Kiiara Explained

Kiiara
Birth Name:Kiara Saulters
Birth Date:24 May 1995
Birth Place:Wilmington, Illinois, U.S.
Years Active:2013–present
Instrument:Vocals

Kiara Saulters (born May 24, 1995), known professionally as Kiiara, is an American singer and songwriter from Wilmington, Illinois.[1] [2] She is currently signed to Atlantic Records. Her 2015 single "Gold" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She is also known for contributing vocals to Linkin Park's 2017 single "Heavy".

Early life

Kiiara grew up in Wilmington, Illinois. She attended Wilmington High School where she played for the school's volleyball team.[3] While recording her breakout EP, she also worked as a hardware store clerk. She started a studio internship to help familiarize herself with the music process and get practice recording.[4] [1]

Career

In 2013, Kiiara independently released an acoustic pop single called "Bring Me Back" under her real name.[4] [5]

In June 2015, after signing a deal to Atlantic Records and changing to her stage name from Kiara Saulters to Kiiara, she released her debut single "Gold".[6] Later that year, "Gold" was chosen as background music of a 15-second Apple Watch commercial titled "Style".[7] The song was her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 13. Her debut extended play (EP), Low Kii Savage was released on March 22, 2016.[8] [9] The video for "Gold" quickly gained popularity, reaching five million views during mid-May 2016.

On September 15, 2016, Kiiara made her television debut, performing "Gold" on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.[10] Kiiara was featured on Linkin Park's single, "Heavy", which was released digitally on February 16, 2017 and on radio on February 21.[11] [12] She later performed "Heavy" with Julia Michaels at the concert at the Hollywood Bowl which was held after the death of Linkin Park's vocalist Chester Bennington.[13]

In March 2018, she was featured in Cheat Codes' single "Put Me Back Together".[14]

On June 7, 2019, she released the single "Open My Mouth". Kiiara stated that it would serve as the lead single from her debut studio album,[15] along with another single "Bipolar", released on September 6, 2019.[16] However, both were cut from the final track listing, although the first one featured on a deluxe edition of the record.

On October 9, 2020, she released her debut studio album Lil Kiiwi, which includes her previously released singles "Gold", "Feels", and "Whippin" featuring Felix Snow, as well as new singles "I Still Do", "Never Let You", and "Numb" featuring DeathbyRomy and Pvris.[17] A deluxe edition of her album was later released, which included two songs "Intention" and "Tennessee" taken from her debut extended play, Low Kii Savage, as well as two previous non-album singles, "Messy" and "Open My Mouth".[18]

Influences

Kiiara has cited Eminem, Rihanna, Joyner Lucas, Yelawolf, and Linkin Park as her influences.[19] [20]

Discography

Singles

As lead artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[27]
AUS
BEL
(FL)

[28]
CAN
[29]
DEN
[30]
ITA
[31]
NLD
[32] [33]
NZ
[34]
SWE
[35]
UK
[36]
"Bring Me Back"
2013
"Gold"201513 5 15 20 12 5356 22 29 48 Low Kii Savage and Lil Kiiwi
"Feels"[43] 2016
  • RIAA: Gold
  • MC: Gold
"Hang Up tha Phone"[44] Low Kii Savage
"Dopemang"[45]
(featuring Ashley All Day)
"Whippin"
(featuring Felix Snow)
201794 113
  • MC: Gold
Lil Kiiwi
"Wishlist"[46] rowspan="1"
"Messy"[47] 2018Lil Kiiwi
"Gloe"rowspan="1"
"Diamonds"[48]
(with Jauz)
The Wise and the Wicked
"1%"rowspan="4"
"L*** Is a Bad Word"[49]
"I Don't Wanna Be Friends"
"How Can You Love Me"
"Open My Mouth"[50] 2019Lil Kiiwi
"Bipolar"[51] rowspan="1"
"I Still Do"[52] 2020Lil Kiiwi
"Never Let You"[53]
"Numb"
"So Sick"
"Happy Hour"[54]
2021Expensive Sounds for Nice People
"Used to Be"
rowspan="2"
"King"[55]
"Closer"2022rowspan="7"
"Miss Me"
"Microdose"
"Hangover"2023
"Cum in Peace"
"Speed"
"Whoops"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
AUS
AUT
[56]
BEL
(FL)

BEL
(WA)

