K. Flay

You may not expect one of the most compelling new voices in hip hop to wield dual psychology and sociology degrees from Stanford University or find inspiration in the buttoned-up world of indie rock, but for K.Flay, defying expectations is simply part of the game.
Kristine Flaherty grew up outside of Chicago, devouring her father's classic rock records and staying up late to dance to Parliament-Funkadelic in the living room. It was this same musical open-mindedness that would later spark her artistic development. She found her musical voice in college, fusing the eclectic power of the Bay Area hip hop scene with her own unique presence, inspired by strong, independent female artists ranging from Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill to Fiona Apple and Liz Phair.
On stage, K.Flay is a one-woman whirlwind: whether she's creating beats, singing, rapping or playing guitar, her wit and acerbic charm shine through. Her talents have led her to share the stage with artists including spending 2010 on the road with Passion Pit (Campus Consciousness Tour), 3oh!3 (Streets of Gold Tour), and various dates with Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Travie McCoy and more, where she quickly won over audiences who hadn't seen anything quite like her before. Further setting her apart from the pack, she serves as her own producer in the studio, methodically infusing her hip hop swagger with a dose of sonic exploration.
K.Flay's debut self-released EP dropped on October 12, 2010 and has been receiving rave reviews nationwide. The EP which is currently available on iTunes, along with one mixtape (the genre-hopping MASHed Potatoes) available for free on her website, have set K.Flay up nicely for a successful 2011.