Tori Kay is a force to be reckoned with. The triple-threat artist — a dynamic singer, dancer, and actress—has carved out a unique space in the pop world with her electrifying sound and powerful message of queer visibility. From crafting vibrant pop anthems to performing at Pride festivals and starring in American Horror Story: Double Feature, Kay’s artistry is bold, authentic, and truly her own. In this exclusive interview, she opens up about her creative evolution, her fashion line, and why she’s “living her absolute best life.”
HI, WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS TORI KAY IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
Hello! Thank you so much for having me—I’m excited to chat! I’m Tori Kay: a singer, dancer, actress, and content creator. Entertaining isn’t just what I do—it’s who I am. My sound lives in the pop world, but I love blending in flavors of urban, EDM, and rock to keep things fresh and unexpected. As a proud queer female artist, my mission is to inspire others to live boldly and authentically through every form of art I create.
YOUR MUSIC BLENDS HYPER POP AND EDM WITH POWERFUL STORYTELLING. HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THIS SOUND, AND WHAT MAKES IT FEEL MOST AUTHENTIC TO YOU?
I’ve always been a pop girl at heart. My music has always mirrored who I am, so naturally, the sound—and the shows, the visuals, the vibe—has evolved as I have. I started making music when I was 10, and now at 23, those 13 years of growth, experimentation, and self-discovery have helped shape a sound that finally feels fully me.
It’s a blend of campy, high-gloss pop and fearless attitude—but there’s real heart and depth under all the glitter. I write songs that speak directly to my queer community because I love being loud about who I am and what I stand for. But if you grew up loving pop powerhouses like Britney, Christina, Gaga, or P!nk—if you’re unapologetic, fierce, and maybe a little bit dramatic in the best possible way—you’ll probably feel right at home with my music.
YOUR ANTHEM “IN THE RAINBOW” HAS BECOME A STAPLE IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SONG, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE IT REPRESENTS FOR LISTENERS?
It’s been incredible to see how “In The Rainbow” has created a safe space for so many in the LGBTQ+ community—exactly what I hoped for when I wrote it. Funny enough, the inspiration came kind of randomly. I had just gotten this rainbow wig for my “WNW” music video and instantly fell in love with the look. I started wearing it everywhere—shows, appearances, rehearsals—it became a whole era.
One day during rehearsal, someone on my creative team said, “I’m loving this rainbow vibe—Tori Kay singing about rainbow love!” That sparked an impromptu sing-along to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland. But right in the middle of it, I paused and thought… what if I could take that iconic classic and reimagine it through the lens of my own queer journey? And just like that, “In The Rainbow” was born—my Pride anthem.
Performing it is genuinely my favorite thing in the world. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been honored to perform it at Pride festivals across the country — Santa Monica Pride, NYC Pride, Long Beach Pride, and most recently, WeHo Pride. There’s a moment in the chorus where the entire crowd shouts “PRIDE!” with me—and every single time, it gives me full-body chills.
WITH SONGS LIKE “LBB” AND “SMH” DROPPING THIS YEAR, HOW DO YOU APPROACH EVOLVING YOUR SOUND WHILE STILL STAYING TRUE TO YOUR ROOTS?
For me, evolving my sound while staying true to my roots comes down to one thing: keeping my love for pop—and my mission to make people feel seen and supported—at the heart of everything I create. That’s always the throughline, no matter the vibe.
“LBB” and “SMH” are great examples of how I explore different shades of confidence in my music. “LBB”—short for Little Bad Bitch—is my unapologetic baddie anthem. It’s bold, spicy, fun, and all about owning your power and feeling amazing in your own skin.
On the flip side, “SMH”—which stands for Shaking My Head—is a more vulnerable, heartfelt ballad. It’s about those moments when I’m struggling to give myself grace, doubting my path, and learning to push through the growing pains of adulthood. It’s still about confidence—but the kind you fight to reclaim when things feel heavy.
I want my listeners to feel like I’m growing with them. Whether it’s the fierce energy of “LBB” or the quiet honesty of “SMH,” I’m always writing from a real place. When your goal is to inspire authenticity, you’ve got to start with your own.
YOU’RE A TRUE TRIPLE THREAT – SINGING, DANCING, AND ACTING. HOW DO THESE DIFFERENT CREATIVE OUTLETS INFLUENCE EACH OTHER IN YOUR WORK?
I’ve been a performer for as long as I can remember. I started dance and gymnastics at just 2 years old in Dallas, Texas, and from there, I fell deeper into the world of the arts—cheerleading, piano, acting, musical theatre—you name it. Each one shaped my love for performing in its own way. Dancing to pop music lit the spark, musical theatre helped develop my voice and stage presence, and piano quickly became my favorite way to write and express myself.
All of those creative outlets still play a role in who I am today as Tori Kay. They work together in how I approach my visuals, stage shows, and even songwriting. Dance heavily influences the kind of music I write—if I can’t picture choreography to it, it probably won’t make the setlist! My shows include full-out choreo, dance breaks, and recently I’ve added pole dancing into my live performances, which has been such an empowering challenge.
