Kei Slaughter

Biography

Kei Slaughter is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, songwriter, and board-certified music therapist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Born and raised in the church and vibrant music culture of New Orleans, Slaughter developed a deep connection to music from an early age, with their maternal grandmother introducing them to youth choir rehearsals as a child. A pivotal moment came at age 13 or 14 when watching a Destiny's Child concert inspired Slaughter to pursue music professionally, leading them to create a Word Art poster declaring "I wanna be a superstar" and display it on their bedroom wall. This early inspiration set the trajectory for a multifaceted career spanning performance, composition, therapy, and community healing work.

Slaughter's musical practice encompasses multiple instruments including piano, guitar, flute, and voice, with a distinctive style blending soul, folk, R&B, and pop influences. Their artistic work addresses themes of addiction, personal trauma, heartbreak, and joy, as evidenced by their debut album "Dark Fire" (2017), which explored addiction and personal experiences through music. Beyond traditional performance, Slaughter has developed a comprehensive approach to music as a healing medium, integrating their training in vocal psychotherapy with their board-certified music therapy credentials accumulated over more than 12 years of practice. This integration of therapeutic and artistic practice reflects Slaughter's commitment to using music as a tool for emotional processing and authentic self-expression.

As a queer, Black, non-binary artist, Slaughter's work is deeply informed by their identity and commitment to social justice and liberation. In 2019, they founded S O U L F O L K Sounds, a healing practice and music production platform that centers marginalized communities, specifically working with queer and trans people of color and youth of color. The platform emphasizes what Slaughter describes as "Queer Black Magik" and integrates community building, liberation, and social change into its mission. Slaughter has been recognized for their contributions to music and social justice, including receiving a OneBeat Fellowship and being honored in LGBTQ+ music showcases. Their work demonstrates how music can serve simultaneously as personal catharsis, professional artistry, and a vehicle for community healing and empowerment.

Fun Facts

• Slaughter is a self-described pencil aficionado, an unusual and lesser-known personal interest beyond their musical work.
• Originally aspired to become a pediatrician before pursuing music therapy and music as a career path.
• Participated in the Acoustic Guitar Project New Orleans in 2019, where artists are given one guitar for one week to write one original song, resulting in the creation of "River Run."
• Uses body percussion and flute loops in live performances, as demonstrated in the reimagined version of "River Run," which deconstructs and improvises upon the original composition.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Maternal grandmother - Introduced Slaughter to music through youth choir rehearsals in childhood, establishing early musical foundation (Youth choir participation) [Early childhood (approximately age 5-6)]
• Destiny's Child - Artistic inspiration for pursuing professional music career; concert experience at age 13-14 motivated Slaughter's professional aspirations (Live concert performance) [Age 13-14]

Key Collaborators

• Howe Pearson - Performance collaborator ("Sweet Water" live performance at Chickie Wah Wah New Orleans) [Unknown]
• Bob Finklestein and Suzi Nash - Co-producers of video biography (Video Biography)
• Nancy Maker Brown - Subject of musical dedication; maternal great-great-great-great grandmother ("River Run" (2019, revisioned 2021)) [2019-2021]

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found)
• MusicBrainz