Meet Calei Castillo

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Calei Castillo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Calei below.

Calei, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I exude culture; from my brown skin and curly hair to my last names, ‘Gutierrez Castillo’- I exude culture. One thing I will innately do for the rest of my life is represent pure Filipino heritage. I represent hardworking immigrants who were foreign to every space they invited themselves in to. Not just to this country alone, but to any room that had wandering eyes. It’s these facts alone that are the root of my success! It’s my power against the rest of the room, the rest of my peers. It will never be the thing that holds me down because it could very well be the thing that separates me from the crowd. And that is what we are looking for, especially in the entertainment industry. Because so many people are looking to create art, to produce something great. But what you need to look for is this: “What do I have that others don’t?” And that does not have to start with face value. For me, that begins from within. What community’s are you apart of? Who do you support that will support you? What experiences have you and your community gone through that no one else could understand?

I believe that the best parts of entertainment are rooted in an artist’s culture. Growing up, my idea of success was formed from black and brown women in the entertainment industry who outperformed the rest. Utilize the differences you have and the knowledge of your own culture. There is so much power from being set apart in a room. My advice is to use it to your advantage instead of seeing it as a struggle.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a first generation Filipinx creative, talent manager, and music industry professional from Chicago, IL. My career began at Columbia College Chicago, where from 2021 to 2023, I interned with 3 establishments — Uncommon Ground, Auris Presents, Stage 773 Whim Chicago — as a marketing and communications associate. Now, as a recent graduate in Music Business with a focus for Artist Management, I serve multiple roles in the industry; active as an A&R at LSD Studios, where I specialize in discovering and pitching emerging R&B and Hip Hop talent for record deals. Beyond the studio, I operate as a dedicated talent manager for a diverse roster of creatives, including Latin artist Nicole Nicolalde, Hip Hop artist Femi Ishola, fashion creative Olivia Byam, and R&B talent 9DSVN. My responsibilities range from securing performance opportunities and coordinating with event producers to managing communication between artists and their collaborators such as photographers and videographers. All of this operates under the umbrella of my own production company, The Haus of Caliber, where I manage these artists and produce original events, driving a unified vision of creative excellence with cultural influence.

The Haus of Caliber has three counts of successful production management. The first being ‘Kapwa Chicago Showcase Volume 1’, where myself and my close friend & peer, Jaeya Bayani, spent eight months bringing together Filipino creatives of all industries to perform, connect, and network with each other at the historic Jose Rizal Center located here in Chicago. The was event sponsored by Topo Chico, Nguyen Coffee Supply, and Fly by Jing with support from Classick Studios, Pogi Studios, Christine “King” Marie, James Rumohr, and Lyle del Mundo of FACE. The second was a fashion show alongside fashion designer and Caliber talent, Olivia Byam of FUDAE Fashion, entitled ‘FUSION’ which brought together 10 students of the fashion studies department to show their work with 3-5 models each at one of the Columbia College Chicago event spaces. Production for this event only lasted two weeks.

Our latest production entitled, ‘The Generation Project’, started as a simple idea; to help my cousin, an aspiring pro photographer, find a few models to shoot. I put out a call on social media, and within days, over 50 creatives responded. We set out to reimagine the energy of the ’90s and 2000s, placing today’s emerging creatives in that iconic era. We did two days of full production, collaborating with four photographers. But, I didn’t want it just for the aesthetic; I needed something to empower them. So, with the help of Colson Foster of Charcoal Cinemas, I decided to compile a video of short interviews asking each model & production member to further market themselves, share their work, and speak their truths. The Haus of Caliber has always stood as a tool for transformation—a way to challenge and reimagine the current standard. ‘The Generation Project’ was no different.

“As a first-generation Filipino-American, my culture has been one of resilience and growth. These
experiences have not only shaped my professional skills but have also inspired me to empower
others. I am passionate about giving back to my communities and helping others achieve their fullest
potential. We are more than a Haus & collaborators to the industry- we are creatives calibrated for the scene.”

