In her compositional practice, Kalia draws from her love of songs and improvisation, creating a landscape of sounds that resonate in the body and hold the listener. She released her debut ensemble album, “In Bloom,” in 2019, which has been described as “the rise of an exciting voice for the music” (Seton Hawkins, Hot House Jazz Magazine). Her sophomore album, Regrowth, released in May 2022 on New Amsterdam Records and “confirms her strengths as a composer and bandleader with a distinctly contemporary point of view.” (Nate Chinen, WBGO Jazz) Her debut solo album, We Fell In Turn, featuring her works for trombone, voice, and electronics, was released on AKP Records in March 2023.  

Kalia was selected to curate the 2022 Music Series for The Arts Center at Duck Creek in East Hampton.

​In addition to her performance work, Kalia has been commissioned to write works for groups and individuals, including Tesla Quartet, The Westerlies, Katherine Kyu Hyeon Lim, and Hats & Heels Duo. 

​She is also experienced as an educator, having led masterclasses at universities including California Institute of the Arts, University of Chicago Illinois, Cal State Northridge, Saddleback College, University of Maine Farmington, and University of Missouri. She has also led clinics for organizations including CWU Jenn, Women of Jazz and Creative Music, Women in Jazz Organization, and Live From Our Living Rooms.

Photo credited to Bao Ngo