Sudden Hearing Loss Can't Stop Multiplatinum Rapper K.Flay

One day last fall, multiplatinum recording artist K.Flay woke up deaf in her right ear — hearing loss that she later learned was permanent. Suddenly losing half your hearing is traumatic for anyone, but what if you make your living as a musician?

The only thing our guest, K.Flay, could think to do was head to the studio and start making music, which was difficult with all the sensory changes she was experiencing. However, in a story of resilience and internal fortitude, K.Flay pressed onward. Listen as she shares her emotions and story and how that led to her latest album, MONO.

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Our Guest is based in LA and originally from Illinois. Welcome multiplatinum artist K.Flay, born Kristine Flaherty, started rapping and writing songs on a lark while attending Stanford University and soon began releasing her self-produced mixtapes. In 2017, she released her major label debut album “Every Where Is Some Where,” earning two GRAMMY Award nominations for the album’s iconic smash single “Blood in the Cut'' and sending her to arenas around the world with her kinetic live set. As a songwriter, musician, and producer, she’s lent her talents to numerous collaborations, working with Fitz and the Tantrums, Bishop Briggs, Tom Morello, Louis the Child, Kaskade, Walk the Moon, Imagine Dragons, grandson, The Regrettes, Two Feet, MisterWives, and more. Whether working on her music or with others, K.Flay’s output remains rooted in her undeniable lyrical skills, an element she attributes to her innate love of language and its infinite possibilities. This spring, she announced her fifth studio album MONO — due out September 15th. The LP is her first for Giant Music and is her first since going suddenly and completely deaf in her right ear at the end of last summer. Although K.Flay’s hearing loss deeply informed her songwriting on MONO, the album marks the start of a new era for the artist who explores an entire spectrum of existential questions and complex matters of the heart and mind on the LP. Additionally, K.Flay wrote an original song “T-Rex” for Neflix’s groundbreaking new animated film “Nimona” which was released last month. A relentlessly boundary-pushing artist with more than 1 BILLION streams and 100K+ tickets sold, K.Flay continues to commit herself to constant growth by holding herself to higher and more rigorous standards in every aspect of her artistry.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

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