Kiesza

Ones To Watch: Kiesza

Kiesza, Music News, Music Videos, Ones to Watch 9 comments

    Kiesza

    Holy SH*T I can’t believe how long it’s been. September 2013? Really!? Wow. Well…let’s jump right in shall we? If you were to look at my listening activity for the past month, you’d see a lot of this 90s music-lovin Canadian house-pop singer in my charts. While twenty-something year old Kiesza hails from Calgary, her lead single, “Hideaway,” is heating up the charts all over Europe, hitting the Top 10 in 8 countries, including #10 on Billboard‘s Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Not a bad introduction, eh?

    Dripping with 90s nostalgia, “Hideaway” is the definition of a banger in my opinion, despite the fact that there’s no real hook (“Ooh Aah’s” notwithstanding).  The song was co-written with song producer Rami Samir Afuni (who gave Lady Gaga‘s “G.U.Y.” a pretty sick 90s house remix).  Recorded in NYC last summer, Kiesza released a low-budget (but absolutely mesmerizing) video for “Hideaway” in February, followed by the single’s digital release in April via Lokal Legend, Afuni’s own indie label.  The video features Kiesza and her troupe of 90s garbed dancers strutting around Brooklyn (SEE BELOW).

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESXgJ9-H-2U]

    In the UK, “Hideaway” managed to sell over 136,000 copies in its first week, becoming the fastest selling début release of 2014, not to mention one of the biggest singles of the year.  Given the success of her début, it makes sense that Kiesza isn’t looking to waste any time, hence the upcoming release of single #2, the equally infectious (and 90s-inspired) “Giant In My Heart.”  The follow-up, which you can scope out below, is due out August 11th in the UK, via Lokal Legend/Virgin EMI.  The song incorporates the same housey basslines that made “Hideaway” such a massive tune without sounding like too much of a re-hash.  Get excited for the video, which was also filmed in New York and showcases more of this Berklee College of Music Graduate‘s impressive dance moves.

    What’s more impressive about this versatile talent? How about the fact that she designed the artwork herself? Inspired by Surrealist painters like Salvador Dali, both the “Giant In My Heart” and “Hideaway” artwork perfectly captures that aesthetic.  Can’t wait to see what the album artwork looks like!

    Kiesza - Giant In My Heart

    No word yet on a U.S. release for “Giant In My Heart” but her first single “Hideaway” is gaining traction here in the States.  While the song is available to stream on Spotify, hopefully it will be on iTunes soon (it’s supposed to hit radio starting July 1st).  Kiesza‘s music in the States is being released by Lokal Legend and U.S. subsidiary of Island Records, 4th & B’Way Records.

    I’ve also included a video of the singer’s cover of Haddaway‘s 1993 hit “What Is Love.” Unreal vocals on this girl.  Defintely one to watch. If you live in Europe, make sure you catch Kiesza at one of the following festivals:

    Tour Dates:

    June 28th – Glastonbury

    July 2nd – Departures, Ushuaia Ibiza

    July 4th – Wireless, London

    July 15th – MTV Crashes Plymouth

     July 12th – T In The Park

    July 17th – Melt Festival, Berlin

    July 18th – Lovebox, London

    August 15th – Pukkelpop, Belgium

    August 16th – V Festival

    September 4th – Bestival

    Download “Hideaway“:  iTunes (UK)

    Check out Kiesza on the web:

    Official Site || Facebook || Twitter || YouTube || Instagram || SoundCloud