Meet Kitana Talley | DJ

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kitana Talley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kitana, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was gratefully born and raised in beautiful Southeast San Diego!

Being from Southeast San Diego, I was in proximity to a lot other BIPOC folks which made my upbringing remarkably rich in culture and diversity.
I would say because of this, my love of music really blossomed in all respects since exposure was second nature.

these sonic harmonies would range anywhere from regional sounds of the black diaspora to folk music from the Philippines; the range was endless!

Because of this, my palate for music is particularly expansive.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Although I’ve lived in San Diego for all of my life, this is the first time I could ever confidently say that I’ve found community; THIS is something I’m not only most proud of but also very grateful for.

Whether that be the DJ community, the poetry community from the open mics, the adjacent BIPOC communities, I know this is where I’m suppose to be.

DJing has given me the ability to echo my love and joy for music in these spaces. To see faces of nostalgia, curiosity, and happiness carried out from my curated sets make this all worthwhile.

My ethos with DJing stems from a need to have music be the glue that binds folks in that space together.

I want people to know the importance of how much music can take up space and be at the center of conversation, healing, grief, holiness, everlasting joy… its abundant.

To be able to design but also be forefront of something like that? Priceless.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hanging with me for a week, you will be well FED.
I cherish breaking bread with folks, I find that sharing a meal with people can bring a level of closeness that opens conversation and comfort.

Some of my pride and joy of San Diego brings me back to Southeast, SD.

I love eating out so the first spot I’d take someone is Caribbean Taste on 62 & Encanto!

We would then make our way to the paradise hills skate park to enjoy the food and the talented local skaters

Another spot I adore is Wormwood in North Park. Everything I’ve had here has been immaculate! Not to mention, its a beautiful spot.

After, Sycamore Den is just up the way. We could enjoy the best whiskey sour in the conversation pit.

Later in the week we could catch some free museums in Balboa park which would then be followed up by the rose garden.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I give a ton of love and thanks to my two best friends, Terry and Ayana
Both have a background that stems from creativity, curation, and community building.

On different occasions, I’ve shared my affinity for music with them to which they felt called to platform my love and talent.

April of 2024, Terry developed the idea of hosting an open mic put on at Quiet Storm r&b cafe to which he felt that having me DJ on this platform would be the best way to showcase my talents

In turn, Quiet Storm was the first place I’ve performed and currently hold residency at!

Instagram: ddjkitana

Youtube: impromptusandiego

Image Credits
@neighborhoodterry
@wndrboy
@by.darius
@internettheythem