For Makai “Kai” Cummings (B.A. ’23), his dream of becoming a recording artist is now a reality. Performing as Kai Marion, his new song, “Graduation,” released by Georgia State’s student-run record label MTM Standard, played before all six commencement ceremonies in May, including his own. We caught up with him a couple weeks after he walked across the stage to receive his diploma.
Interview by Jordan Ferguson
So who is Kai Marion, and how did you get to where you are now?
I’m an artist and a new college graduate. I love music, so this is a dream come true with what Georgia State has provided for me and helped me achieve.
How did you get connected with MTM Standard?
I got my degree in music management through the School of Music, and I’ve been involved with music organizations on campus. So when MTM Standard was getting started, my professor, Professor [Al] Thrash, who’s over the Music Management Department, reached out to me and asked me to come to a couple of events and meet with the students who are running it. And I did, and they loved my music. Really, everything just happened organically.
When did you know that you wanted to become an artist, and how has that journey been?
My mom always has been a part of the arts, and I grew up dancing, loving the Atlanta culture and wanting to replicate it and do it in my own way. I've always been in love with music.
I tell everyone this: When I’m on stage, I'm just like a 5-year-old little boy dancing on his bed again and acting like there’s an audience.
In seventh grade, I fell in love with writing. You know how everybody had that one poetry project in middle school when you had to write, like, 12 poems? Well, I did, and I fell in love with it. And ever since, I’ve been writing my feelings down. So, at an early age, I knew this is what I wanted to do, and it became something that I always wanted to learn more about. I wanted to be the student, I wanted to learn. I’ve always been so interested in the craft and everything around it — the management side and all of that.
Who has been your biggest supporter thus far?
I would have to say my little sister, Daria. She's 13 years old. She always says, “Just follow your heart, Kai!” Now she thinks I'm a celebrity, ha! And she tells everybody in her school, “Oh, yeah, my brother is famous.” She wants me to send her videos and stuff like that. Sometimes I get down and don’t believe in myself, but she always believes in me. So yeah, she’s definitely my biggest support system, for sure.
What has your Georgia State experience been like?
I feel like you can do any and everything here. And whatever major you want to pursue, you can. And if there isn't room or if there isn't a major that’s specific for your journey, it's just a matter of having a conversation with the right people to get that going.
I went on a Georgia State tour back in high school, and I remember thinking that there’s something really special here.
Georgia State is a place made for any and everybody, no matter what culture, no matter what race. It's a beautiful experience to see all these different groups of people and with different backgrounds. So yeah, absolutely, it’s been a great ride.
What are the next steps?
I plan to really dive into my career, but I'm definitely taking a little break first now that I’ve graduated. I feel like I've been going nonstop, you know, with school and work and consistently grinding. So, I’ll take a break, enjoy the moment and enjoy how far I've come. Then, absolutely, I’m getting right back into it. I’m already planning for what’s next, and now there is a team in place to help push me.
Let’s take it back to "first-year Kai." What would you tell him?
Get ready for the ride! And keep going. Just keep going!
