Women in Music Artist to Artist: Simone Denny & LU KALA
From Women In Media by Sarah Burke
April 7, 2026 · 57 min · Episode 127
About this episode
This episode features a conversation between Simone Denny and LU KALA about empowerment, identity, and the challenges faced by Black women in the music industry.
Recorded live at the Women in Music Canada Summit, this artist-to-artist conversation brings together two generations of trailblazers in pop and dance music. Host Sarah Burke moderates this discussion between Simone Denny —Canadian dance and house icon, 7x Juno nominee, 4x Juno winner, and Women in Music Career Achievement Award recipient—and LU KALA, Juno-nominated pop powerhouse behind the viral anthem “Pretty Girl Era” and a Billboard Rising Star honouree. Together, they unpack what empowerment really feels like, how family, culture, and growing up in Toronto shaped their sound, and what it means to be Black women working in genres where they’re still treated as exceptions. They talk candidly about body criticism, confidence, and turning online comments into affirmations and anthems. They also discuss the invisible labor of social media and always being “the brand." Along the way, they reflect on mentorship, the people who speak your name in rooms you’re not in, the reality of non-stop hustle in today’s music industry, and how they each define success and legacy on their own terms. https://simonedenny.com/ https://www.igobylu.com/ https://womeninmusic.ca/…
People in this episode
Host: Sarah Burke
Guests: Simone Denny, LU KALA
Topics covered
- empowerment
- music industry
- Black women in music
- mentorship
- body positivity
- social media
Keywords
- Simone Denny
- LU KALA
- Women in Music
- empowerment
- music industry
- Black women
- mentorship
- body positivity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Women in Music Canada, Billboard, Women in Music, Women in Media
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