CMR
This is Cafe Mocha with Loni Love. Yo-Yo and Angelique. Beyoncé kind of made history and took home a couple of Grammys for country album album of the year, country duet. Also making history is a group of sisters who have gone viral on TikTok singing country music. Joining us on Cafe Mocha, for the first time ever, the Boykinz welcome to the show, ladies, and tell us your name and your ages, please.
Hi, thanks for having us. I’m Kylin and I’m 23. Hey, I’m Annali and I am 22 thanks for having us.
Hello, I’m Night Cherry and I’m 20.
Hi, I’m Alana and I’m 17 years old.
Oh my goodness.
And we are the Boykinz.
I love it. I love it. Welcome to the show. Your sound is described as country infused with R&B, pop, hip hop and soul. Who are your musical influences? We’ll start with you, Kaylin.
Wow. So yes, we are very country infused group. We are infused with, we’re inspired by Destiny’s Child Spice Girls from the Dixie Chicks to Outkast. They all have played a, you know, a role, a huge role in our sound and our just our artistry in general.
Love that Annali.
Hi.
So cute. Who are your influences?
Yes, like Kylin was saying from the Dixie Chicks to Destiny’s Child, to Dolly, to Shania, to Phoebe wonder, to the Jackson 5, we have definitely been influenced by so many incredible legends and we definitely enjoy the music from now to back then. And we’re just the melting pot.
What led you to country music?
Night, Cherry.
Hey, hey, Cherry here. Uh, what brought us to country music? Oh, we just grew up around it. So our mom and dad would have all kinds of dramas playing on the radio. And it was just kind of like. A. Why not? You know, we, we sung everything growing up from Motown, from gospel to country. So we didn’t no brainer when we had finally decided. Like, let’s do. This but in a few but in an infused. Way you know.
I love it. And Alana uh, tell us something about the group that makes you all unique.
Yes. Hi, I’m Alana, but our sound is a unique blend of sisterhood. We are sisters, and we have that harmony where it’s like piercing through your heart. And I think what makes us unique is, honestly, our character, our character and our group and the. Tree has our. Rock star element Kyle and she has that. Fullness and all. Here that dizziness and I have that pop sound and fuse. With that together you get an X Factor group. I think what also makes us unique is our tones too. Like Cherry is an alto so is Kylin. Analli is like a mid soprano and I’m the highest range soprano and with that in the group you have a fusion of a gumbo.
I love that. Analli You’re the fashionista, so tell us how difficult is it styling the group and getting everybody to agree? Like, yeah, I like this. This is cute.
Yeah. So with each girl, everybody has their own style from Anali. She’s like our baby doll. Very cute. See everything she wears. And I totally see the rock stars. But she likes to change the cool pants, the hot pants, and Kyle. And she’s got, like, the chic, funky style going on and. Everybody is truly an individual, so what’s something pretty fun? It’s like we had a scene, but it’s all like in. But it’s all to fit the occasion for how they would do it, so it doesn’t matter where we’re going, whether it’s red carpet or whatever. I have to make sure that you know, we’re all the same plant, but you know, everybody’s definitely original. It’s fun. But at the same time, it’s also a good challenge because. When it comes to my style, I just kind of take from all of them and I’m always inspired about little pieces they use and I just use it for me. But yeah, it’s always. Something that I look forward to do for big events.
Hello.
I love the the looks. I mean I’m looking at you guys online and I love your tik toks and you guys look amazing and you sound even more wonderful. Kylin, you’re the master choreographer and the group’s Mama bear. So tell me, what is it like working with your sisters and getting them all together? With that, with that cardio that, that, that choreo. Let’s call it the Cory.
Well.
Yeah.
Sorry. Yeah, yes. I mean, honestly, it’s same pleasure of getting to work with my sisters, you know, just growing up, we’ve always been interested in a lot of the same things and specifically, you know, targeting musical theater has been a huge influence for us. And as long as like my bossy and some of the great. And so choreographing for this group has been nothing but easy. They’ve allowed me to be myself and whatever comes out, they love it. And that’s just what makes it easy. And as far as being Mama bear. Things comes with that, of course, but I’m up with the challenge.
As well now.
Yeah, I have a daughter that does TikTok all day long and she wants me to do it. How? How many times do you have to do the takeovers? I mean is it do you? Are you? Guys just nailing. It the first time someone’s teaching the choreo, you’re nailing it. Or is this like an hour to two hours of work?
Ohh man. Well towards the beginning when we decided to start going to talk it took us all night. We are also college students and so you know that it was a lot of. Time put into these Tik toks and we were both so focused on little movement and we knew that was something people loved about what we brought the TikTok and so we said a lot, probably more, more than enough time. And then overtime of course we had to manage our time a little more wisely, but for sure yes it took. So we got it right.