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think that persistence, patience, and determination were my closest qualities when it came to this journey. And this journey is not one that’s near over! There’s a drive that grows with you when you discover where your passion lies and it’s hard to ignore it or not give in to it. That’s where persistence comes in; the feeling like you just have to continue doing something that you love even if there are obstacles ahead. You do it because it fulfills you and all those obstacles are fought with patience. Patience is the tricky one, but it’s also the most important part. You’ve got to have patience in any industry you place yourself into, otherwise, you would lose the spark that put you there in the first place. It’s a quality you put into everything in life. And it’s not patience with the hardships that present themselves to you – it’s patience with yourself. Learning to take that deep breath and think on your feet because you know exactly how to overcome whatever wall it is that is in front of you. With determination, you have to remember that it’s your natural ability to do what it is you believe in. It’s that drive in you that you just have to trust because it will get you to where you need and want to be. My advice is to believe in yourself; believe in what you are set out to do. The only fact in this world is that you will forever be there for yourself, that you will always be your biggest supporter. So start now.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My parents have done so much to support my personal life as well as my career. I owe everything to them- from making sure that there was a roof over my head every day I breathe, to giving me siblings I can call best friends, and for the education and beliefs that’s built me into who I am today. My ma & pa have been there for me through the thickest and the thinnest, but the most impactful thing they did for me would have to be immigrating to America. Giving me a life full of opportunities that I cannot say for certain I’d have if I grew up back home.

To them, it was much more than a migration; they uprooted their entire life, their home, left behind the ones they loved and who had seen them grow into who they were back then. My mother said goodbye to her mother, her father, her siblings and couldn’t guarantee the next time they’d all be together the same way. She and my father sacrificed everything they knew and left the only life they’d ever known. I think that people don’t see the entirety of immigrating unless you’ve either experienced it or are part of the first generation- even then, I could never claim to know the full capacity of what my family went through when they came to America from the Philippines.

With what’s going on in our country today, I think it’s the most important thing that the topic of immigration be brought up in any conversation. Because this country was built by immigrants. Let’s not forget: immigrant workers are the major driver of U.S. labor, representing over 32 million workers that of 169 million. Beyond that, America was considered a melting pot of diverse cultures, integrated to make one nation. I believe that today’s society has forgotten where we came from. We were supposed to be the land of the free, a place for equal opportunity and equal representation. That is why we immigrate here and why we need to keep our borders open. My family’s immigration to America gave me the opportunity to speak my truth to you. The various productions I’ve done, the creatives I’ve met, and the career I’ve chosen for myself is because they believed I deserved a better life. That is the same for any child of immigrants here. We were born to show the future generations how to live as a union, despite our differences. And I hope that we can continue fighting for what’s right in this country and for what’s right for the American people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hauscaliber.univer.se/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleicastillo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calei-castillo-46a899255/
• Other: Links to my artist’s:

  Nicole Nicolalde:
  https://www.instagram.com/nicolenicolalde/
  https://linktr.ee/aquellanoche.nicolenicolalde?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=1b7907d5-a022-4c21-880f-e397a1309258

  Femi Ishola:
  https://www.instagram.com/femiishola_/
  

  9DSVN:
  https://www.instagram.com/9dsvn/
  https://linktr.ee/9dsvn?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4CGNhbGxzaXRlAjE1AAGnstrUFY1quPAv2I9tln2oo5dbfgp8L47Sd90BtbxqrpPnuLihSq_zRE4HmEs_aem_5UR_B2pxYT1in-M6GSlPDg

  FUDAE FASHION:
  https://www.instagram.com/fudaefashion/

Image Credits

1. Vanessa Gonzalez, Lauren Gandy, Angel Castillo-Ortega, and Jo Watson
2. Aubreonna
3.
4. Vanessa Gonzalez
5. Lauren Gandy
6. Aubreonna
7. Taylor Reynolds
8. Gretchen Lee