Kirby Lauryen Explained

Kirby Lauryen
Birth Name:Kirby Lauryen Dockery
Birth Place:Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genre:R&B, neo soul[1]
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Years Active:2012–present
Label:Roc Nation

Kirby Lauryen Dockery, also known by the stage names Kirby (stylized as KIRBY) and Kirby Lauryen, is an American singer and songwriter. She has written pop songs such as "FourFiveSeconds" performed by Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney. She is an independent artist and released her first album, Sis, in 2020.[2]

Life and career

Dockery was born October 24 in Memphis, Tennessee and raised in Southaven, Mississippi.[3] She studied music at Stax Music Academy,[4] and enrolled at Berklee College of Music after high school but left in 2012 to pursue music full-time. She was influenced by Kanye West's The College Dropout.[5] [6]

She began a YouTube challenge where she posted videos of herself singing a new original song for 275 days. She was contacted by Joy Brown of Roc Nation on day 302 of the challenge and signed to the label.[7]

She has worked with artists such as Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Brandy, and Timbaland.[8] [9] Kirby co-wrote the track "FourFiveSeconds", which went through several rounds of edits as directed by Kanye West. She also wrote the song "Die with You" performed by Beyoncé and "Break Your Heart Right Back" by Ariana Grande.

She released her first album, Sis, in February 2020. Robyn Mowatt of Okayplayer referred to it as "a mashup of refreshing deep cuts." Two singles from the album were featured on the soundtrack for the fourth season of Insecure.

In June 2020, Kirby posted a viral TikTok video about the racist origins of the pancake brand Aunt Jemima, and amid other online critiques taking place, the brand announced that they would retire the racist imagery.[10]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Soundtrack albums

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Loved by You"2016rowspan="2"
"Vain"2017
"Kool Aid"2019Sis.
"Don't Leave Your Girl"
"We Don't Funk"2020
"Velvet (Remix)"

Songwriting credits

indicates a credited vocal/featured artist contribution

TitleYearArtist(s)AlbumCreditsWritten with
"J'irai te chercher"2014Amel BentInstinctCo-writerAmel Bent, Simon Cohen, Aymeric Mazaudier, and Kore
"The Game"Kelly RowlandPepsi Beats of the Beautiful GameJake Troth, and Sia Furler
"Let It Be Me"Jennifer LopezA.K.A.Harmony Samuels and Jennifer Lopez
"She"Keyshia ColePoint of No ReturnKeyshia Cole, Sean Fenton, Dijon McFarlane, and Priese Board
"Hustle Harder"
CommonNobody's SmilingLonnie Lynn, Ernest Wilson, Snoh Nowrozi, Seandrea Sledge, Alexander Izquierdo, and Leon Michels
"Break Your Heart Right Back"
Ariana GrandeMy EverythingAndrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, Donald Glover, Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers, Steven Jordan, Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs, and Mason Betha
"Only One"
Kanye WestKanye West, Paul McCartney, Mike Dean, and Noah Goldstein
"Crazy"2015Kat DahliaMy GardenGlass John
"FourFiveSeconds"Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartneyKanye West, Paul McCartney, Mike Dean, Tyrone Griffin, Jr., David Longstreth, Robyn Fenty, Dallas Austin, Elon Rutberg, and Noah Goldstein
"Die with You"BeyoncéBeyoncé
"If I Have To"Avery WilsonAvery Wilson, Rodney Jerkins, and Sean Garrett
"The Otherside"Elijah BlakeShadows & DiamondsSean Fenton and Carlo Montagnese
"Rockabye"Sean Fenton, Christopher Crowhurst, and Anthony Charles Williams II
"Aquaria"
BootsAquariaJordan Asher and Angel Deradoorian
"Over Getting Over"Fleur EastLove, Sax and FlashbacksAndrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, and Trevor "Trevorious" Brown
"Never Say When"Fleur East, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, and Warren "Oak" Felder
"Love Just Ain't Enough"
MonicaCode RedMonica Brown, Nick Brongers, Jocelyn Donald, Timothy Mosley, and Jonathan Solone-Myvett
"Call My Name"Monica Brown, Jocelyn Donald, Daniel Jones, Jamal Jones, Timothy Mosley, and Jonathan Solone-Myvett
"All Men Lie"
Monica Brown, Nick Brongers, and Timothy Mosley
"Beggin & Pleadin"2016BrandyRonald Colson, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, John Lee Hooker, Steve Mostyn, and Brandy Norwood
"Wolves"Kanye WestThe Life of PabloKanye West, Sia Furler, Victor Mensah, Magnus August Høiberg, Alan Stanley Soucy Brinsmead, Noah Goldstein, Elon Rutberg, Cydel Young, Ryan McDermott, Mike Dean, Caroline Shaw, and Pat Reynolds
"Nothing Even Matters"
Kevin RossCo-writer/Featured artistKevin Ross
"Will You Fight"2017La'Porsha RenaeAlready All ReadyCo-writerLa'Porsha Renae, Edgar "Johnny Velvet" Etienne, and Harmony Samuels
"Tell Me You Love Me"Demi LovatoTell Me You Love MeAjay Bhattacharyya and John Hill
"Twice"2018Christina AguileraLiberationWriter/Producer
"Accelerate"
Co-writerChristina Aguilera, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Che Pope, Ernest Brown, Carlton Davis Mays, Jr., Bibi Bourelly, Ilsey Juber, Tayla Parx, Tyrone Griffin, Jr., Tauheed Epps, and Ronald Brown
"Thank You"
Black ThoughtStreams of Thought, Vol. 1Co-writer/Featured artistTariq Trotter and Patrick Douthit
"Don't Walk Away"2020John LegendBigger LoveCo-writerJohn Stephens, Stephen McGregor, and Mikyala Simpson

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.okayplayer.com/originals/top-new-neo-soul-r-and-b-singers.html Profile
  2. Web site: February 4, 2020. KIRBY Wants Her Music to Taste Like Mac and Cheese. September 5, 2020. Interview Magazine. en-US.
  3. Web site: G. G. M. Staff. September 18, 2017. ASCAP'S 9th Annual "Women Behind The Music" Honors Singer-Songwriter Kirby Lauryen, Pulse Music Group VP Of A&R Ashley Calhoun And Epic Records' Senior Director Of A&R Ericka Coulter. September 5, 2020. Guitar Girl Magazine. en-US.
  4. Web site: Kirby Lauryen Gives Back to STAX Music Academy. September 5, 2020. localmemphis.com. September 29, 2017. en-US.
  5. Web site: Mowatt. Robyn. February 5, 2020. Tennessee-Bred Singer KIRBY Unveils Funk-Filled Debut Album, 'Sis.'. September 5, 2020. Okayplayer. en-US.
  6. Web site: Alumna Kirby Lauryen Cowrites Kayne West, Paul McCartney's 'Only One' Berklee College of Music. September 5, 2020. berklee.edu. en.
  7. Web site: Bhanot. Ankita. July 28, 2020. Feature: KIRBY Makes Soul Music to Heal Herself. January 27, 2021. Atwood Magazine. en-US.
  8. Vasishta. Jeff. June 23, 2020. In Quarantine, Pop Music's Quiet Topliners Are Gaining More Power. September 5, 2020. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  9. Web site: Jennifer Lopez Previews New Album During Intimate Malibu Lunch Hollywood Reporter. September 5, 2020. www.hollywoodreporter.com. April 25, 2014.
  10. Web site: Savage. Niara. June 18, 2020. How Social Media Users Forced Quaker to Retire Its Racist Aunt Jemima Brand. September 5, 2020. Atlanta Black Star. en-US.