Illinois native Kristine Flaherty, better known by her stage name, K.Flay, seems to lack any of the pretension that might come with hit-maker territory. Instead, in a recent interview Flaherty came across as amicable, chill and acutely self-aware, traits easy to find in her infectiously relatable music. Her 2014 hit "Make Me Fade" is a good example of the kind of genre-bending music that K.Flay has become known for. The track addresses a toxic love obsession in a smooth, sonic package that effortlessly blends hip-hop and pop influences with electronic depth.
Flaherty didn't set out to become a musician, but stumbled into it while studying at Stanford University. "Generally speaking, those years are times of experimentation on various levels for many people," says Flaherty. "It happened pretty much out of the blue but slowly, (music) just became something that I did a lot of without really having an awareness that it was becoming a really important part of my life and, ultimately, my identity."
She ended up launching her career by distributing her hip-hop-influenced mixtapes, EPs and singles on the Internet "without too much of an overarching plan or strategy."
Her first few self-produced albums included titles like "Suburban Rap Queen," "Mashed Potatoes" and her 2011 mixtape, "I Stopped Caring in '96." Despite the lack of strategy, the Internet worked its mysterious magic in tandem with Flaherty's live performances and things soon became very real for K.Flay. In 2012 and 2013, Flaherty would go on to release her first two commercial albums with RCA Records, "Eyes Shut" and "What If It Is."
Both earlier albums strongly incorporate elements of hip-hop and rap, combining Flaherty's fresh-faced swagger with lyrics that describe the chaotic life experiences of a young adult, from bad relationships to self-doubt. Flaherty's late-20s ennui is practically palpable on 2012's "We Hate Everyone," on which she lobs out lists of complaints at a rapid-fire pace: "Wanna see me satisfied, better hang tight/I got beef with the MTA, all my relatives are my enemies/Everybody blows regardless of what I do/There's a hair in my Thai food ..."
Since those initial projects, Flaherty's musical influences have expanded to include electronica, pop and rock. "Over time, the spirit of (hip-hop) is certainly present in what I do now, but I don't think anyone would hear my last record and say that it's a straight rap album," Flaherty says. "I've grown from that genre to something a little bit more in between genres."
That genre-defying progression is there in Flaherty's last record, 2014's "Life As A Dog," which was released on an independent label after Flaherty split from RCA. "Life As A Dog" is chock-full of ear worms that toe the line between dance party, rock concert and rap battle, all while keeping the same wit and self-reflective lyrics that likely drew people to Flaherty in the first place.
Flaherty's songwriting process has evolved as she's gained experience and collaborated with other artists. "I've gotten a lot more honest, and I think I've become a lot more focused as a songwriter," says Flaherty. "I'm trying to be a little stricter with revisions and what I choose to include and what I don't."
If the past few years have been any indication, 2016 should prove to be another banner year for Flaherty, who is playing her first-ever gig in Alaska on March 25 at the Williwaw Social, then launching into a nine-week tour of Europe with the band PVRIS. Flaherty says 2016 has some other exciting events in store, although they're currently under wraps.
"I'm always writing and always working on things, so my headspace is always kind of in that mode," says Flaherty. "Lately I've been kind of inspired by things that are just unabashedly themselves, even if it verges on feeling kind of cheesy or over the top … there's a bravery in that."
K.Flay
With Modern Savage and Tourmaline
When: 8 p.m. Friday, March 25
Where: Williwaw Social, 601 F St.
Tickets: $18 in advance at williwawsocial.com, $25 at the door