Well.
It’s Cafe Mocha They are Boykinz. It sound like I said Boink. Right? The Boykinz. They are a country group of singers. I want to talk about the TikTok thing. When did you guys decide to? Start singing and dancing on TikTok and when did you realize that? It blew up.
Night, Cherry.
So this was about. Oh, OK, good.
Oh, yes. So we started to talk near the pandemic when that was starting and when it blew up. Oh, it was kind of this. This is very funny because at first we did not want to join TikTok at all because, you know, a lot of comedians were on there, was just, you know. A platform where you you. Can have fun and not really be taken seriously. And as artists they’re like, well, you know. We want to be. Taken seriously. But you know, I feel like this came from God, where he was just like just. Do it you. Know be who you are and express yourself. It doesn’t matter who takes takes, you unserious or or silly. To do it, and that’s what we did. And it we found from like the hats and the coating around our house and just put it on and people just loved it and we just kept it going, you know.
I love it. Alana, when you guys went viral, I mean, how did you guys find out and what was like the the reaction?
OK, well, I remember the night. It was like around 12 at night. And we’ll take you in the morning and we saw our numbers going up little by little. And we’re like reaching 1000 like every 30 minutes or so. And I was just praying, like, what does this go to like, a morning? And one night and then I hear my sister screaming and went down to my parents and. We’re like we heard video. And I think it was from the good, bad and ugly soundtrack. The third. And we’re just so excited. I just wanted that moment being like.
Only saying his name, like, are we in the?
Big league, but I. Will remember and cherish that moment forever.
I love it. How influential or encouraging, I guess, is the question with this recent win, with Beyoncé winning at the Grammys for the country album, anyone can take this answer.
Can you hear me?
Yep.
Well, I mean getting to, yeah, kaylin last night, we watched the Grammys and we were just, you know, shaking in our boots, just hoping that, you know, Beyoncé would take it home. And she did. And we were up just.
Kaylin.
Up and screaming and just like, wow. And just add in all of this accomplishment. First of all, you know, being a southern black girl and, you know, doing country music.
MHM.
And this has meant so much. And so, like, wow, he’s really opening doors for us and he’s allowing. People to see. Us and we really appreciate the the whole body of work because it showcase like more than even country music it it was infused with so many things. And I feel like that’s who we are. And for us, that is, I mean the movement has has been nothing but. So encouraging and uplifting, especially for, I can say all the black artists in this genre.
Talking about black artists in the genre, I mean, this is really predominantly. A white boys game, especially country music. Have you guys have any backlash or has the success been warm?
Anali.
Well, so far I can gladly say that our experience has been pretty great so far and hopefully stays that way. We’ve been in and out of Nashville working with all types of writers and producers and musicians, and it’s been nothing but pure bliss. And also just the. Energy and the studios and they just have the stars in the walls and it’s very open experience. That’s what it’s been like for us. So thankful for that.
Are any of you girls? Oh, I’m sorry. Go ahead, are any of you girls writers yourself?
And. Go ahead.
Yes, we all. Right. And we wrote our single. That’s out right now called selling love with the cowboy.
And that’s what I wanted to ask. I mean, let’s talk about this single and the whole meaning behind it, because what I love about country music, I don’t know about you ladies, but it always tells a story. That’s what I love about it. And so tell me about your single fell in love with a cowboy. Kylin.
OK. Yes, some of them with the cowboy is a true Jim. It’s a song dedicated to your dream guy. And you know, we started the song back during the pandemic. And it grew overtime and we gotten a chance to work with an amazing producer out of Nashville, and he understood the assignment and helped build it out and help tweak some things to make it what it is today. And so yeah, this one, this is a love letter to our Cowboys. The dream guy, the guy you envision for yourself.
Yeah.
And you guys appeared on Kelly Clarkson show.
Yes.
Tell me about that experience. I love Kelly. I’m always on her show. But tell me about that experience with her.
Oh man. Getting to meet Miss Kelly Clarkson herself has been, oh, such a true dream come true. Of course. And maybe please say say, but we grew up listening to her as well and getting to experience such her soft Ora was like just melting. We could not believe that we were sitting there conversating with this woman, and she’s been nothing but. Encouraging and uplifting. And she’s actually the reason why we got to meet the amazing Shania Twain and perform with her and just forever grateful for that experience.
Oh wow. Alana, you are also when you’re not singing soprano for the group, you’re uh, OHA gamer. How are you balancing that in school and everything you tell Auntie Lonnie, how you, how you’re balancing all of this.
