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Kiesza

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Kiesza
Background information
Birth nameKiesa Rae Ellestad
Also known asKiesza Szösi[1]
Born (1989-01-29) January 29, 1989 (age 35)[2]
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, dancer, actress, model, fashion designer, athlete, video director
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, keyboard, keytar
LabelsLokal Legend
Websitekiesza.com

Kiesa Rae Ellestad[3][4] (born January 29, 1989),[2] better known by her stage name Kiesza,[5] is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and dancer from Calgary[6] who has most recently worked out of New York City[7][8][9] and London.[10][11] She is best known for her single "Hideaway".

Personal life

Kiesza was born and raised in Calgary. Her last name Ellestad is Norwegian from her paternal side. Her grandfather is from Fagernes in Norway.[8][12][13][14][15] When she was 16 she took part in the Sail and Life Training Society (SALTS) program[6] and a year later she joined the reserves[16] of the Royal Canadian Navy along with her brother,[17] with whom she became a code breaker.[6][17][18] Meanwhile,[6] she also entered the Miss Universe Canada pageant.[9][17] She attributes her time in the Navy as a reason why, in 2008, she gave away 4,500 CDs to Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan.[5][6]

Kiesza took part in the Young Canadians, performing tap and jazz dancing, as well as theatre.[5] She also trained as a ballerina.[9] However, a knee injury at age 15 ended her ballet career.[4][19] When Kiesza was 18, she says that her parents' divorce caused her to write her first song, as a way of expressing her feelings.[6] The same year, she heard a song of hers played on the radio.[17]

In an interview with the Metro, Kiesza revealed that she can trace her lineage to the Battle of Bannockburn to someone who fought alongside Robert the Bruce, elaborating "There's a lot of Scottish people in Canada. Tons. My grandpa was of Scottish heritage - he was of the black Douglases".[20]

Music career

Early beginnings

Performing at Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary, July 2007

CKUA Folk Routes host Tom Coxworth selected her to perform for a live audience and to be broadcast live on his radio show.[6] Shortly after, she was accepted to the Selkirk College in Nelson, BC, where she studied keyboard, voice and guitar.[5][21] Next, Kiesza obtained a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, New England.[17] After attending Berklee, she went to New York City in 2010[2] to advance her music career.[17] Although Kiesza started as mainly a folk singer,[17] after attending Berklee and then living in New York, she moved to a more "uptempo sound"[17] for which she works with producer Rami Samir Afuni.[8] In 2010 she was selected to play at the Canada Day celebrations at Trafalgar Square in London for 30,000 people.[17][22]

In 2012, Kiesza released her first single after starting work with Afuni in New York, a "disco-infused pop" single titled "Oops" about a couple that had unprotected sex.[3][8][23] She labelled her style of music at the time as "SteamPop", described by AjanWrites as "as a flaming brew of bold, boisterous pop filled with tongue-in-cheek lyrics".[8] In a later 2014 interview, she said "Oops" was made as a joke.[3][8]

Kiesza was featured in the single Triggerfinger by the Norwegian band Donkeyboy in 2013.[24] She has also written for other artists, such as Rihanna, Kylie Minogue and Icona Pop.[3][25]

2014–present: Hideaway

Kiesza at Fendi store opening in May 2014

In February 2014 Kiesza released the video for her new single "Hideaway" through the indie label Lokal Legend.[7] Idolator considered it unique, for having a single take through the entire video, as Kiesza walked and danced through the streets of Brooklyn.[7] John Gentile of Rolling Stone called the style "impressive".[26] Kiesza reported to Rolling Stone that she had trouble making the video, partly because she broke a rib just before filming, and "couldn't move for an entire month afterward."[26] It was premiered by Annie Mac on her Mac's Special Delivery segment on BBC Radio 1.[11][27] "Hideaway" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart issued for April 26, 2014.[28]

Shortly after "Hideaway" charted, Kiesza released a new video for her cover of Haddaway's song "What Is Love".[29] Mike Bell of the Calgary Herald referred to her version of the song as a "jaw-droppingly gorgeous cover of Haddaway's 1993 dance smash What Is Love?"[15] She did a slowed down version, with a video showing her and others, slowly revealed to be without clothes, to express "raw emotions".[15]

Kiesza's second single "Giant in My Heart" premiered on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on June 13, 2014.

Career beyond music

In 2014 Kiesza was selected to be the face of a new line of fashion eyewear called "Color Block" by retailer Fendi, appearing in a promotional video shot by Ruth Hogben.[4][30][31][32] The video "features Kiesza strolling on a treadmill against a painted skyline, while singing and donning the double-framed, colourfull sunglasses."[33] She announced plans to release her own line of fashion under the name "SteamPop" sometime in 2014.[31]

Discography

Singles

As lead artist

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
CAN
[34] 		AUS
[35] 		BEL (FL)
[36] 		BEL (WAL)
 DEN
[37] 		FRA
[38] 		GER
[39] 		IRE
[40] 		ITA
[41] 		NL
[42] 		SWI
[43] 		UK
[44] 		US
2014 "Hideaway" 6 25 1 3 2 34 5 11 1 4 5 1 83 Hideaway
"Giant in My Heart" – – 111 – – – – – – – – – –
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
FIN
[45]
2013 "Triggerfinger"
(Donkeyboy featuring Kiesza) 		9 Non-album single
2014 "Take You There"[citation needed]
(Skrillex and Diplo featuring Kiesza) 		— TBA

