LIVE OAK — After graduating from Bethune-Cookman University, Kiara Davis came back to Live Oak to teach kindergarten at Suwannee Primary School, but music was always her true passion.

During her first summer vacation, after school ended, she teamed up with Antwan Jones with Legit 6 7 Music Group to put together a mixtape, and Davis focused on writing and performing her own songs.

“I’ve always been into music, but I never had the chance to focus on it,” Davis said. “I finally decided to just give it a try.”

Now, Davis is releasing her first mixtape on Saturday, March 4, at the Douglass Center Gymnasium. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

At Bethune-Cookman, Davis received a musical scholarship as a member of the Concert Chorale, where she was classically trained for four years. She also competed in many talent shows throughout high school.

Jones said he would hear Davis singing at church and knew right away she had talent, he said. They knew each other already, and Jones approached Davis about singing in his studio at the Douglass Center.

“Ever since I started producing that’s what I would do. I would listen to people and see how I could take their voice and add to it,” Jones said. “I told Kiara to come out to the studio and let’s see what we can do.”

They started recording together after that. Jones would provide the beats, while Davis would write and sing the the lyrics. It wasn’t long before her notebook was full of lyrics and she had 11 songs recorded.

“And that was that. Before I knew it we had a mixtape,” Davis said.

With the first mixtape out of the way, Davis hopes she gets discovered one day. Until then she will continue to teach, write and sing.