style, as far as my deliverance, my flows, and whatnot, come from Mavi, a rapper from North Carolina. Mike is a large influence and Earl Sweatshirt. I will say a lot of my melodic influences come from Moses Sumney, Daniel Caesar, and Frank Ocean. But also Chicago locals. I learned a lot listening to Lil Durk. I learned a lot listening to G Herb. I learned a lot listening to Chief Keef.
How did you come up with your stage name?
So my first name is given, Khari. That means King/Kingly in Swahili. My older sisters actually picked that name out for me. My second name was chosen, which is Ennui which means dissatisfaction. I created music at a time period when I was forging a new identity and a new path for myself. At the moment I was dropping out of college, I was rebuilding and refraining my priorities as a person. So in a lot of ways, it was a reminder that you can always push from work, and you can always strive for more. You need to carve out a place for you to find your own joy in life.
What are your main goals for your music career?
It started with just, you know, proof of existence expression. But honestly, music has put me in so many different spaces where I have had a chance to touch bases with community and whatnot, which I didn’t have too much of growing up with past just my immediate family. So a lot of it is I wanna foster more spaces where people can feel supported and people can feel validated.
What artist would you like to collaborate with in the future?
Earl Sweatshirt, Mike Mavie, Smino… definitely Smino. Dochi, Denzel Curry, and more.
What advice would you give other emerging artists?
Focus on your process. Learn what the vein you created is. Learn what your language is. I found my voice. Writing was my confidence because I literally wrote my journal interest as my music, and that made it real me. Do what’s real to you, don’t copy anybody else’s sound. Don’t copy anybody else. Listen, take in, experience, absorb what’s around you, grow, and learn from it, but don’t speak anyone else’s language, speak your own.
Where do you hope to have the opportunity to perform one day?
Well, I would love to spend the block on the From The Go Fest. Obviously, the big festivals here at home like Lollapalooza and Summer Smash. I would love to perform at the Metro, I would love to perform at the House of Blues. I’ve had a chance to perform at larger venues in different states now, like The Road Runner in Boston. I would love to continue that in other states.
What has been the highlight of your musical career thus far?
There have been a few, I would say one of the highlights was Earth Day last September. Me and my brother helped, we threw a show at the Book Club. That was the first time we sold out a venue with all of our people. It was also the first time I performed unreleased songs to thunderous crowds and I was like, man, okay, I can do this, like, on the level that I truly believe I can.
And honestly, being selected to perform at the From The ‘Go Fest has been one of my largest highlights, because it’s been validation that I can bring all of this energy and moment back home, that I can carve it for myself. … I’m starting to build my own momentum off of the momentum that’s been built for me, and that’s something I’m very proud of.
What are your hobbies outside of music?
I like fighting, which is kind of crazy in a sense but I used to wrestle when I was in high school. I very much like feeling connected to my body in that way. That’s part of where the hand wraps come from when I perform.
When did you know you wanted to pursue music?
Okay, so [my last name is Jackson.] I’m the youngest of five older siblings. So we used to sing Jackson Five and I was little Mike since I was like five, I’ve always known I wanted to do music.
How do you describe your style when it comes to making music?
Intuitive a bit. It’s also very loose, but it’s also very precise. When things are right I like to be extremely specific in getting to the core things, but also like to be elusive. I like to be vague. I like to allow people to build their own conclusions from things.
Be on the lookout for Khari Ennui’s upcoming projects that will be released this year. Catch him at the fourth annual From The ‘Go Fest July 27th from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm on the DuSable Museum campus. Get your free festival passes now from eventbrite.
By Amariyah Mallory, Junior, Whitney Young
IG| Dancemari_
True Star Media’s content is made possible thanks to donors like you. Help empower young creators and transform lives by donating at truestarmedia.org/donate.