Wow. Well, like gaming, gaming is my paradise. So is my career. Because school is a lot not well. I’m glad I’m at home school, but I use as my safe haven. I play like Fortnite and Minecraft and go. Later, like those games really ease my mind, especially when I’m working a lot. But yeah, that’s just my going to get out and enjoy my time. Video games also help me with like personality and characters like even some of the characters and skins of Fortnite. They’re all colorful and they’re also pop like. And so I like to also. Pick from that and just embrace my character a little more. Video games. So yeah, it’s really a safe haven for me.
I love it, and that’s here. You’re the guitarist of the group and you have a love for rhyming and and also rapping how the how is it important in the group and with your part of being that guitarist that musicians, I mean is it something that you like you have to like. Let them know. Hey, I’m the guitarist. Cause you know I have an engineering degree, so I when I work with these two ladies that I’m on the line with, I I have to remind them that I’m an engineer. So I think certain types of ways you see where I’m getting at. Sorry.
Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.
Oh, that is so funny. Oh, man, no, they keep me humble for sure they put me. In my place. It’s great being the guitarist of the group and rap and Hype Woman really fun and I think it’s very needed, you know, in every group that there’s like this person of that has energy that can get the crowd going, you know, give everybody good guides, you know, kind of more, motivate the groups, you know, itself too. And yeah, just I love, I love.
Mm-hmm.
My part in the position. I play, I feel like. It makes the gumbo even cooler, you know everybody has like their own thing. Oh, and Kylin even plays bass herself, which also complements my guitar playing. So. You know. Yeah, the.
You know the music.
Whole band old girl band.
Wow.
Years ago, we had her on and she’s a guitarist and she said that she was told, oh, you know, put that down, girls, you know, you’re not supposed to have that thing that guitar have you have. You had backlash.
Right.
About being a guitar player.
Oh my gosh, have I? Oh, yes. So like I remember when I started the people we were working with during the time was just like put it down, put it down. You can’t play, you know, just focus on your vocals. You just and I did not listen at all. I practice and tell my fingers are bleeding. And I said I’m going to get this right and. I just kept going and. Now I’m just the guitar player, the group. I’m very honored to be so.
Yeah, I don’t. I don’t even understand why shouldn’t girls? Is it girls or is it black girls? Or what’s the deal? With the guitar.
Wow.
Yeah, that’s crazy. All I know is do not let anybody tell you what you can and can’t do when it comes to something you aspire to do you.
That’s right.
Know you can.
Man.
Do so many things.
So have have.
Definitely.
You ever heard of Johnny Guitar, Watson?
I think so.
I’d love for you to pick up his album or check him out. Johnny Guitar Watson.
You would love him. You would love. Just listen to some of his he’s not. He’s no longer with us, but he was.
Oh.
Great soul guitarist, so you know you know. So you you you could get some inspirations definitely before we let you ladies go. I want to ask each each of you what do you want from your group and how and what do you see in the future. So we’ll start with Mama Bear.
Umm.
Thailand.
OK, well, I definitely see. Us, you know, spilling out sellers own stadium tours, traveling, being able to connect with. The people that support us and that, you know, we’ve gotten to touch their hearts and that kind of instant way. So definitely see us traveling the world with our music, playing from country to country, from Island Island.
Right.
Love. Anali.
Yes, to add on to what Kylin was saying, all those places, the Grammys, we wanted all our our mission, we definitely wanted to free people’s minds and to show them that they don’t have to be limited to someones stereotype of them and that they can be everything they’re called to be. And walk in that seriously. So we definitely want to empower all the people around the world to do just that.
I love it. Let’s hear it.
Oh I I. See a movie soundtrack, some philanthropy just helping people, you know, hearing the world with our music and the impact of what we do, just being so legendary and just just for generation that it can.
Yeah.
Live on. That’s what I see.
Alana.
I see Mangas anime comic books, but also I see loyal fan base a fan base that can find freedom within and through our music and also a fan base that even goes out and just preach the word of positivity. I would love that for our legacy just to move on beyond. Less than two other people’s hearts and honestly, just the roundabout of love spread across the world, and I think that’s the biggest mark. I think our group is going to leave someday.
Alana wants to blink. Cartoon she just.
I love it. You’re speaking into existence, you know, we are so proud of you ladies. And when you guys get the the EP, please come back and you know our listeners, we will always support you. And we’re just so proud of you. We want you to keep going and thank you so much for taking your time.
Said it. I love it. I know.
Yeah, music’s great. Nothing wrong with.
Yes, we are.
To talk to us in Cafe Mocha, we really appreciate it ladies.
Thank you for having.
Thank you. Thank you.
Me.
Take care.
We’re we’re we’re like, we’re like 3 proud aunties, Johnny.
Right.
Thank you, ladies. Tell your mom I say hi, OK?
Thank you so much.
