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Your story is quite interesting, going from performing at the Arizona State Fair to being mentored by Michael Jackson at Neverland Ranch. Looking back, how did that experience shape you both as an artist and as a person? Michael Jackson was the biggest artist the world will ever know, so being recognized by him feels like the ultimate validation. Beyond his otherworldly talent, what also stood out was how grounded and kind he was. That’s what I try to always carry with me: stay humble, stay kind, and just sing.
After Michael’s passing, you stepped away from music entirely. What would you say was the emotional journey like finding your way back to your art? Staying focused and believing in yourself sounds simple enough, but it isn’t always easy. That is when who you surround yourself with really matters. If the people around you make you feel small, it’s hard not to start believing it. But when you’re supported, seen, and lifted up, you rise into who you are meant to be. Music finding its way back to me has been deeply emotional. Every song carries pieces of my story. My story has been buried for so long and now has finally found its voice.
You are now returning to the spotlight as Kataria. What does this new chapter represent for you creatively and personally? Kataria is a rebirth and a shedding of insecurities and doubt and an unapologetic return to who I truly am. This new chapter represents owning your path and recognizing just how capable you’ve always been. Creatively and personally, Kataria shuts out the noise, rejects what doesn’t serve, and moves forward with intention choosing love and purpose, only.
The first taste of this rebirth comes in the form of “I Earned It”. What’s the story behind the song, and what does it represent in your life right now? “I Earned It” is a declaration of truth and ownership. Love it or hate it, I am here and I have earned my place on the stage. It is an internal victory inspired by my heritage and personal resilience. Nature has a way of leading you back to the truth of who you are. You can bury parts of yourself, but they don’t disappear, they wait. For me, my truth has always been music. There was a time when I pushed the desire to sing aside, but it never left me. It found its way back, louder and clearer than ever before. Real happiness only comes from living in alignment with who you truly are, and for me, that means having a mic in my hand. This is most represented in a specific lyric from the song: “Nature finds a way to the truth, I grow down my roots, I grow through the roof.” 🙂
Your music is described as something that works on the dance floor but still hits emotionally in quieter moments. How important is that balance between vulnerability and confidence in your songwriting? I believe that the best songs come from a place of real vulnerability. When you put everything on the table, magic happens. The more honest and authentic you are, the more it seems to resonate with people. And when you pair that with a sick beat that you can move to while still feeling every word, that right there is the sweet spot!
Having experienced the industry at such a young age, how has your perspective on fame, success, and authenticity changed over time? I am a deeply spiritual person, and I believe everything happens for a reason. Sometimes, I think if things had taken off for me back at age 17, I wouldn’t have become who I am today. I wouldn’t have the same strength and resilience. Maybe I wouldn’t have developed the heart that I have now, shaped by struggle and moments that felt like failure. I may not have found real love or brought two more little loves into the world. Looking back, I am grateful I didn’t “make it” right away. I have gotten to live, to love, and then find my way back to my first love: music, and only now with a deeper sense of who I am.
A lot of your recent work seems rooted in transformation and proving people wrong. Do you feel your music now is more fearless than ever before? My music is more fearless than it’s ever been. There was a time I held back, softened the edges and second-guessed what I really wanted to say. I don’t do that anymore. Now, I say what I feel. I say what is real. I say the truth, without apology. When you are honest with yourself, there’s nothing to regret. The biggest thing I want people to take away from my music is this: only you get to define who you are. No one else gets that power.
Michael Jackson was known for his discipline, artistry, and perfectionism. Are there lessons from your time around him that still influence your creative process today? I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t think about Michael Jackson, especially when I am actively singing. What I experienced with him was rare and it is something I carry with a deep sense of honor. The biggest lesson he left me with still shapes how I create today: I channel everything from the pain, doubt, and frustration into the emotion of the vocals. When I sing the words, I really feel them and mean every line. I want you to feel every word I sing, the same way you feel every word he ever sang.
Stepping back into the spotlight after such a long absence can’t be easy. What fears or doubts did you have to overcome in order to release music again? Stepping back into the spotlight has only been possible because of the love and support of the people closest to me. I couldn’t do this again, release music again, without something real holding me up. That kind of love is everything. It allows me to keep going and keep pushing, even when there is doubt from people not in my corner. When you have unwavering strength behind you, it helps embolden you.
With “I Earned It” introducing this new era, what do you want listeners to understand about who Kataria is in 2026? Through every song, Kataria is here to remind you that it is never too late to speak (or sing) your truth and be born again!
LISTEN: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kataria1/i-earned-it
