Kamela Ismalaj is cool. Cool in the way in which she wouldn’t look out of place in Brixton or Berlin, but cool in the way that she is completely and utterly unique. Shunning the fashionable Kardashian-style look that has found its way onto our streets and social media feeds, she oozes laid-back vibes, complete with piercings, tattoos, and one-of-a-kind outfits. But it isn’t just her style that sets her apart, it’s her infectious laugh and wry sense of humour that makes her immediately the kind of girl you would want to share a bottle of whiskey/wine/gin (delete as appropriate) with.
We met in DaDa- one of Tirana’s coolest bars in the centre of Blloku, and a fitting location for meeting one of Albania’s leading alternative musicians. But it is hard to get a moments peace when you stand out like we do- people asking for money, a rather forceful Roma with a drum, and of course, a handful of her friends that came over to say hi to Kamela and to ask me with curiosity and intrigue, what on earth was I doing in Albania. One of her friends, Donald- an artist and DJ in his own right- gushed enthusiastically;
“Kamela is one of those people that is completely true to herself. She is who she is, she is incredible and amazing and talented and is one of the few Albanian musicians with real talent that is not afraid to be different.”
Kamela was born in Korce and had an interest in music from a young age. She started playing the piano at the age of six before her music teacher discovered her voice when she was 10. From there, she took vocal lessons and began to pursue a dream of making a living out of her talent. She moved from Korce to Tirana and attended University, earning a degree in Musicology and the analysis of music. From there she started gigging in bars in and around Tirana with a mixture of heavily adapted covers and her own material. She also began teaching at Hollywood 206, a music school in the city dedicated to the rock music genre.
Both Kamela and Donald agree that across the world, not just in Albania, rock music is something of a dying breed. Gone are the rockstars that triumphed with their I-don’t-give-a-fuck attitudes, their innovative fashion sense, and their unstoppable musical influence. Today’s “rockstars” play it too safe and are scared to disrupt the status quo. Excuse the pun. Kamela also talks about the sort of monopoly that surrounds the music industry in Albania. She believes that people are afraid to be different and that most of the government support for music and the arts go to the musicians that like to play it safe, regardless of the level of their talent. She talks about a country where fun is allowed on the surface, but not too much, and any fun that is allowed must be carefully controlled and monitored.
That doesn’t fit with Kamela’s ideology and she talks about wanting to travel abroad for a few years to explore and expand her career through exploring different opportunities and cultures. She is adamant that she wants to return to Albania though, as we talk about the mass exodus of talented youngsters that leave the country looking for what they believe is a better life. I explain that whilst I understand why people want to leave- mainly for economic and social reasons- I have to wonder that if everyone that is progressive leaves, what will happen to the society that is left behind? Don’t they have a duty to help advance and solve the issues that are presented, through the medium of their art?
But for now, Kamela is staying put. She is a coach on The Voice Albania and appears on Top Channel several times a week. She talks of the talent she comes across as she travels around Albania, Kosova, and Montenegro for The Voice- “all Albanians can sing, they all have a lot of music in them” she says giggling. I point out that I am dating an Albanian and whilst I think he sounds lovely when he sings, I am not sure if he is quite ready for talent competitions yet. She laughs and then tells me about this young girl she discovered in a remote village in the north of the country, “she had the most incredible voice that just blew us away. She didn’t have a phone, she lived a poor life in the mountains, and I had to convince her to even go on the television- she was just amazing.”
Next on her list is to get back to writing her own materials again. After taking a hiatus of a few years to work on her career, teaching, and her television ventures, she is feeling motivated and inspired to get back into writing original songs. She speaks of a whole new sound- bluesy, jazzy, alternative music with a funky vibe and a futuristic twist. I take a moment to think how this fusion of eclectic musical styles will lend itself to her soulful and husky voice, and I think it will work.
But as well as singing, inspiring, teaching, and generally not giving a damn what anyone thinks, she also uses her success for good. A vocal LGBTIQ activist and a face for a national charity supporting children suffering from Down Syndrome, she feels passionate about working to change the mentality that marginalises these people to the fringes of society. We agree that through putting the faces of people like herself, as well as politicians, intellectuals and professionals to these causes, as well as getting these topics out in the open is the only way to get rid of these taboos and stigmas that are still lurking after years of isolation.
As the interview comes to an end I feel like I was just chatting with a friend or acquaintance. Kamela is a refreshing burst of life in a sea of conformity and I admire her attitude, style, and motivation. You can follow Kamela on Instagram here.
Follow The Balkanista!
