Meet KOTI - The King of the Island
Tucked behind the alleyway of a little coffee shop, on Lahser Road, is Detroit’s Artist Village. The walls of the alley are covered in paintings done by Detroit artists’. In one of the spaces, there was a stage that The Vision Detroit (founded by Layla McMurtrie, Jai’La Logan, and Dehvin Bank) had a lineup of artists perform on.
Many artists of different musical backgrounds performed and brought together the community of Detroit. No one expects to find a whole village of artists behind the alleyway of a coffee shop, which is why this space is its own little oasis for artists. The shop is homey, with art everywhere and a garden that people can volunteer in.
On September 13th, multiple artists performed on stage at the Artist Village. Artists such as KOTI and The Knight Heart performed some of their new and most popular songs.
Short for King of the Island, KOTI grew up in Detroit and has been into music since he was nine years old. KOTI started creating his own music two years ago. His blend of music is unique, with a combination of r&b vibes, rap, and alternative influences.
Not only does KOTI create music, he is also a content creator, clothing designer, and performer. He performs under his own record label that he created, The Island Productions. The creation of KOTI’s albums and The Island Productions has created an alternate island-themed universe for KOTI, his audience, and his music.
Most male artists in the city of Detroit don’t really sing like KOTI, they rap. KOTI stands out from these artists because he is able to bring in an audience by singing. Some of the songs that KOTI performed at INVISION were SAVED U A DANCE, DREAM WIFE, and LUSH/check to check. SAVED U A DANCE has an upbeat tempo with smooth retro vibes, making it easy to dance and sway to. DREAM WIFE starts off with a funky beat that slips into KOTI serenading the audience with his lyrics. LUSH/check to check describes something every twenty-something has experienced; living check to check!
KOTI’s lyrics are relatable and catchy to a wide range of listeners. Not only does KOTI create his own music, he shoots his own music videos using his skills from film school. KOTI mentioned that The Island Productions is currently working on a film right now, but the details cannot be disclosed yet.
He is having a release party for his album, WELCOME TO THE ISLAND soon, which is why he created the leopard print themed style guide for his release party. KOTI doesn’t want his audience to just listen to the music, he wants them to experience it and submerse themselves in the music, which is why he created a theme.
For his first release party, KOTI had created mini anchor keychains to fit the theme of his album. KOTI hopes to one day perform on an awards show and be a popstar. His dream is to travel the world and see people in the crowd singing his lyrics by heart.
He hopes his music will inspire others and make them feel their emotions. KOTI said “If I could have the chance to perform in any city, it would be Los Angeles.” A country KOTI said he would like to perform in is, “London because they be lit.” Some artists that KOTI would like to collaborate with in the future are SZA, Tyler the Creator, Brent Faiyaz, and Laila! You can find KOTI’s music on AppleMusic and Spotify, and be sure to stay tuned for his release party of WELCOME TO THE ISLAND!