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by JR Valrey, People’s Minister of Information, SF Bay View Oakland Bureau
Over this last year, the sultry-voiced R&B singer Keidra Onstage has been rocking stages from the Bay Area to Ghana with her powerful Black church-created vocal chords and very unique sound.
Within a few weeks, Keidra is scheduled to rock the stage of the most prestigious jazz club in the Bay Area, Yoshi’s, which is a monumental feat considering that local talents like Ledisi and Goapele became international names in music after regularly having their names on that marquee.
Keidra already has multiple accolades to her name: from being a regular headliner at D’Wayne Wiggins’ venue, The Compound in East Oakland, to rocking Fillmore’s Juneteenth last year, following it up with touring Ghana with the legendary Tone, Toni, Tone last summer and now being invited to perform at Yoshi’s opening up for the relatives of the great soul crooner Bobby Womack.
The rising star is definitely putting her ducks in order so that she can mushroom into a household name in the very near future. Check her out in her own words.
JR: You have an upcoming show at Yoshi’s on April 7, where you are opening up for the Womack Sisters. How does it feel to have your name featured on a show at the most prestigious jazz club in Oakland? Does it feel like a promotion?
Keidra Onstage: Yes! I’m super excited to announce this. To all my friends, family, haters, fans and supporters. I’ll be at Yoshi’s April 7, in Oakland. This feels so sudden because of all the work I thought I had to put in to get to this club in particular.
Sometimes I’m hard on myself about my music experience but have to remind myself of my talent, gift and, most of all, hard work I put in on a daily basis to get to where I am. So it’s very overwhelming, but it’s well deserved because it’s what I was put here to do.
I’m also working with two extremely talented artists, Neah Rose and Crybaby Shay. Both are Oakland natives. It’s my time!
JR: What songs do you plan to sing at Yoshi’s? Are there any surprises?
Keidra Onstage: I’m going to perform all singles. I’m proud to say that these singles are now available on all major platforms and there are a few visuals as well. I’m performing my mental health awareness song, “Blame Me,” “Body,” featuring Goldie, and “Giving Me Life.” There isn’t a video for that one just yet, but it’s coming.
JR: In the summer of 2021 you toured Ghana with the legendary R&B band Tony, Toni, Tone and got a chance to rock at the legendary Panafest. Looking back, what did you get out of the experience?
Keidra Onstage: Looking back, I notice that it was a huge and historic moment in the history of Keidra. No, but honestly it was, though. To my friends, family and to onlookers I had no idea what I did until I came back to the states and got the feedback I had gotten. So many people are yearning to just get their passports, and some have gotten their passports but don’t believe they have the funds to simply book the trip.
I encouraged them of the steps to take to let them know, because it’s not always easy getting there. That’s what I enjoy, knowing I can help others with information I now have, and transitioning over to an international artist.
JR: You were supposed to tour Ghana again with Tony, Toni, Tone and a number of other artists in December, why did you not end up making the tour?
Keidra Onstage: The president in Ghana said in a press release literally one day prior to me boarding my flight that anyone entering into his country would have to be fully vaccinated, and I am not vaccinated and I don’t plan to get vaccinated for personal reasons. It sucks!
JR: You recently released two videos, “Blame Me” and “Iz U Ridin.” What was it like shooting both of those videos during a historic pandemic?
Keidra Onstage: I love the outcome of my videos. They were shot by @4kbaytv. And to answer your question: I honestly feel like the pandemic is over. I feel like we are all trying to just get back to work and put a lot of those depressing memories behind us.
I focus and know that I’m here for a reason. I made it through the pandemic for a reason, and it didn’t break me for a reason. And I give God His fruits every day because of this and I pray for those that have been affected.
JR: You have a song called “Going Back to Ghana,” similar to LL Cool J’s original and Biggie’s remake, when do you plan to release it?
Keidra Onstage: I actually worked out this morning and listened to “Going Back to Ghana” over and over again to critique it and finalize a treatment for the video that I plan to shoot for it.
At the time I wrote this piece, there were no vaccination requirements in place to get to Ghana. So I think I’m going to incorporate some humor around that in particular to inform my followers as to why I was not able to go. They’ll see it in the video for sure! I plan to release this song as a single for Juneteenth.
JR: You also have a hot song that you recorded in Ghana with HipLife star, Yaa Pono, when are you planning to poison people’s speakers with it?
Keidra Onstage: I plan to release it as soon as I get it properly mixed and mastered to my liking, and plus I have to be able to get back to Africa to shoot this video with Yaa Pono. I anticipate releasing it this year by Christmas.
JR: Can you talk a little bit about your line of products that you are developing for beards? When do you plan to launch?
Keidra Onstage: The name of my business is BEARDS 2.0 LLC. It’s a men’s beard line that includes a clarifying shampoo, deep conditioner and a light moisturizing beard mist. I started this business last year while at work on one of my jobs.
I knew I needed a home based business to generate income that’ll give my family and friends financial freedom and support while I’m creating jobs. I chose this lane because I can create a skin and hair care product from my heart, and caring for people comes naturally. I will launch on July 4. That’s my big brother, Ha’kim’s, birthday.
JR: How could people purchase your music? How could people purchase tickets for the Yoshi’s show?
Keidra Onstage: Purchase tickets to my show at Yoshi’s at www.yoshis.com. It’s on Thursday, April 7. All my music is on iTunes. Here’s a link to my mental health awareness song “Blame Me.” Follow me on Instagram and all socials @keidraonstage. Follow my apparel page on Instagram @Onstageizm. Email me keidraonstage@gmail.com.
JR Valrey, journalist, author, filmmaker and founder of Black New World Media, heads the SF Bay View’s Oakland Bureau and is founder of his latest project, the Ministry of Information Podcast. He can be reached at blockreportradio@gmail.com, on Facebook and on Instagram @ministryof411podcast. Visit www.BlackNewWorldMedia.com to read more. Listen to the Ministry of Information podcast on Patreon and YouTube, out April 2022.
