Who will perform at iHeart’s Jingle Ball Village, get mentored by Grammy Winners and Win $10,000? You decide!
Kayla
Must be in the top 10 in their group to advance to the next round.
Voting for this round ends on November 1, 2026 at 10:00 PM EST
About Kayla
I’m a writer, musician, actor, and filmmaker drawn to stories about connection, misunderstood people, identity, and the spaces between reality and imagination. I create across music, film, and storytelling, always seeking to turn emotion into art.
Performances & Content from Kayla
Don’t Forget to Wake Me
Shock Culture
Forever in all Forms
Soul Language
Intimidate
Learn More About Kayla
What makes you the Next Music Star?
I’m an independent artist, songwriter, performer, and storyteller who believes music can turn the emotions we struggle to put into words into something people can feel together. As a GRAMMY U mentee, I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about the music industry while continuing to develop my own artistry independently. My music lives somewhere between indie pop, alternative, cinematic sounds, and the emotional honesty of the artists who inspired me. I’ve been building my artistry independently, often with limited resources, while refusing to let those limitations determine how far I can go. I’m not interested in simply only making songs, I want to create worlds, tell stories, and make people feel seen. I know what it means to build something before anyone is watching, and I’m ready for the opportunity to take that work to a much larger audience.
What do you love about music and performing?
I love that music is a universal language. It can bring together people who may have completely different backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and stories and give them one moment where they understand each other. There is something incredible about standing on a stage and realizing that a song that began as something deeply personal can suddenly belong to everyone listening. Performing allows me to turn emotion into something tangible and share that connection in real time. Whether someone is celebrating, grieving, falling in love, healing, or simply trying to understand themselves, I want my music to make them feel less alone. That connection is what keeps me creating. If I can write a song where someone can relate to it and feel seen where it speaks to them like no other, I’ve done my part. Music is a powerful thing people can resonate with and bring everyone together.
Who are your biggest music inspirations and dream collaborators?
My inspirations span generations and genres. Kate Bush has deeply influenced the way I think about storytelling, experimentation, and creating entire worlds through music. I’m also drawn to the atmosphere of 80s synth sounds, the cinematic melancholy of Lana Del Rey, and the emotional honesty of artists like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. My dream collaborators would include Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Ariana Grande. I’d love to create something that blends alternative, pop, rock, cinematic textures, and unexpected sounds while still feeling emotionally honest. Ultimately, I’m inspired by artists who aren’t afraid to be completely themselves.
What would you do with the $10,000 Grand Prize?
I would use the $10,000 as an investment in both my music and my ability to keep building a sustainable career as an independent artist. I would invest in equipment and resources that would allow me to improve the quality of my recordings and visual content, while also putting some of the prize toward the basic financial stability I currently lack. I’ve been building my music independently without a large team or financial support system behind me, so having that foundation would allow me to spend more time creating instead of constantly worrying about how I’m going to afford the next step. Most importantly, I would use this opportunity to turn one moment into momentum, not just win a prize, but build something that continues long after the competition ends.
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Participation supports Musicians On Call, a 501(c)(3) charity, which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments.
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