From church pews to festival stages, Kashus Culpepper’s journey is anything but ordinary. A Navy vet turned soulful storyteller, he blends blues, gospel, and R&B with raw honesty and a smile that says, “I’m just getting started.” We caught up with Kashus to talk music, motivation, and what it’s like to go from laying foundations in construction to building them in sound.

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Kashus Culpepper: I’ve always loved music my whole life. I got into music while I was in church, and that’s really where I kind of got started singing. It wasn’t like I was singing in church thinking, “I want to be a singer when I grow up.” I think that was just the first part of my life where I realized how much I loved music. I loved the way my deacons sang, and when I heard other singers in church, I just loved how it all sounded. From there, I got into gospel and blues music, and then more music came into my life—R&B, country, soul—and after that, I was addicted. Music has always been my friend, even when nobody else was there for me. Since I was like five years old, it’s been with me.

What was it like transitioning from being in the Navy to working on music for thousands of people to hear?

Kashus: I think the work ethic is the same. It’s all about pushing forward and having a strong mentality, because those two go hand in hand—especially in music. You’ve just got to keep pushing every day. That’s all we can really do, whether it’s in the art world or in the kind of blue-collar jobs I used to do that could last years. It’s about building a foundation. In construction, I was laying foundations and making them stronger over time—and that’s exactly what I’m doing now in music. Whether it’s growing a fanbase or making better songs, it’s all the same idea.

Where do you think you pull most of your inspiration from when you’re writing music and creating sounds?

Kashus Culpepper: I think a lot of my lyrics come from trying to be as open and vulnerable as possible. I draw a lot from old “The Temptations” records, from blues music—stuff that was honest and real. Even in country, Americana, soul—there’s always been a strong sense of storytelling, and they weren’t afraid to show emotion. When The Temptations sang “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” it was just so bold, so raw. You had a man straight-up begging—and you don’t really hear that anymore. I thought that honesty was so cool. That’s what I aim for: to come from a truthful place. I don’t worry too much about whether something I say is “too weird” or “messed up.” I just want it to be real. That said, I do need to write some more party songs—one day!

Are there any artists, either living or past, that you would want to collaborate with?

Kashus Culpepper: Absolutely. From the past, Ray Charles for sure. Pretty much the whole Motown era, honestly—Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder’s still living and I’d love to work with him. I really love Olivia Dean, and I’m a big fan of Teddy Swims too. There are so many artists I admire. I listen to so many different genres of music that it’s hard to narrow it down. I’m open to anything—collaborating with anyone whose sound I connect with. Whether it’s R&B artists like Giveon or The Weeknd, or folks from the underground R&B scene I came up with, I’d be excited to work with all of them. Music is just such a wide world.

Is there anyone you admire that inspires you outside of the music industry?

Kashus Culpepper:
That’s a very good question. I usually look to music for most of my inspiration, but outside of that, there are a few people. I really admire Samuel L. Jackson. He’s got an amazing story. I also look up to Robert Downey Jr.—coming back from addiction to become one of the biggest actors in the world, that’s inspiring. I love stories of people overcoming hard things. Samuel L. Jackson has a similar background. I think stories like that are powerful, and they keep me motivated too.

Which one of your songs is your favorite and why?

Kashus Culpepper:
Right now, I’d say my latest song, “Pour Me Out.” I love it because I was able to blend a lot of my influences into it. When I was writing it, I drew from artists like Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, and just straight-up soul music. I was really aiming to create something that felt layered and true to me. It blends so many sounds together in a way that I think works really well. I don’t know if everyone agrees, but I like it—and it feels like one of my strongest songs so far.

How are you feeling about your upcoming Stagecoach performance in April?

Kashus Culpepper:
Yeah, that’s gonna be trippy. I remember back in high school, people would talk about going to Stagecoach or Coachella, and I’d be like, “My mom ain’t spending money for me to fly out there.” I always wanted to go, but it just seemed too expensive, too far out of reach. So the fact that my first time ever going is actually to perform—it’s wild. That’s kind of surreal. And next year, I’ve got even more festivals lined up, some I’ve been wanting to attend for a long time. So Stagecoach? Yeah, it’s gonna be crazy. Really cool experience.

What do you think is next for you? What’s your future look like?

Kashus Culpepper: For me, it’s all about growth. More releases, more refining who I am as an artist. I’m still really new to the music industry—I just started writing songs this past year—so I’m learning what I want my sound to be. Every step is about getting better, figuring things out, and having fun with the process. I just want to keep developing myself, creatively and personally, and let that journey keep evolving.

Based on this short time you’ve been writing and working in the music industry, what three pieces of advice would you give to someone just starting out?

Kashus Culpepper:
First, stay true to yourself. Don’t lose that. Second, keep developing yourself—constantly grow and learn. And third, smile and have fun. It’s all about the journey. Everyone’s path is different, but a smile goes a long way. Be yourself and enjoy it.