Marisa Kalil-Barrino on making it as a writer, being "the Black Carrie Bradshaw," and her dream party
"The writing industry still has a lot of old white men who are at the very top, and not Black women, Brown women, LGBTQ people, etc. I want those people all to be at the top. "
G: Why don't you just start by introducing yourself!
My name is Marisa. I was born in Detroit, but raised in the suburbs, then I moved back to Detroit as soon as I could. I have written for a bunch of publications, like Detroit magazines, and I'm also doing some freelance work in New York.
G: Would you consider yourself a writer, artist, or creative?
Mostly just a writer, but I've definitely done things in the sectors of public relations, copywriting, copy editing, social media, etc. I like telling stories through writing and giving people the chance to tell their stories. I specialize in storytelling because I write mostly about artists, events, profiles, people's work, and stuff like that.
H: What is the work that you feel most connected to or most proud of?
Definitely writing about various artists. I have done stories about makeup artists recently for Hour Detroit, and written stories about painters like Gisela McDaniel. She's a pretty well-known painter in Michigan, but she's kind of international. She actually recently painted me and I'm going to her exhibit in Boston where my painting's gonna be. I'm writing about her again, and I'm very excited.
I like to write about black and brown artists, LGBTQ, and disabled people- pretty much anyone who's marginalized. A lot of them are underground artists who I feel deserve to be recognized.
G: Did you always know you wanted to become a writer?
Well, my dad has been a writer his whole life. My dad's whole side of the family are musicians. So my dad's done poetry books, ghostwriting, everything, and when I was younger I just kind of shrugged it off, like, ‘Oh, that's cool, dad.’
In middle school, I wanted to do politics because I was known as the “angry Black girl” who was a little radical and would always call out racist people and get in trouble for it.
Then I started to get a little drained from it. So randomly, I wanted to go into forensic pathology and do autopsies. But I was like, ‘Wait, I keep failing math,’ so I was like, ‘What else am I good at?’ I was always getting A's in writing classes, and writing runs in my family so I was like, this is what I'm gonna do. My journalism career didn't start until early college when I started writing for the Wayne State newspaper. From there, I started going into publications like Detroit Metro Times and Hour Detroit.
H: You talked to us a bit about racist experiences you’ve had in high school. How have you healed from the experiences you’ve gone through or coped with them? That's a lot for a very young person to go through.
I feel like I am still healing. If I were to see these people from high school, there would be so much animosity towards them. But I don't know how I feel about it. There was a little racial tension in high school. I don't think they felt comfortable being around the “angry Black girl.”
H: If you could change one thing about the industry you work in, what would it be?
I've definitely noticed that the writing industry still has a lot of old white men who are at the very top, and not Black women, Brown women, LGBTQ people, etc. I want those people all to be at the top. I want them to be the CEOs, the deputies, the editors-in-chief. I know a lot of Black women and Hispanic women who work at big publications, like Teen Vogue and Glamor and People, but they're still very low in the tier. So I think once we start making our way up, then there's actually gonna be change.
H: This is a bit of a different direction, but if money were no object, what would you be doing with your time? Where would you be?
I literally want to become a DJ. I have gone to so many parties since I've been in New York. When I first came here, I was going to fashion week and I was thinking, ‘These are the best parties I've ever been to with the most diverse people who can dress and play amazing music.’
H: Describe your dream party.
My perfect party would be lots of women. Literally every race, every body type, every outfit, every designer. There is just a carefreeness and everyone can just enjoy the vibes.
You don't even have to be drinking, you can just be vibing to the music. One thing I notice is that when I go out, I have trouble staying sober because of my surroundings or because the music is bad. I want people to be able to be sober and still have a good time.
H: That is a beautiful vision. I think that makes a lot of sense. And you have to be a really good DJ to make people feel like they don't have to drink to be there.
Exactly!
G: Switching gears- I'm curious, when do you feel the most like you?
Definitely when I'm sitting in my office studio writing. It's messy, there are plants and a sleeper couch and a huge desk, and cute neon lights. I just feel so at peace with my music, I can look out the window and my brain is just completely open. Usually, as soon as I get into my mode, I'm completely out of writer's block and I can write anything. I could go on forever.
G: Is there one goal that you still want to accomplish in life or something on your list?
It would either be becoming like a CEO or an editor-in-chief or just creating my own publication.
H: I'm really curious to hear more about your interest in fashion. I was stalking your Instagram, full transparency, and was like, ‘Oh, this is amazing’ *laughs* So I wanna hear more about it.
I would call myself the Black Carrie Bradshaw – in the beginning of Sex and the City. She was very not-rich but she would find a way to have designer and that's me. I have this horrible habit/addiction. As soon as I get any type of money, I'm gonna go shopping like ‘Let’s go to Soho right now’ *laughs*
H: I saw the puddle boots!
They are beautiful and I got them after I attended the Bottega show in Detroit. That was the best fashion show I had ever attended, like no fashion week in New York has lived up to the Detroit Bottega show. And I got a photo with Kelani and 070 Shake. And I was thinking, ‘Let's be a throuple’ *laughs* But now the photos are nowhere to be found.
H: Who are some of your favorite artists? People that stay on your brain in that realm.
One of them is Gunna. I love Gunna. I think he gets a lot of shit. I don't know why. I just think he's so cool and he makes the catchiest music.
H: Will you tell us about your tattoos?
As soon as my 18th birthday hit, I was like, ‘I'm getting a real tattoo.’ My mom came with me and she ended up getting a tattoo too. Now I have her on the wave of getting tattoos. I literally just kind of want to be covered everywhere but the face. I'm definitely working on it.
H: Do you have a favorite tattoo?
I have one on my leg and it's a photograph that Salvador Dali did. Also, I have a thing for skulls. I really love skulls, so anything with a skull design I will get, I think those are all my favorites.
Rapid Fire
G: What's something that you can't go a day without doing?
Writing. And also listening to music.
H: If you had to describe yourself in one word, like one adjective, how would you describe yourself?
Blunt.
G: What does love look like to you?
Communication, honesty, and a very strong feeling of comfort. Just endless trust and being there for one another. I have been in a relationship for almost four years and it's literally the best relationship I have ever been in. Like we moved to New York together. We planned it out for so long. We stuck together.
H: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Please stop crying so much and stop stressing over every little thing. Cause that is definitely something I do. I overthink. Like you will be fine. You'll be able to pay the rent. You'll be able to pay the bills and have food. You just have to stop. You have to just slow down because everything will fall into place.
G: Where can people find you, your writing, and everything else?