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Kerli

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Kerli

Kerli Kõiv [ˈkerli ˈkɤ.iv] ⓘ (born February 7, 1987), better known mononymously as Kerli, is an Estonian recording artist.

She was signed to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2006 by LA Reid and in 2008, she released her debut album, Love Is Dead which charted at 126 on the Billboard 200 in July 2008 and at 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart the following month.[1] The album contained the singles "Love Is Dead", "Walking on Air" and "Creepshow", with "Walking on Air" being the most notable. It charted at number seventy-five on the European Hot 100[2] and was featured twice on the United States television dance competition So You Think You Can Dance.

In 2010, she appeared on the Almost Alice album — music inspired by the film Alice in Wonderland — with the song "Tea Party".[3] She is currently working on her second studio album which she plans to release in 2011.

Early life

Kerli was born in Tartu County, Estonia in the municipality Elva, with a population of 5,000[4] during the Soviet occupation of Estonia which ended when she was four years old.[5] Her mother, Piret, was a social worker and her father, Toivo Kõiv, was an auto mechanic.[6][7] Her parents separated when she was 16.[8] Her younger sister, Eliisa Kõiv[9] is also a musician and competed in season three of Eesti otsib superstaari. Her great-great-grandmother, nicknamed "Beautiful May" for her beauty, was a maid to a duke in Germany, with whom she had a baby.[10]

As a child, she studied ballroom dancing for eight years, practicing five days a week.[11] She was first introduced to music by her kindergarten teacher when she told her mom that Kerli had "nice pitch" and that she was interested in taking her to various singing competitions.[12] At 8 years old, Kerli gained interested in classical music and as there was an absence of music in her early life, she only possessed one cassette by Bonnie Tyler.[4] She was also a big fan of The Spice Girls.[4] She began writing stories, mini books, and poems at the age of 10 to escape from her "abusive" household to an "imaginary world".[13] Despite being discouraged, Kerli dropped out of school at the age of 16 to pursue her musical career.[14]

Career

2002–05: Career beginnings

In 2002, Kerli competed in the singing competition Laulukarussell in the age group category 13–15 and on May 18, won with the song "Bridge over Troubled Water".[15] Also in 2002, she lied about her age to enter Fizz Superstar (a "Baltic equivalent of American Idol") as the minimum age was fifteen. She ended up winning the contest, gaining a singing contract to Universal Sweden.[16][17] She was later dropped as the person who signed her was fired.[13] Later, the media in Estonia labeled failure as "Kerli Syndrome". Kerli has stated she feels no resentment towards her home country, as she told in a 2008 interview:

No, I don’t feel any resentment. For a while, because I left Estonia and Estonians didn’t hear anything about me so all these Estonian young singers were like… I guess they’re slowly turning around now and understanding that I really was doing something here.[18]

Kerli was later signed to an independent label founded by the person who was previously fired from Universal Sweden but the label went bankrupt.[17] At the age of 16, Kerli moved to Stockholm where she competed in Melodifestivalen in 2003 but was eliminated in the second semifinals.[19] In 2004, she was the runner-up in that year's Eurolaul – a televised competition that determines the song that will represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest – with her song "Beautiful Inside".

While in Stockholm for two years, she worked with numerous producers and due to lack of money as the contracts she had gained previously were unsuccessful, she ate nothing but rice for three months when she lived in an abandoned house during winter and slept on a cot.[19] At the age of 18, she moved to the United States where she continued to perform and write songs, ultimately getting an audition with L.A. Reid, who signed her to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2006.[18]

2006–08: Kerli EP and Love is Dead

In 2006, Kerli signed a contract with Island Records. Kerli worked with producer, songwriter, and mixer David Maurice on an autobiographical set of songs, the first batch of which were released on a self-titled EP in 2007 and her debut album, titled Love Is Dead released on July 8, 2008. The music video for the song "Love Is Dead" was released by Island Records on February 29, 2008 and the music video for "Walking on Air" premiered on MTV Overdrive on May 20, 2008. Starting in mid-July 2008, "Walking on Air" got minimal rotation on Top 40 stations. "Walking On Air" was also the free "Single of the Week" on iTunes for the week of July 21, 2008.[citation needed]

Kerli performing in London in 2008.

During the 2008 season finale of So You Think You Can Dance?, Fox used Kerli's video for "Walking on Air" for part of a commercial promoting their new show Fringe. Kerli also performed the song at the 2008 Scream Awards.[20] Kerli's song "Creepshow" was used in the game Burnout Paradise for its in-game soundtrack[21] and by Fox for its promotion of Fringe's April 7, 2009 return.[22]

She was chosen to perform the theme for the 2008 videogame Quantum of Solace, "When Nobody Loves You." She also performs the song "Bulletproof" on the official soundtrack of Punisher: War Zone.

