'American Song Contest': Who is Khalisol? Rapper from New Mexico expresses emotions via music
NBC’s ‘American Song Contest’ is based on the worldwide phenomenon ‘Eurovision Song Contest’, which has been organized for 65 years by the European Broadcasting Union and watched by 200 million viewers annually. Hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, the musical spectacular combines the competitive spirit of rooting for your favorite team with the joy of watching a live performance of an original song. The live competition consists of three rounds as the artists compete in a series of qualifying rounds, followed by the semi-finals and the grand final where one will be chosen as the winner.
Love all things music? Then you might want to check out music-based reality shows such as 'Masked Singer', 'American Idol' and 'Alter Ego'. Among the performers joining the competition is Khalisol who will be representing New Mexico. Here’s what you need to know about him.
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Who is Khalisol?
Khalisol, born Zachary Chicoine, was raised to never give up. For years, the Albuquerque-based rapper has booked gigs in and around the city to gain experience. After watching the Netflix movie ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’ in 2020, he found out that a similar contest was going to take place in the United States. He auditioned online for NBC's ‘American Song Contest’. Making the cut, he became one of 56 contestants to participate in the series and will be representing New Mexico on the show, which is hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson.
"A lot of the people I'm competing against are artists that I've listened to," Khalisol said. "Being able to showcase my song on top of that is amazing. It's an opportunity for them to see what my life in New Mexico is like," he added.
Khalisol continues to perform locally and said that some of his favorite shows have been at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. "It's electrifying to be in front of a crowd," he states. "It's an amazing feeling. But this show takes my music to another level," the rapper said. Since it was announced that he would appear on the 'American Song Contest', Khalisol was invited to hand off the ball at the New Mexico United game on March 26.
The 26-year-old father of two uses music as a way of dealing with his depression and anxiety. "Creating music helps me release all types of emotions," he expressed. "I have to be honest within my music because it helps. Sometimes it's difficult. I've cried many times on stage while singing. Pushing through helps me grow," he added. Other than music, he is also interested in traveling, cooking, Basketball and painting.
Is Khalisol on Instagram?
Yes, Khalisol is on Instagram, and you can follow him at @solkhali.
'American Song Contest' airs on Mondays, at 8/7c on NBC. You can vote for your favorite performances on the NBC website, the NBC app, and TikTok. You can also stream your favorite artists' songs on your preferred music streaming app.