We had the good fortune of connecting with Kymbra Li and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kymbra, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
After spending my whole life studying and acquiring 3 degrees, I realized that I had never even thought of what I could do in the art realm. I was living in China teaching law at a university and found myself with a lot of spare time, hence I thought I’d try my hand at comedy. I first attempted to write some jokes but they weren’t coming out good, so a music producer friend suggested we take one of my joke ideas and write it into a song. We made our first song and because of where we were in China, being a foreign rap group, we got booked 3 days later for our first gig! Now nearly 8 years later, I’m back in America as a professional comedian, recording artist and merchandise designer.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Before I got stuck back in America, I was living a fine life in China. I was just visiting for Christmas holidays in 2019 when the pandemic struck, China shut it’s borders and just like that- I was locked out of the country and lost everything I ever owned. Now I’ve been rebuilding in America for the past two years and as a prolific creator, I am always starting new side hustles, because earning a living off comedy or music is very difficult unless you have a merch brand to tie into your art. Currently, I am creating a parody content series called Uber Risk, which is like the Spirit Airlines of Uber. The premise took off on TikTok garnering nearly 2 million views within a month under the #UberRisk hashtag. Also, I am the Prank Candle plug and I hand craft vinyl puns and jokes and design them on candles, in addition to my plant-based food company, No Way Dat’s Vegan, which specializes in gourmet vegan sauces. These merch businesses supplement my income when I’m not out on tour or performing. I’m actually on a four country European tour as we speak, watching my social media numbers climb each day. How exciting to create something that people actually want to watch!
Being an entrepreneur presents daily challenges and the best advice I’ve been given is to be like a duck and let stuff roll off your back like water. It’s not what happens to you, it’s about how you bounce back from it.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Definitely check out Laughing Skull Comedy Lounge where I will be performed in March. NeYow’s Creole Cafe is a New Orleans based restaurant that has an Atlanta location and you don’t want to miss eating there! Try the Yak a Mein!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My life took a turning point when I was accepted into Northumbria University and I moved abroad to England, so if anything I owe my current success to the city of Newcastle for accepting me and giving me a fresh start. Additionally, the reason why I’m able to do what I do today is because China gave me an opportunity to discover my passion and really put the time in at honing it. Also, I owe the utmost gratitude to my friends in New Orleans who have taken me in and provided me with a place to stay during the pandemic and while I’m rebuilding my life over again from scratch. Last but not least I have to thank Mark Caesar for kicking off the Uber Risk skit idea with being my first passenger! Thank y’all!
Website: Kymbrali.com
Instagram: @kymbrali
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kymbrali
Other: OnlyFans.com/kymbrali