Acting is still a big part of my life, too. I’m on set regularly, which definitely keeps my schedule exciting. Acting has helped me develop the pop persona I bring on stage—not a character, exactly, but a heightened version of myself. It helps me “flip the switch” when I need to, whether I’m on stage, in a shoot, or in the studio.
I also love building different personalities for each song. For example, “PEG” (Psycho Ex Girlfriend) is its own world—I tap into that unhinged, heartbroken chaos every time I perform it. So yeah, singing, dancing, and acting don’t just coexist — they fuel each other and keep my creative fire burning.
YOU’VE ALSO STEPPED INTO FASHION WITH RENT TK TRENDS. HOW DO YOU SEE FASHION AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR ARTISTRY AND PERSONAL BRAND?
Fashion is absolutely an extension of my artistry — it’s how I show the world who I am before I even open my mouth. I’d describe my style as bold, vibrant, and unapologetically extra—glitter, glam, rainbows, and a whole lot of attitude. Like my single “That’s My Bad” says: “crop top and stiletto heels” is definitely the vibe.
I’ve always leaned into that girly-girl pop diva energy, and curating my on-stage persona really deepened my love for fashion. But let’s be real—it’s not easy (or affordable) to constantly serve fresh looks, especially when you’re committed to never repeating an outfit. That’s exactly why I created Rent TK Trends—my fashion rental site where you can rent the look, wear it, slay it, and send it back. It’s style without the stress, and it helps keep things sustainable, too.
Whether I’m styling myself for a performance, a shoot, or just an everyday slay, fashion is how I express who I am—and I love empowering others to do the same.
YOUR FEATURE IN AMERICAN HORROR STORY: DOUBLE FEATURE GAVE FANS A GLIMPSE OF YOUR ACTING SIDE. DO YOU SEE ACTING BECOMING A BIGGER PART OF YOUR CAREER?
I’ve been acting since I was 8 years old, and it’s still a huge part of my life today. I’m constantly auditioning and feel super grateful to be on set regularly. My character for the American Horror Story: Double Feature billboard was such an exciting experience—it gave fans a peek into that side of my artistry, and honestly, it reminded me just how much I love stepping into different characters.
Acting has always gone hand-in-hand with my music career. Just like I channel different emotions and personas in my songs, I get to do the same on screen—it’s all storytelling, just in different forms. So yes, I absolutely see acting continuing to grow as a major part of my career, right alongside music.
THROUGH BABYGAYTV AND YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE, YOU’VE BECOME AN AUTHENTIC VOICE FOR LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATION. WHAT DOES VISIBILITY MEAN TO YOU IN TODAY’S ENTERTAINMENT WORLD?
As a queer artist, visibility means everything. Being given platforms where I can fully express who I am—without censoring or shrinking myself—is incredibly powerful. When I’m embraced in spaces that feel safe and celebratory, it reminds me why I do what I do.
It’s truly an honor to be recognized by organizations like BabyGayTV and OUTLOUD. When pillars in the LGBTQ+ community uplift my voice, it creates a ripple effect—it allows me to reach others who might need that same sense of belonging and validation. Whether it’s through music, performances, or just showing up authentically online, I want to be the representation I wish I had growing up.
Visibility isn’t just about being seen — it’s about being seen as you truly are. And that’s a message I’ll keep championing every step of the way.
WITH YOUR GROWING FANBASE AND INFLUENCE, WHAT’S THE DREAM PROJECT OR COLLABORATION THAT YOU HOPE TO MANIFEST IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
The ultimate dream is to keep making music and performing all around the world. If I could be on stage every single day, I’d be living my absolute best life—it truly feels like home to me. I’m definitely manifesting that tour life and everything that comes with it: the travel, the connection, the energy, and those unforgettable crowd moments.
As for collaborations, working with powerful queer female artists would be such an honor. My vision board is stacked—with names like Chappell Roan, Doechii, Kehlani, and Kim Petras front and center. They each bring something so bold and unapologetic to the table and getting to create something meaningful—and loud—with any of them would be a dream come true.
WHAT’S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US?
Something that might surprise people is that I write my own songs. Some of them feel like pages straight out of my journal, while others come from the mantras I tell myself to stay motivated and strong. But no matter the vibe, every lyric comes from the heart.
Songwriting is how I process what I’m feeling and turn those emotions into something bigger—something other people can connect with. Whether it’s hype, heartbreak, or healing, there’s always a little piece of me in every track.
WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE?
You can follow my journey as a solo artist over on my YouTube channel, ToriKayTV—that’s where you’ll find music videos, behind-the-scenes content, and more. I’m also on all social media platforms @torikayunedited, where I post updates on shows, new releases, and all things pop diva life.
Right now, I’m back in the studio cooking up new music, so definitely stay tuned—there’s a lot more coming your way very soon!