2009–present: "Army of Love" and second studio album

In 2009, Kerli performed at the Estonian music festival Õllesummer in Tallinn.[23] On September 10, 2009 Island Def Jam announced Kerli's iPhone application[24] and the first song, Saima was released the following month.[25] Kerli re-released the single "The Creationist", which is a duet with the Italian songwriter Cesare Cremonini.[26]

Kerli received an European Border Breakers Award for the success of the album Love Is Dead in Estonia.[27] On January 12, 2010, the track listing for Disney's Alice in Wonderland soundtrack Almost Alice was released and features two songs by Kerli, "Tea Party" and "Strange" which is a collaboration with Tokio Hotel.[3] On February 19, 2010, Kerli performed "Tea Party", "Walking On Air" and "Strange" at the Alice in Wonderland Ultimate Fan Event. In April 2010, Kerli started a line of clothing specifically surrounding her Giant Panda-themed dress with Hot Topic.[28][29] A remix maxi single of "Tea Party" was released on June 15, 2010.[30] She covered the song "Nature Boy" for a promo for the tenth season of Smallville.[31] On October 27, Kerli revealed a new fan website titled "Kerli's MoonChild Academy".[32]

Kerli is currently working on her second studio album. She has stated that she's developing a "new musical style called Bubble Goth" and that the Love Is Dead album was "really moody and dark and introverted, so this album is actually more fun, but it still has that twistedness" and that she's "trying to develop a whole new sound-scape that [she doesn't think she's] heard before". She has also said that it is a "a very strong album" about "overcoming the darkness in [her]..overcoming blaming the world for what's wrong...taking responsibility, being inspired and inspiring others."[33] The album is not expected to be released until 2011 and will be followed by a tour.[34]

The video for the promotional single, "Army of Love",[35] was filmed over several days in Estonia during early November.[35][36] The video "sets the undertone of [her] entire new album".[35] It is directed by Kaimar Kukk (Caviar Productions).[37] On December 1, Kerli began a series of five video blogs via AOL's PopEater blog that documented the production of the music video.[38] "Army of Love" (the song) was released on December 16, 2010.[39] The music video officially premiered on December 22, 2010.[40]

Style and influences

One of Kerli's logos which features "Moon Marks".

She frequently cites Björk as a major influence and one of her favorite musicians[41] and Sigur Rós as her favorite band.[42] Among her other influences are Anouk, Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin.[43]

She frequently wears three dots called "Moon Marks" that represent integrity, love and unity,[44] three things that are also followed by Moon Children: an elaborated fan community/street team established by Kerli for people who "feel too much and find it hard to exist in this world, so that they wouldn't think they're crazy."[45]

Personal life

Kerli has five tattoos. At the age of 15, Kerli asked her mother for a tattoo that states "music" in Chinese ("音乐"). Dubious, her mother told her that if she read "every book ... in town" on China and did a report on it, she would allow her to get the tattoo. Kerli did as requested and her mother took her to get the tattoo the day before her 16th birthday.[42] She has two tattoos on her forearm: one of a butterfly which symbolizes "living everyday like it was [her] last" and that she would never "leave a person that [she loves] without them knowing how much [she loves] them" and the other tattoo states in Latin "Amicus Humani Generis" which Kerli translates "a friend of the human race." On her left forearm, again Latin, states "Agnus Dei" which Kerli translates "a servant of God."[42] On her right foot, she has the letter "E", an initial of someone who "broke her heart."[46]

Kerli currently lives in Los Angeles, California.[47]

Discography

Main article: Kerli discography

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Herself MTV Europe Music Award for Best Baltic Act Nominated
"Walking on Air" MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video Nominated
2009 Raadio 2 Hit of the Year 2008 Won
Estonian Music Award for Music Video of the Year Won
Herself Estonian Music Award for Pop Artist of the Year Won
Estonian Music Award for Female Artist of the Year Won
Love Is Dead Estonian Music Award for Album of the Year Nominated
2010 European Border Breakers Award (EBBA) Won

