| KeiyaA | |
| Birth Name: | Chakeiya Camille Richmond |
| Birth Date: | 1992 7, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genre: | Neo soul[1] |
| Occupation: | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument: | Vocals, alto sax |
| Years Active: | 2015–present |
| Label: | Forever Recordings |
Chakeiya Camille Richmond (born 28 July 1992), known professionally as Keiyaa (stylized as KeiyaA), is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a record producer. She independently released her debut album Forever, Ya Girl in 2020.[2]
Chakeiya Camille Richmond was born and raised in Chicago on the city's south side.[3] During childhood she sang in the Chicago Children's Choir until switching to the alto saxophone in seventh grade.[2] [4] She cited soul artists including Chaka Khan, Patrice Rushen, jazz musicians like John Coltrane and Miles Davis and R&B groups such as SWV as early musical influences.[4] She also finds inspiration in goth and post-punk/alternative rock artists like Nirvana and Siouxsie and the Banshees.[4]
Richmond attended University of Illinois at Chicago and Columbia College to study jazz and play alto sax before leaving due to disillusionment with the program's hierarchical nature, as well difficulty balancing school with working full-time.[5] Shortly after she decided to pursue music professionally.[5] [6]
While still playing and performing on alto sax, she collaborated with Chicago musicians including Noname and Vic Mensa.[7] She decided to switch her focus to solo work producing and singing R&B and electronic music.[4] Performing under the name Keiya, she released her debut EP, WORK, in July 2015.[8] It was described as "emotional, sleepy, and yet strikingly optimistic" by These Days magazine.[9] Shortly after its release she moved to New York.[10] She added an additional "A" to her name (KeiyaA) in order to differentiate herself from other performers on streaming sites.[2]
KeiyaA's debut album Forever, Ya Girl was released in March 2020 and self-produced under her personal label Forever Recordings. It was reviewed by Olivia Ovendon for KEXP as featuring "powerful mantra-esque lyrics, and woozy, heady, immersive beats in captivating fashion." Esquire described the sound as "downcast grime and smooth R&B."[11] Pitchfork writer Clare Lobenfeld rated the album an 8.2/10 and praised its "resolute realness that can only happen outside the major label gaze."[12] Forever, Ya Girl was named to Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian
She performed an NPR Tiny Desk concert at her home on February 11, 2021.[16]
Keiyaa resides in Brooklyn.[17]