Working toward dreams and passions while in college may be a challenge to some, but University of Wisconsin-Madison senior Christa Klais learned how to balance her school and music career gracefully. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree, Klais has found success writing and performing music under the name Christa Lee.
Since the age of two, Klais knew exactly who she wanted to be when she grew up — a singer.
“I grew up loving [music]. My mother was a singer, so I always loved it and had a passion for it,” Klais said. “It always felt like my soul lived in music.”
She auditioned for every opportunity she could get to sing in school and was raised with an “adoration” of music and artists from the 1980s.
Amy Winehouse, Prince, Raye, Remi Wolf and Harry Styles inspired Klais. As her sound changed, so have her influences. Now, Klais admires Chappell Roan, Kali Uchis, Doja Cat, Faye Webster, SZA and Clairo.
Klais reflected on her live performances this year as she performed her songs at the Memorial Union concert series on Oct. 4 with music artist Rosie Tucker.
“It felt so good and natural. I had just been waiting to do it for such a long time,” Klais said about performing in front of a live audience. “It felt like my soul had a release of some sort because this is what I’ve been dreaming of my whole life.”
Klais recently performed alongside UW-Madison a capella group Under A-Rest for a “Artists for Abortion Access” event series Oct. 24.
Maintaining a work-life balance as a college student is no easy feat, and sometimes school makes Klais’ music take a pause to put school first. But outside of midterms and exams, Klais finds time to focus more on her music and creating sound.
“It can be hard to be in a space where academics and sports are taken so seriously but the arts feel overlooked,” she said. “For me, it can definitely feel like I’m behind on both at all times, but in reality, I’m doing it, and it’s something I’m proud of.”
Klais has big things coming as she continues working on unreleased songs, hoping to eventually release an album to take her audience “on a journey of an extended piece and tell a story,” she said.
Despite possible judgment from peers, Klais continues to follow her dreams. She’s trying to make her mark as a musician even “in an environment where it is hard to feel like art is appreciated and worthy of taking up space.” she said.
“It’s in those moments that I really choose myself and my dreams and make my innermost self proud and excited for more,” she said.