References

  1. ^ "Love Is Dead - Kerli". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Walking on Air - Kerli". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Tokio Hotel And Kerli Will Collaborate On Tim Burton's 'Alice In Wonderland' Soundtrack". MTV. January 12, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Interview with Estonian Pop Princess Kerli". Pop Culture Madness. November 15, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Perry, Clayton (May 31, 2008). "Interview: Kerli - Singer and Songwriter". Blogcritics Music. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Kerli Kõivu isa ähvardab vangla!". Kroonika. Retrieved September 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Template:Language icon
  7. ^ "Does it annoy you that you're constantly being accused of being an Illuminati? I couldn't take it. How do you handle it?". Formspring. Retrieved September 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  8. ^ Kerli (December 19, 2010). "What year did your parents get divorced?". Formspring.me. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  9. ^ "Eliisa Kõiv". Õhtuleht. Retrieved September 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Template:Language icon
  10. ^ "What's your heritage? Anything other than Estonian?". Formspring.me. October 20, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  11. ^ Kerli. "You imagine yourself dancing "samba" in brasil? UAHSUAH". Formspring.me. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  12. ^ "WeirdMusic.net Magazine Exclusive Interview with Kerli". WeirdMusic.net. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  13. ^ a b Avina, Christina. "Kerli ~ An artist in every sense of the word". Rock on Request. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "MTV Buzzworthy Interview: Kerli". MTV. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  15. ^ "2002 - History - Estonian Television - BBC". Oetv. Retrieved October 3, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Kerli Shakes Up European Pop With Island Release "Love Is Dead"". Universal Music. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  17. ^ a b Kiwibox.com. "Music Artist Kerli, Interview with Kiwibox Part 1". YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  18. ^ a b Amanda Bradshaw (July 8, 2008). "Neon Limelight Interviews: Kerli". Neon Limelight. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  19. ^ a b Wood, Eric (July 8, 2008). "Record Deal Means Kerli Can Ditch the Rice-Only Diet". allPOP. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  20. ^ "Kerli performs 'Walking on Air' at the 2008 Scream Awards". Fantastic Weapon. October 21, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  21. ^ "Burnout Paradise Track listing".
  22. ^ "Adtunes ID of Creepshow in Fringe promo".
  23. ^ Koppel, Eduard. "Tallinn's Õllesummer fun". OnCulture.eu.
  24. ^ "Official Kerli iPhone App Now Available". Island Def Jam.com. September 10, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  25. ^ "New Song from Kerli for iPhone Users". Official website. October 27, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  26. ^ http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=5712&artistID=7278
  27. ^ "Kerli [Official Site]". Kerlimusic.com. 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  28. ^ "Kerli: Where Fashion and Music Collide". kerlimusic.com. April 6, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  29. ^ "Kerli". Hot Topic. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  30. ^ "Tea Party" at Amazon
  31. ^ Masters, Megan. "Superman Returns! Exclusive Last First Look at Smallville's 10th and Final Season". E! Online. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ Kerli (October 27, 2010). "Excited to announce Kerli's Moonchild Academy Now Enrolling!!! www.iamamoonchild.net ♥". Twitter. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  33. ^ Kerli (November 16, 2010). "is your new album more pure and light? I feel like you need to get back in touch with some light ness". Formspring.me. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  34. ^ Jennifer Maurer (June 1, 2010). "Exclusive Interview: Kerli (Alice in Wonderland Soundtrack)". PopStar. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  35. ^ a b c "Kerli uus muusikavideo aitab teistele paljastada tema "salajast Eestit"". Noorte hääl. November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Template:Language icon
  36. ^ Kerli (October 26, 2010). "MC mission #1.mov". YouTube. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  37. ^ Sillaots, Marge (November 4, 2010). "KINDEL: Kerli uus video valmib Eestis!". Õhtuleht. Retrieved November 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Template:Language icon
  38. ^ "Kerli Talks About Her New Album and Overcoming Struggle With Creativity -- Exclusive Video". PopEater. December 1, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  39. ^ "Kerli, 'Army of Love' -- Exclusive Song Premiere". PopEater. December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  40. ^ "Kerli, 'Army of Love' -- Exclusive Video Premiere". PopEater. December 22, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ "Kerli Interview!". Rock N Roll Experience. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  42. ^ a b c Kiwibox.com. "Music Artist Kerli, Interview with Kiwibox Part 2". YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  43. ^ Djamoos, Anton (January 28, 2008). "Kerli Koiv - 01.28.08 - Interview". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  44. ^ "Moon Marks". MySpace. September 2, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  45. ^ Triana, Mark (August, 2008). "Interview with Kerli Kõiv". Chicago Music Guide. Retrieved October 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ Blair, Eric. "KERLI talks Tattoos with Eric Blair 2008". YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  47. ^ "Kerli : Profile". Kerlimusic.com. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
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