.Flay was born Kristine Meredith Flaherty in Wilmette, Illinois, on June 30, 1985. She attended nearby New Trier High School. When she was seven, her parents divorced and her mother remarried soon after, bringing in a stepbrother and a stepsister. When she was 14 years old, her biological father—a guitarist who loved all musical genres—died of undisclosed causes related to his alcoholism; many of her songs include references to him. Flaherty's stepfather helped raise her and later adopted her. She has described herself as a tomboy during childhood, preferring baggier clothing and rejecting "all things girly". In 2003, she enrolled at Stanford University, pursuing a double major in psychology and sociology. According to Flaherty, many people she met during her time at Stanford influenced her musical style.
K.Flay began her music career in 2003, believing that most hip-hop hits on the radio were "simplistic, misogynistic and formulaic". After bragging to a friend that she could write similar songs, she wrote "Blingity Blang Blang", which she described as a "low-budget rap parody that contained far too many obscenities". After writing and performing the song, Flaherty realized that she enjoyed writing and recording music. She continued to experiment with music by writing songs and performing and recording them on her computer. She released a mixtape called Suburban Rap Queen in 2005, which she produced on her laptop, and began performing.
In 2010, K.Flay released her self-titled EP, and in 2011 self-released the mixtape I Stopped Caring in '96, which she later remarked was a career turning point. K.Flay signed with RCA Records in 2012, releasing two EPs: Eyes Shut in 2012, with songs produced by Liam Howlett from the British band The Prodigy, and What If It Is in 2013. She parted ways with RCA Records in 2013 because of differences of opinion. Upon leaving RCA Records, she left behind more than 60 songs she had written while signed under RCA Records, but no longer owned the rights to. K.Flay has described her time with RCA Records as similar to "an ill-advised marriage".
In late April 2014, K.Flay announced the release of her album Life as a Dog, by offering fans the ability to pre-order via PledgeMusic, reaching 196 percent of her initial goal. She wanted the project to be "DIY [and] self-motivated". It was recorded and produced in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with the final mix produced at San Francisco's Different Fur.
Life as a Dog was released independently on June 10, 2014. The album reached No. 14 on the Billboard Rap Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. K.Flay toured extensively once the album was released, including headlining a tour and joining tours with AWOLNATION, Third Eye Blind, and Dashboard Confessional in 2014. In 2014 and 2015 she toured Germany, France, and other European countries. K.Flay also performed on the Warped Tour in 2014, saying that it "was almost like an exercise in becoming a better performer".
In 2015, K.Flay collaborated with Louis the Child on their song "It's Strange". The single was praised by Taylor Swift, who added "It's Strange" as one of her "Songs That Will Make Life Awesome" list and was featured on the FIFA 16 soundtrack. The song peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. On March 25, 2016, K.Flay released her single "FML". Later that year, K.Flay announced she had signed to Interscope Records as the first artist signed to Dan Reynolds' Night Street Records imprint. Her EP Crush Me was released 10 days later on August 19. The EP's song "Blood in the Cut" appeared on the soundtrack for XXX: Return of Xander Cage, Netflix's original series BoJack Horseman (season 4, episode 6), and in a 2017 NFL promo commercial drive.
K.Flay's album Every Where Is Some Where was released on April 7, 2017. The album's first single, "High Enough", was released in March 2017. She was the opening act for the North American and European legs of Imagine Dragons' Evolve Tour. In September 2017, Flay released the book Crush Me, a compilation of notes received from fans. At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, "Blood in the Cut" received a nomination for Best Rock Song, and Every Where Is Some Where was nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
On March 1, 2019, K.Flay announced that she was working on her third studio album and released a lyric video for its first single, "Bad Vibes". On March 19, the official music video for "Bad Vibes" was released.[35] On April 29, K.Flay revealed that the new album would be titled Solutions and announced the Solutions Tour. The album was released on July 12, 2019.
In December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, K.Flay released a three-track EP called Don't Judge a Song by Its Cover which saw her covering "Break Stuff" by Limp Bizkit, "Self Esteem" by The Offspring, and "Brain Stew" by Green Day.
