After a season of standout performances across the Maritimes, including headline sets and major opening slots, King Kayo is performing in Halifax this weekend to headline the Halifax Mural Festival, bringing his unmistakable Caribbean-rooted sound and community-focused spirit back to the city he proudly calls home.
King Kayo, born Filbert Salton in Ciceron, Saint Lucia, has spent the past year solidifying his place in the Canadian music landscape. His recent win for 2024 ECMA R&B/Soul Recording of the Year is just one of several milestones, following his recognition as 2023 ANSMA Artist of the Year and Music Nova Scotia’s DJ of the Year.
Growing up in a Saint Lucian neighbourhood that exposed him to a wide range of class dynamics, from unhoused residents to the island’s upper class, he says he developed a keen awareness of the social and cultural tensions around him.
His entry into music was organic, rooted first in poetry. “I was not good at sports. In high school everyone finds their identity. For me it was music.” Kayo said.
“Prior to that my involvement with music was poetry,” he said. Kayo said that he was not a very outspoken kid. ”I eventually turned poetry into rap. I was part of the high school choir, and that was my introduction. I did a rap verse in a high school choir and that was my introduction.”
Originally accepted to Full Sail University in Orlando, Kayo’s plans were derailed when Saint Lucian student loan policies rejected buisness in music as a priority program. A visiting professor from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax prompted a last-minute pivot. “I came here on a whim and the rest is history.”
By the time he arrived in Halifax, he knew exactly what he wanted. He credits the student community for helping him build his foundation. “One of the best things about Halifax is it is big enough, yet small enough at the same time.”
Collaborations and mentorship quickly followed, with support from local artists like Quake Matthews and Littles the General. His first major break came when he opened for Classified. “The experience opening for Classified was really dope. He took me under his wings, and that opened a lot of doors for me. It helped give me a lot of head starts in the industry so to speak.”
In Saint Lucia, Kayo recalls trying to blend in by collaborating with artists across genres. But in Halifax, he discovered that his roots were his strength. “I realized in Halifax what drew people to me was my Caribbean roots. It has helped me become more one with myself as an artist. Coming to Halifax made me connect with my roots deeper. It forced me to draw from experience and that was really cool, as it helped me connect in a way I would have not back home.”
Now a mainstay in the regional music scene, Kayo’s growing influence is inspiring fans across the country. Daniel Black flew in from Vancouver to see his performance at the Mural Festival.
“It is so impressive to see Kayo come into his own. Watching Kayo recently win the 2024 ECMA R&B/Soul Recording of the Year was emotional. It proved how being authentic pays off. Staying true to his roots, and celebrating his culture and not erasing it to fit in, is what I am most inspired by.”
Black added that watching Kayo win last year’s ANSMA and MNS awards was just as moving. “It felt like it was not just a win for Kayo but a win for all the immigrants trying to make a career in the arts.”
This weekend’s Halifax Mural Festival will see Kayo take on multiple roles—headlining, DJing, and co-hosting the event. Performing alongside longtime collaborators Basyl and Matty Galaxy, Kayo is focused on creating an inclusive space for joy, music, and cultural exchange. “The goal is ensuring everyone has a good time.”
“I am trying to create an outlet for people’s voices to be heard. As a young Black, immigrant, I have had a lot of first-time experiences, and I have not known what to make of it and I knew that I am not alone and that is why I decided to talk about it, and that is what is going to help people with through my music.”
Outside of music, Kayo has also emerged as a mental health advocate and cultural bridge-builder. “I have been doing some mental health advocacy behind the scenes, and bridging the gaps between diasporas, bridging the gaps between people in Canada.” This mission led to the creation of Soulstice Sounds, a broader creative initiative that includes Soulstice Radio, a weekly podcast airing every Saturday at 9 a.m.
Looking ahead, Kayo hopes to see more investment in local talent. “In Halifax I would love to see more exposure and more resources for export-ready talent. We have never had a dearth of talent, what we need is better infrastructure to promote this talent.”
King Kayo’s performance is set for Saturday, July 12, as part of the Halifax Mural Festival, which runs from July 5 to 13 across Quinpool Road and the downtown waterfront. The event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. Festivalgoers can also attend an after-party at Maxwell’s Plum courtyard, where Kayo will join other featured artists for an open-air celebration.
His ultimate goal is to expand his platform into a resource that serves artists and communities alike. “Hearing that I am representation to the next generation is amazing. I make this music that I like, in the hopes that people enjoy it. It is all good vibes, and these are sounds that I grew up on, sounds I like, so knowing others feel represented and seen by what I do is what I find really cool.”
This article appears in Jul 1-31, 2025.
