Pop star K'Lee is back

The term superwoman can easily be used to describe Rotorua-born Kaleena McNabb - the pop star, the entertainer, the radio announcer and the single mum who juggles home, life and business to make it all work.

As a teenager Kaleena - better known as K'Lee - was a successful pop star who burst on the music scene in 2001 with her cover of the Mr Mister ballad Broken Wings. The single soared to the number two spot on the national singles chart.

Her subsequent self-titled album debuted at number seven in the charts and included three other top 10 singles - 1+1+1 (It Ain't Two), Can You Feel Me? and Lifetime Left To Wait. She was the first female New Zealand artist to achieve four top 20 singles off her debut album.

In her music career she has toured with superstars such as Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, Cypress Hill, Pink and Coolio, travelled overseas, performed at major festivals and lived in America where she was given opportunities many in the industry could only dream about.

She spent seven years in the United States where she worked with musicians and DJs making music, did tours and gigs, grew as a person and also became a mother - she had two children, now aged 3 and 4, with her former partner.

While her career highlights have included touring with stars, others include singing at the famous House of Blues in Hollywood and performing at Jamie Foxx's Conga Room. He even asked her why she hadn't been snapped up yet.

"Seeing him perform and watching him watch me perform. It was scary and a thrill.

"It's so nervewracking. They [American singers] are amazing ... they're making millions doing what I'm doing."

But she wanted to come back to New Zealand. She came home and early last year started working as an announcer for R&B and hip hop radio station Mai FM's Mai Mornings, where she continues to work.

Now 28, K'Lee is making her comeback. Ten years has passed since she last released a single but she's getting back into the music game with the release of her a new single on itunes - an R&B track called Tables Have Turned featuring Tyson Tyler.

"It's more a stepping stone to get back in the music industry," K'Lee says.

She's obviously a busy woman - but she's trying to teach her children that hard work pays off.

"This is me and this is what I'm doing for me. I have two beautiful children that I'm trying to show that if you work hard you'll have success."

After all those years away from the Kiwi music scene, K'Lee says she started to miss it.

However, even though she was once well established as an artist, she has also had to re-introduce herself. She says while people around her age remember her, it's the new teenagers who don't know who she is or her past. She says she's now having to win over different fans and different age groups.

"I was getting hungry to do music again."

She says making music again has been hard. But it's not only because she is a single mum of two pre-schoolers and has to juggle her time between family, work and music.

"I'd never get through it without mum and dad and my sisters."

She says she has also had to decide whether she was ready to accept criticism all over again.

When she was starting out in music, K'Lee had people - or haters as they are commonly known - who would send her messages or make comments to her such as "I wish you would die" or that she had no business making music. She says it wasn't just kids that would torment her, it was adults too.

"The best way to explain it is bullying."

While working at a Jay Jays store in an Auckland shopping mall as a teenager, K'Lee even remembers having to be escorted to her car when she had finished work because of all the taunting from people who, despite not knowing her, didn't like her.

Today, although older and having a thicker skin, K'Lee says she's had to prepare herself to be criticised in a new way because of the introduction of social media.

"Social media is made it so much easier for people to grow balls."

But despite the negativity, K'Lee has a lot of support. The response to her music has been good and her single is doing well on iTunes.

Some comments on iTunes include "Love this new song by K'Lee, I'm sure everyone can relate to it, I know I sure can. Very catchy, and I can't wait to hear more" and "OMG this song is so so so coool K'Lee you have a an amazing voice and Tyson Tyler just finished it off nicely its gona blow up".

And you can guarantee K'Lee will be releasing more music.

She is focusing on releasing singles at the moment and is glad Tyson Tyler worked with her on her first release back into the industry because she is a fan of his musical style.

"Right now I'm just aiming for singles.

"Singles is the way to go unless you have a lot of money in New Zealand, which there isn't ... we do this for enjoyment and love."

But those future singles won't necessarily be confined to one or two genres. She has an open musical mind, appreciates a variety of genres and wants to incorporate more styles into her own music, without ignoring the pop background which made her a household name in New Zealand.

"I think my taste in music and my growth in music in itself has changed."

Kiwi artists she would love to work with included Stan Walker, Rob Vegas and Three Houses Down.

"I'd love to really work with a reggae band, I've never ventured into that."

Having had the experience of working in the United States, she has witnessed first hand the difference between the industry there and at home - but she says the talent is on a par.

One of the biggest differences between music in New Zealand and the United States was the support for their musicians.

She says in America, musicians have nutritionists, PR staff, vocal coaches and about 10 writers penning their next big hit. But that in no way meant they were any better than our homegrown talent.

She says New Zealand has some amazing musical talent and they're proving it.

"Our artists can perform, dance and sing just as good as America's."

While highlighting the international success, Kiwi musician Kimbra is undergoing, K'Lee believes another talented Kiwi to keep an eye out for is hip hop artist Fortafy.

"There seems to be an uproar behind Fortafy."

K'Lee was born in Rotorua but left as a child. She has family in Rotorua and still visited as much as she could.

One of the best things about Rotorua was that when she visited the city she wasn't K'Lee the pop star or K'Lee the radio host, she was "just the cousin".

You can buy K'Lee's new single Tables Have Turned on iTunes for $2.39.