In April 2021, K.Flay announced that a five-track EP called Inside Voices would be released on June 11. The first song from the EP, "Four Letter Words", was released with a music video on April 23. The second song, "TGIF" featuring Tom Morello on guitar, was released with an animated visual on May 21.
In early 2021, K.Flay began live streaming on Twitch; she uses the platform to interact with fans, host live interviews with other musicians, and create and mix original songs in real-time. She also performed at the 2021 Grey Cup halftime show with Arkells and The Lumineers.'' On November 19, 2021, K.Flay released a second five-track EP entitled Outside Voices. The EP's first single, "Nothing Can Kill Us", was released on October 15, 2021; its accompanying music video was released on November 4. A second single, "Weirdo", was released on November 17, two days before the release of the EP. On February 4, 2022, K.Flay's fourth studio album Inside Voices / Outside Voices, was released. The album combines the Inside Voices and Outside Voices EPs along with two additional tracks, "The Muck", and "Good To Drive"
K.Flay has cited a wide range of musicians such as Royal Blood, Missy Elliott, Garbage, Lauryn Hill, Tame Impala, Jeremih, Metric, M.I.A., OutKast, Liz Phair, Cat Power, and Shlohmo as influences. Her work has covered genres including hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, indie, and pop-rock. She has described her sound as "genre-defying" and draws from lo-fi pop and hip-hop with a strong indie component in her sound.
Not In California
K.Flay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it a comfort or a curse?
A knowledge that we could've avoided all this?
The birds all died and the trees caught fire
And the government, it called us crazy
We built a big world, then we watched it all burn
'Cause the television made us lazy
Yeah, the heroin, it made us hazy
I looked up at the clouds as I was freaking out
God save me
We're not in California anymore
We're not in California anymore
Traded all our sunshine in for a storm
Don't say I didn't warn you
We're not in California anymore
The babies all cry as the scientists try
But the politicians keep on screaming
I'd like a road map, like to turn the clock back
But the internet, it keeps on freezing
Drink up every bottle and I smoke some marijuana
I was hoping I can find some peace
I looked up at the clouds, the light was peaking out
I can't believe it
We're not in California anymore
We're not in California anymore
Traded all our sunshine in for a storm
Don't say I didn't warn you
We're not in California anymore
Visions of the dissonance
I'm searching for the synonyms
But all that I can say is that I think I lost my innocence
And I bet if I ask everybody that I know
They'd wanna be a kid again
Visions of the dissonance
I'm searching for the synonyms
But all that I can say is that I think I lost my innocence
And I bet if I ask everybody that I know
They'd wanna be a kid again
So they could do it different
We're not in California anymore
We're not in California anymore
Traded all our sunshine in for a storm
Don't say I didn't warn you
We're not in California anymore
Not in California anymore
Not in California anymore
Don't say I didn't warn you
We're not in California anymore
The lyrics to K.Flay's song "Not In California" evoke a sense of disillusionment and a longing for a simpler time. The opening lines suggest that the characters in the song have deliberately avoided contemplating failure and its potential consequences. They question whether this ignorance is comforting or a curse, and if knowing they could have prevented their current situation adds to their burden.
The following lines create a dystopian image: birds dying, trees catching fire, and a government labelling them as crazy. The reference to building a big world only to watch it burn points to the destructive influence of television, which has made them complacent and lazy. The singer reflects on the surreal nature of the events, including the power lines blowing and the haze created by heroin. Looking up at the clouds, they plea for salvation.
The chorus emphasizes the idea that they are no longer in California, symbolizing the loss of a sunny, carefree state of mind. They have traded the optimism and brightness of California for a storm, implying that their current reality is tumultuous. The repetition of "We're not in California anymore" serves as a warning that their lives have fundamentally changed.
The second verse introduces the themes of societal problems and personal escapism. The babies cry while scientists and politicians clash, with no resolution in sight. The singer longs for a roadmap to navigate their situation, but technology, represented by the freezing internet, offers no guidance. Seeking solace, they turn to alcohol and marijuana in hopes of finding inner peace. Looking at the clouds one more time, they express disbelief at their circumstances.
