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5 Questions With - Kiesza
If you know Kiesza, you shouldn't be surprised that she is easily one of my favorite new artists this year. She really has the whole package--she's an incredible songwriter, dancer, and she knows how to perfectly sing every note of her throwback dance tunes. 90's house is the new EDM, and artists like Kiesza are poised and ready to be the next big name. Her hit "Hideaway" got her a nomination for an MTV VMA for choreography (if you haven't seen it, watch it NOW), and is a massive hit around the world. Since then, she's released two more tracks, including another top five hit in the UK (boy, they love her there), but she's just getting the attention she deserves over here. Her debut album, 'Sound of a Woman', is out next month, and it's one you need to pick up. Kiesza was nice enough to chat with me the other day: |
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The album is out a month from now. Are you nervous or excited?
I'm really excited. I wouldn't say nervous, I'd say anxious. I'm really proud of the album. I feel like it came together really well at the end. There's such a balance on it. It all fits together nicely, but it's all very different. Every song is authentic. Where I might be a little nervous is, you know when you create your own music, sometimes you're too close to it. It's hard to know what other people are going to think. I believe in it, and I'm really excited to get it out to people.
You've enjoyed a rare and meteoric rise. What do you think of the past year of your life and how does it feel to be where you are now?
This past January I was completely anonymous. I had written “Hideaway” in May that summer prior, and I was working on putting together an independent project. I really had no idea what was going to happen. I really thought it was going to take a while. I was going to move to London and get into the whole underground scene. I was hoping the underground world would pick up on it and I would have a slow growing fan base. I had no idea was going to explode like it did. It's been a whirlwind ever since.
I've been catching up with the song because once it was out there it just went. It exceeded everyone's expectations. We've just been trying to figure it out as we go, because we really didn't have a plan. We thought it was going to take so much long. It went number one in the UK in April, and ever since then I've been touring. I played in the UK, Europe, abd a little bit in the US. Tons of promo and recording.
I'm thankful I got the album finished, because with everything going on I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find the time and inspiration to record more music, because it's all been so intense.
“Hideaway” is still growing here in the US. Is it strange to be promoting one single here while you're several singles ahead in the rest of the world?
It's a little strange. It's interesting how fast the UK moves, as opposed to the US. I've been in the US, and I know how it works a little more than in the UK. The UK is more of a learning experience. The US is a huge place, and one of the hardest places to break new music. Coming to the US with a new sound, I figured it would take a little longer. I think I'm part of that new waves coming to the US now. I'm part of introducing this sound back to the US, though ironically it did come from Chicago.
You're making dance pop music, but it sounds so retro. What makes you want to create something with such a heavy 90’s influence?
People hear me as the dance/house/electronic person, but the album has a lot more to it. There are few ballads on it, including a piano cover of “What Is Love?” We also have some R&B and a hip hop feature. I think there's a lot on the album that will surprise people.
I really love that early 90’s era. Maybe it's just because I grew up around that time. I was a baby in the early 90’s, but that sounded lived on in my house for a while. It's a sound that's very comfortable to me, and something I can instinctively write. I was so young when I started listening to that music I think it's embedded itself into my brain. I thought I'd pay homage to an era I love, while also making things current. Even though it has a nostalgic feel to it, I think there's a lot of current stuff going on in it as well. That was the idea: to fuse the old and the new.
Just as much as the signature sound, you are known for dancing. You incorporate it into everything you do. Is that something you want to be known for?
I love dancing. I'll dance wherever I can. I grew up dancing, I was a ballerina for years. I had to give it up because of an injury that needed too much time to heal. Most of my music videos are going to have dancing in some form, except maybe the ballads. Not sure how that would work in.
How did you come up with the concept for “Giant In My Heart”?
I was with my producer just listening to the song, and I had a vision of drag queens singing karaoke to that song. It just kind of popped into my head. I don't know what inspired it. When I told my producer he came up with a storyline . I really wanted a video with a message, even if its just that you’re happiest being who you really are, who you feel you really are.
What are some bands or artists that you're listening to right now that people should go out and try?
