By Sean McKenzie, Special to AGENDA Magazine
When you think of powerhouses in the arts who move seamlessly from the orchestra pit to the editor’s desk—whose careers are defined by both virtuosity and vision—one name keeps rising to the top: Kaylene Peoples.
With her recent cover feature in LA Lifestyle Magazine (now in its proper editorial form on kaylenepeoples.com), Peoples doesn’t just tell her story—she ignites a conversation. It’s not every day that an interview reads like a manifesto. Hers does.
And for good reason. As a multi-award-winning composer, jazz vocalist, flutist, producer, film director, and publishing executive, Peoples isn’t interested in gatekeeping. She’s building the gates—and kicking them wide open.
“I believe that every artist deserves a platform, regardless of their commercial success or mainstream visibility,” she says. “I know what it feels like to be overlooked or underestimated, and I want to use my platforms to change that narrative.”
That ethos isn’t just talk. Through her company, KL Publishing Group, she helms five magazines—yes, five—including AGENDA, Jazz Influencers, Virtuoso Bass, Schmooze Jazz, and The Performing Artist. Each title centers artists who too often go unheard: women in jazz, creatives of color, and bold thinkers in the performing arts.
But Kaylene’s reach extends beyond the publishing world.
This is a woman whose résumé includes conducting orchestras, composing film scores, and releasing acclaimed albums like My Man, Romantic Bossa-Nova, and the hauntingly cinematic Vampire Odyssey—which earned her Composer of the Year at the 2024 Olympia Arts Awards. Her artistry reflects a rare fusion: spiritual, intellectual, and fiercely expressive.
You can hear that depth in her jazz phrasing and see it in the way she curates talent for her magazines. She’s not chasing trends—she’s curating truth.
Peoples has performed and recorded with jazz greats including Bunny Brunel, Hubert Laws, and Larry Dunn (of Earth, Wind & Fire). And yet, she remains grounded in mission: spotlighting voices the mainstream often ignores. That includes women composers, who will soon have their own global stage with Bella Composers, her next title in development.
“We need more platforms that champion brilliance outside of the usual gatekeeping structures,” she notes. “I want to inspire new publishers to break the mold.”
It’s worth noting that AGENDA Magazine—Peoples’ flagship publication—was just ranked Top 5 in Los Angeles by Feedspot. It’s a well-earned distinction for a print magazine that has consistently defied convention: full-bleed layouts, luxe visuals, and editorial that puts substance over celebrity.
When she’s not writing or performing, Peoples is producing shows like Inside A Life (hosted by journalist Sheryl Aronson) and the suspense thriller Accidental Squatter, starring Chase Masterson, Leigh Bush, and Ali Saam. It’s a natural expansion of her storytelling empire—media that challenges, uplifts, and redefines what inclusion really looks like.
What Kaylene Peoples represents isn’t just excellence. It’s evolution.
And if Higher Call (her life’s work in many ways) is any indication, she’s not done climbing. She’s just making sure others rise with her.
🔗 Read the full Q&A feature (restored to editorial integrity):
https://kaylenepeoples.com/breaking-boundaries-kaylene-peoples-on-music-publishing-creative-legacy/