The bridge delves into introspection and a yearning for lost innocence. The singer acknowledges the dissonance and seeks alternative ways to express their thoughts, ultimately realizing that they have lost their innocence. They speculate that if they were to ask others, they too would long to be children again, as a means to do things differently.
Overall, "Not In California" conveys a sense of disillusionment, societal unrest, and personal longing for a simpler, more innocent time. It reflects on the consequences of ignorance and escapism while seeking to find meaning and a way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
We have not allowed ourselves to comprehend what failure might mean for us
We have not taken the time to truly understand the consequences of our actions and how they could lead to failure.
Is it a comfort or a curse?
Are we finding solace or suffering in our ignorance?
A knowledge that we could've avoided all this?
Realizing that if we had been more aware and proactive, we could have prevented these negative outcomes.
The birds all died and the trees caught fire
Nature is suffering, experiencing destruction and devastation.
And the government, it called us crazy
The authorities labeled us as insane for our actions or beliefs.
We built a big world, then we watched it all burn
We created a prosperous society and then witnessed its downfall and destruction.
'Cause the television made us lazy
Our dependency on television made us complacent and unmotivated.
It didn't seem true when the power lines blew
We couldn't believe it was real when the electricity infrastructure failed.
Yeah, the heroin, it made us hazy
The drug addiction clouded our judgment and perception.
I looked up at the clouds as I was freaking out
In a state of panic, I gazed at the sky, desperate for help.
God save me
A plea for divine intervention or salvation.
The babies all cry as the scientists try
While scientists attempt to find solutions, the youngest and most vulnerable suffer.
But the politicians keep on screaming
Politicians continue to engage in pointless arguments and conflict instead of taking action.
I'd like a road map, like to turn the clock back
I wish for guidance and the ability to undo past mistakes.
But the internet, it keeps on freezing
The internet, our source of information and connection, is constantly failing us.
Drink up every bottle and I smoke some marijuana
Engaging in substance abuse as a means to find temporary relief.
I was hoping I can find some peace
I had hoped to discover tranquility or calmness.
I looked up at the clouds, the light was peaking out
Observing the sky, I noticed a glimmer of hope.
I can't believe it
Expressing disbelief or astonishment.
Visions of the dissonance
Experiencing conflicting and contradictory thoughts or images.
I'm searching for the synonyms
Seeking alternative words or expressions to accurately convey my emotions.
But all that I can say is that I think I lost my innocence
Despite my efforts, the only conclusion I can come to is that I have lost my naivety or purity.
And I bet if I ask everybody that I know, they'd wanna be a kid again
I believe that if I were to inquire, everyone I am acquainted with would desire to return to their childhood.
So they could do it different
In order to change the outcome or make different choices.
Not in California anymore
We are no longer in the familiar and comfortable state of California.
Traded all our sunshine in for a storm
We willingly exchanged our happiness and positivity for chaos and hardships.
Don't say I didn't warn you
I had previously cautioned about the challenges we would face.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kristine Flaherty, Nick Long, Thomas James Schleiter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LJ
Girl, you are so underrated. Lots of love from Slovakia❤
Martin Šugár
Exactly ❤
OPATCHKI
too many ppl dont understand good stuff..
NamFlow [CZ/SK]
I think she is doing fine! :-) Personally I wouldn't call her underrated unless people don't buy tickets to go on her concert, which they do.
There are a lot of talented artists out there who don't even come close to views or subscribers that K.Flay has on youtube, if that's what you are referring to as being "underated". Accomplishments and success in the music industry shouldn't be messured by those things alone.
Ismail Aden
Koralína Jonesová hi. Are slovakians Racist?
bbwin1
only if you're black. 😁
Jenn Cardona
When you got arrested for cleaning up, my jaw dropped.
Such a powerful message, I love the way the three music videos tell the story like that. Absolutely amazing <3
Linnie the pooh
i don't think she was actually arrested i think they would've had a marked car with at least some kind of logo saying police on their uniforms, i think that was the psych ward coming to bring her back, it was odd tho so many interpret it different!
Kat Ganis
You are the best, most talented female artist on the scene... thanks for sharing your talents with the world, K.Flay!!
Yobama007
K. Flay always keeping it relevant. Love ya girl.