I've literally just packed my stuff up from the UK for my move back to the US, so I've been really influenced by what's happening over there. I fell in love with Duke Dumont. I love Sigma and Clean Bandit. I love Sam Smith, but I think that's just a given. Jess Glynne is really great. She was featured artist on that Clean Bandit hit. There's this young artist called MNEK. He's really talented. He's so young too, he's just a kid. He's only 20.
Oh come on, we're not that much older than him.
Yeah, you’re right.
I'm really excited. I wouldn't say nervous, I'd say anxious. I'm really proud of the album. I feel like it came together really well at the end. There's such a balance on it. It all fits together nicely, but it's all very different. Every song is authentic. Where I might be a little nervous is, you know when you create your own music, sometimes you're too close to it. It's hard to know what other people are going to think. I believe in it, and I'm really excited to get it out to people.
You've enjoyed a rare and meteoric rise. What do you think of the past year of your life and how does it feel to be where you are now?
This past January I was completely anonymous. I had written “Hideaway” in May that summer prior, and I was working on putting together an independent project. I really had no idea what was going to happen. I really thought it was going to take a while. I was going to move to London and get into the whole underground scene. I was hoping the underground world would pick up on it and I would have a slow growing fan base. I had no idea was going to explode like it did. It's been a whirlwind ever since.
I've been catching up with the song because once it was out there it just went. It exceeded everyone's expectations. We've just been trying to figure it out as we go, because we really didn't have a plan. We thought it was going to take so much long. It went number one in the UK in April, and ever since then I've been touring. I played in the UK, Europe, abd a little bit in the US. Tons of promo and recording.
I'm thankful I got the album finished, because with everything going on I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find the time and inspiration to record more music, because it's all been so intense.
“Hideaway” is still growing here in the US. Is it strange to be promoting one single here while you're several singles ahead in the rest of the world?
It's a little strange. It's interesting how fast the UK moves, as opposed to the US. I've been in the US, and I know how it works a little more than in the UK. The UK is more of a learning experience. The US is a huge place, and one of the hardest places to break new music. Coming to the US with a new sound, I figured it would take a little longer. I think I'm part of that new waves coming to the US now. I'm part of introducing this sound back to the US, though ironically it did come from Chicago.
You're making dance pop music, but it sounds so retro. What makes you want to create something with such a heavy 90’s influence?
People hear me as the dance/house/electronic person, but the album has a lot more to it. There are few ballads on it, including a piano cover of “What Is Love?” We also have some R&B and a hip hop feature. I think there's a lot on the album that will surprise people.
I really love that early 90’s era. Maybe it's just because I grew up around that time. I was a baby in the early 90’s, but that sounded lived on in my house for a while. It's a sound that's very comfortable to me, and something I can instinctively write. I was so young when I started listening to that music I think it's embedded itself into my brain. I thought I'd pay homage to an era I love, while also making things current. Even though it has a nostalgic feel to it, I think there's a lot of current stuff going on in it as well. That was the idea: to fuse the old and the new.
Just as much as the signature sound, you are known for dancing. You incorporate it into everything you do. Is that something you want to be known for?
I love dancing. I'll dance wherever I can. I grew up dancing, I was a ballerina for years. I had to give it up because of an injury that needed too much time to heal. Most of my music videos are going to have dancing in some form, except maybe the ballads. Not sure how that would work in.
How did you come up with the concept for “Giant In My Heart”?
I was with my producer just listening to the song, and I had a vision of drag queens singing karaoke to that song. It just kind of popped into my head. I don't know what inspired it. When I told my producer he came up with a storyline . I really wanted a video with a message, even if its just that you’re happiest being who you really are, who you feel you really are.
What are some bands or artists that you're listening to right now that people should go out and try?
I've literally just packed my stuff up from the UK for my move back to the US, so I've been really influenced by what's happening over there. I fell in love with Duke Dumont. I love Sigma and Clean Bandit. I love Sam Smith, but I think that's just a given. Jess Glynne is really great. She was featured artist on that Clean Bandit hit. There's this young artist called MNEK. He's really talented. He's so young too, he's just a kid. He's only 20.
Oh come on, we're not that much older than him.
Yeah, you’re right.