Music videos

Year Title Director(s) Album
2014 "Hideaway" Kiesza, Blayre Ellestad[46] Hideaway
"Giant in My Heart" Rami Samir Afuni[47]

References

Sources

  1. ^ "Savage Roots - Savaged feat. Kiesza Szösi". SoundCloud. August 10, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Verdot-Belaval, Athony (April 29, 2014). "25 ans, la chanteuse canadienne vient de dévoiler en France son premier single "Hideaway". Portrait d'une ancienne militaire devenue reine des charts". Paris Match (in French). Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Cragg, Michael (April 27, 2014). "One to watch: Kiesza". The Observer. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Szmydke, Paulina (May 28, 2014). "Kiesza Gets Into the Groove". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d "Self-styled and self-titled". Calgary Herald. December 30, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Wilton, Lisa (June 19, 2009). "Kiesza life stories written in strings". Calgary Sun. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c Daw, Robbie (March 20, 2014). "Popping Up: Kiesza". Idolator. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Hot New Pop Alert: Watch Kiesza's Lyric Video for Debut Single "Oops"". ArjanWrites.com. September 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Cragg, Michael (February 11, 2014). "Kiesza – Hideaway (Gorgon City Remix): New music". The Guardian. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  10. ^ Jim Carroll (February 6, 2014). "New Music – Patrick Freeman, Kiesza, Sylvan Esso | On The Record". Irishtimes.com. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Kiesza – 'Hideaway'". PopJustice.com. January 24, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  12. ^ http://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/hoer-90-tallsslageren-i-naken-versjon/a/10122695/
  13. ^ http://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/vg-lista/vg-listeshowet-kvinnelige-stjerneskudd-til-raadhusplassen/a/23229552/
  14. ^ http://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/donkeyboy-vokalist-mot-toppen-i-storbritannia/a/10139246/
  15. ^ a b c Bell, Mike (May 3, 2014). "Calgary singer Kiesza taking the pop music world by storm". Calgary Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  16. ^ Cull, Alex (March 25, 2014). "Introducing: Kiesza". Planet Notion. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hunt, Stephen (June 24, 2010). "Breathtaking Drive". Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  18. ^ Collins, Hattie (April 14, 2014). "kiesza, the canadian singer on ballet, boats, bullets and big hits". i-D. Vice Media. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  19. ^ Rayner, Ben (June 14, 2014). "Kiesza at the MMVAs: Hideaway no more". Toronto Star. p. E8. Archived from the original on June 13, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014. ...since a knee injury at 15 cut her ballet career short...
  20. ^ "Hideaway Kiesza's Scottish roots". Metro. July 14, 2014: 17. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ^ Schafer, Timothy (April 7, 2009). "Music, Environment & Passion; Before heading off to the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, Selkirk College Music Grad Kiesza Ellestad is taking the Capitol Theatre stage in support of the West Kootenay EcoSociety and her future career". Nelson Daily News. p. 3. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  22. ^ Parker, David (July 9, 2010). "Rainmaker brings the party to London". Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  23. ^ "The Best New Videos for September 4 – 7". NewMusicLive.ca (MuchMusic). BellMedia. September 7, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: save command (help)
  24. ^ Triggerfinger (inlay). Warner Music Norway. 2013. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ McMurray, Jenna (April 19, 2014). "Calgary-born songstress Kiesza tops United Kingdom charts with hit single Hideaway". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  26. ^ a b Gentile, John (February 13, 2014). "Kiesza Barrels Through the Pain in 'Hideaway' – Video Premiere". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  27. ^ Herr, Lindsay (February 13, 2014). "Kiesza takes it to the streets in her debut video for lead single "Hideaway"". EarMilk. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  28. ^ Lane, Daniel (April 20, 2014). "Kiesza claims her debut UK Number 1 single with Hideaway". Official Charts Company. British Phonographic Industry, Entertainment Retailers Association. Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  29. ^ Daw, Robbie (April 23, 2014). "Kiesza Covers Haddaway's "What Is Love": Watch The Video For Her Rendition Of The '90s Classic". Idolator. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  30. ^ Tim, Andy (May 27, 2014). "Fendi Color Block eyewear collection featuring Kiesza". Elle Malaysia. Retrieved May 28, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: save command (help)
  31. ^ a b "Kiesza: I design clothes I can't find". Belfast Telegraph. May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  32. ^ Tortora, Laura (May 28, 2014). "Kiesza X Fendi". Vogue Italia. Retrieved May 28, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: save command (help)
  33. ^ Ciobanu, Madalina (May 27, 2014). "Kiesza Named as New Face of Fendi Eyewear". Harpars Bazaar. Retrieved May 28, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: save command (help)
  34. ^ "Kiesza – Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  35. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Kiesza". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  36. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Kiesza". Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  37. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Kiesza". Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  38. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Kiesza". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  39. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Kiesza". German Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  40. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Kiesza". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  41. ^ Cite error: The named reference ITA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  42. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Kiesza". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  43. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Kiesza". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  44. ^ "Kiesza > UK Charts". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
  45. ^ Peak positions in Finland:
  46. ^ "Hideaway - Kiesza". Vevo. Vevo. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  47. ^ "Giant In My Heart - Kiesza". Vevo. Vevo. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
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