[57]
CAN
IRE
ITA
SWI
[58]
UK
"Heavy"
(Linkin Park featuring Kiiara)[59]
201745
[60]
33
[61]
9 46
[62]
88
[63]
78
[64]
8 43 One More Light
"Complicated"
(Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and David Guetta featuring Kiiara)
51 4 6 37 rowspan="2"
"Cross My Mind Pt. 2"
(A R I Z O N A featuring Kiiara)
"Darkside"
(Ty Dolla $ign & Future featuring Kiiara)
"Put Me Back Together"
(Cheat Codes featuring Kiiara)[71]
2018rowspan="5"
"Be Somebody"
(Steve Aoki and Nicky Romero featuring Kiiara)[72]
"You're Not Alone"
(Don Diablo featuring Kiiara)[73]
2019
"Obsessed"
(Ashley All Day featuring Kiiara)
"Lonely Baby"
(Hyphen Hyphen featuring Kiiara)
"Back to You"
(Ekali featuring Kiiara)
A World Away
"Never Felt Like This"
(Devault featuring Kiiara)[74]
2021rowspan="1"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col" style="width:1em;"
YearOther artist(s)Album
"Chit Chat"2018AlmaHeavy Rules Mixtape
"Makin Money"Lil AaronRock$tar Famou$
"In the Stars"2019One OK RockEye of the Storm
"Ain't About You"2021Wonho

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kiiara Won't Stand To Be Treated Anything Less Than 'Gold' - The Fader. Golden. Zara. April 9, 2016. June 17, 2015. The Fader.
  2. Web site: Kiiara Strikes 'Gold' With Debut Single: Listen - Idolator. Williott. Carl. April 9, 2016. June 17, 2015. Idolator. April 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240413231146/https://www.idolator.com/7597156/kiiara-gold-debut. dead.
  3. Web site: High school volleyball: Consistency key for Wilmington. September 21, 2011. Daily Journal.
  4. Web site: About Kiiara. https://web.archive.org/web/20160917044431/http://www.mtv.com/artists/kiiara/biography/. dead. September 17, 2016. MTV Artists. May 10, 2016.
  5. Web site: Kiara Saulters: Bring Me Back - Music on Google Play. October 25, 2013 . Google Play.
  6. Web site: Kiiara: Gold - Music on Google Play. April 9, 2016. October 26, 2015. Google Play.
  7. Web site: Apple iWatch Werbung Commercial TV Spot mixe deinen Stil / mix your style 2015. Louie & Ralph. 16 December 2015. YouTube.
  8. Web site: Kiiara - 'Gold' - Stereogum. Breihan. Tom. April 9, 2016. June 17, 2015. Stereogum.
  9. Web site: iTunes Store (US) - Music - Kiiara - low kii savage - EP. April 9, 2016. March 22, 2016. iTunes Store (US).
  10. Web site: Williot. Carl. Kiiara Almost Redeems Jimmy Fallon's Trump Episode With "Gold" Idolator. Idolator. 16 September 2016. 16 September 2016.
  11. Web site: Linkin Park Premieres The Lyrics To New Single "Heavy" Featuring Kiiara. February 13, 2017. Mench. Chris. Genius. February 13, 2017.
  12. Web site: Linkin Park – Heavy Lyrics. Genius. February 13, 2017.
  13. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8015037/top-5-moments-at-linkin-park-friends-concert-celebrating-chester-bennington-mike-shinoda Top 5 Moments at Linkin Park & Friends Concert Celebrating Chester Bennington's Life & Legacy
  14. Web site: Gore. Sydney. Kiiara & Cheat Codes Celebrate Love In The Club On "Put Me Back Together". MTV News. 6 March 2018. en. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140433/http://trl.mtv.com/news/3067527/kiiara-cheat-codes-put-me-back-together/. dead.
  15. Web site: Behind the Scenes of Kiiara's Song of the Summer. Paper. Michael Love Michael. June 7, 2019. June 20, 2019.
  16. Web site: Kiiara Is Hot & Cold About A Relationship On "Bipolar". Idolator. Mike Nied. September 6, 2019.
  17. Web site: Kiiara Reveals Cover & Release Date Of Debut LP 'lil kiiwi'. Idolator. Wass. Mike. October 1, 2020. October 2, 2020.
  18. Web site: lil kiiwi (Deluxe) by Kiiara. Apple Music. March 30, 2021.
  19. Conan Geisler Eigenmann Eminem, Yelawolf, Linkin Park influenced me: 'Gold' singer Kiiara. Yibada. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  20. Web site: Kiiara / Finding Herself On Her Debut Album 'lil kiiwi'. Flaunt. Shirley Ju. October 19, 2020.
  21. Web site: lil kiiwi by Kiiara. 2020-10-02. Apple Music. en-au.
  22. Web site: Gold/Platinum - Music Canada. Music Canada. November 29, 2016. November 29, 2016.
  23. Web site: Gold & Platinum - RIAA. Recording Industry Association of America. August 10, 2016.
  24. Kiiara - Chart history (Billboard 200). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 12, 2016.
  25. Kiiara – Chart history: Heatseekers Albums . Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . June 7, 2016.
  26. Web site: Kiiara - Discography. April 3, 2016.
  27. Kiiara Chart History (Billboard Hot 100). Billboard. May 11, 2018.
  28. Web site: Discografie Kiiara . Hung Medien . ultratop.be . July 12, 2016 . nl.
  29. Kiiara Chart History (Canadian Hot 100). . May 11, 2018.
  30. Web site: Kiiara - Discography. April 3, 2016.
  31. Web site: Kiiara Discography.
  32. Web site: Steffen Hung . Dutch Charts . Dutchcharts.nl . 2017-06-24 . 2020-04-11.
  33. Web site: Steffen Hung . Kiiara - Gold . Dutchcharts.nl . 2020-04-11.
  34. Web site: Kiiara - Discography. April 3, 2016.
  35. Web site: Sverigetoplistan > Search for Kiiara. June 3, 2016.
  36. Web site: Kiiara . . June 3, 2016.
  37. Web site: ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2016 Singles. ARIA. August 6, 2016.
  38. Belgium . 2016 . July 12, 2016.
  39. United Kingdom. Kiiara . May 29, 2023.
  40. Web site: Kiiara "Gold" . . April 3, 2016 . April 5, 2016 . da.
  41. Web site: Gold & Platinum . Fimi.it .
  42. Web site: Top 40 Singles Chart . . April 29, 2016.
  43. Web site: Feels - Single by Kiiara on iTunes. 15 January 2016 . Apple Inc.. July 13, 2016.
  44. Web site: Kiiara Returns With "Hang Up Tha Phone" & A Video For "Gold". Idolatort. Williott. Carl. March 21, 2016. October 5, 2016.
  45. Web site: dopemang (feat. Ashley All Day) - Single by Kiiara. iTunes. November 4, 2016. May 19, 2017.
  46. Web site: Wishlist. Spotify. October 17, 2017.
  47. Web site: Messy – Single by Kiiara on iTunes. iTunes Store (AU). 11 May 2018 . May 11, 2018.
  48. Web site: Premiere: Jauz Taps Kiiara for Ethereal Track "Diamonds" . Mahadevan . Tara . June 8, 2018 . . June 9, 2018.
  49. Web site: L*** Is a Bad Word. Spotify. October 26, 2018.
  50. Web site: Open My Mouth – Single by Kiiara on iTunes. iTunes Store. June 7, 2019.
  51. Web site: Bipolar – Single by Kiiara. iTunes Store. September 6, 2019.
  52. Web site: I Still Do – Single by Kiiara. Apple Music. July 16, 2020.
  53. Web site: Never Let You - Single by Kiiara on Apple Music. Apple Music. August 21, 2020.
  54. Web site: Happy Hour - Single by Felix Cartal & Kiiara on Apple Music. Apple Music. February 4, 2021.
  55. Web site: Rosa Linn - Armenia Meets America in New Song "KING" With Kiiara. Flaunt. February 27, 2022.
  56. Web site: Discographie Kiiara . Hung Medien . austriancharts.at . March 23, 2019 . de.
  57. Web site: Discographie Kiiara . Hung Medien . ultratop.be . March 23, 2019 . fr.
  58. Web site: Discographie Kiiara . Hung Medien . hitparade.ch . March 23, 2019 . de.
  59. Web site: Amazon.com: One More Light: Linkin Park: MP3 Downloads . . April 10, 2017.
  60. Web site: Linkin Park - Chart history - Billboard. www.billboard.com.
  61. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association. February 27, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  62. Web site: Linkin Park - Chart history - Billboard. www.billboard.com.
  63. Web site: IRMA - Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. February 25, 2017.
  64. Web site: Classifica settimanale WK 8. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. February 25, 2017.
  65. Web site: ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2017 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 6, 2017.
  66. Web site: Certified Awards . . November 22, 2017 . enter "Linkin Park" into the "Keywords" box, then select "Search".
  67. Web site: Gold & Platinum: Linkin Park . . August 29, 2017.
  68. Germany . Linkin Park . September 25, 2017.
  69. Web site: The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Linkin Park) . swisscharts.com . Hung Medien . June 15, 2014.
  70. Belgium. single. 2017. October 4, 2017.
  71. Web site: Gore. Sydney. Kiiara & Cheat Codes Celebrate Love In The Club On "Put Me Back Together". MTV News. 6 March 2018. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140433/http://trl.mtv.com/news/3067527/kiiara-cheat-codes-put-me-back-together/. dead.
  72. Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero & Kiiara Find Synths Empowering On 'Be Somebody': Listen . Bein . Kat . 7 September 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180908121817/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8473989/steve-aoki-nicky-romero-kiiara-be-somebody . 8 September 2018 . 9 September 2018.
  73. Web site: You're Not Alone (feat. Kiiara) - Single by Don Diablo. iTunes. 31 January 2019 . February 4, 2019.
  74. Web site: Never Felt Like This - Single by Devault & Kiiara. Apple Music. September 6, 2021.