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In the last 5 years, Kia Kadiri has become a west coast phenomenon. Drawing on hip hop, jazz, funk and soul to create a sound that is truly universal, she has emerged as a stand out artist from a scene that has produced some of this country's most exciting urban artists.
Born to a Nigerian father and Irish mother in Liverpool, UK, she spent her formative years in Victoria, BC where she got involved with musical theatre and became active in many community and youth outreach programs. Once out of High School, she was soon established on the local music scene - cutting her teeth at local MC battles with urban contemporaries like Prevail and Moka Only, while holding down various weekly club nights with her live bands D.I.G.G. and Stirfry. At the same time she was mentoring under some of Victoria's best jazz musicians and winning jazz camp scholarships to the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and John Capon's renowned Summer Jazz Academy at Malaspina College in Nanaimo.
In 2001 Kadiri relocated to Vancouver were she was instantly in demand as a live performer, recording artist and conscious member of the urban community performing regularly at benefits like Sistahood and Rock for Choice. Her credits are as wide ranging as her skills and interests: she was a featured vocalist on last year's Battleaxe Records release from LA underground hero Abstract Rude; she's recorded with indie queen Kinnie Starr and features prominently in her recent video Nearer; her duet with Prevail on the track Cabin Fever was released on Lester's debut on Nettwerk Records; and she has done voice-over work for Xbox, the Ham Terro cartoon and several Vancouver area radio commercials.
Now after almost a decade of turning heads, Kia has completed her debut full length recording Feel This, due for release April 20th on Maximum/Universal. Kia's eclectic vision really shines through on Feel This and the 16 track epic is a powerful document that is deep in both musicality and lyrical consciousness. Produced by Joby Baker (with co producer Scott Sanft), it features everything from anti war outcries to infectious power-to-the-people rave-ups. The recording was created using an up-to-date blend of world class musicianship from players like Sean Drabbitt (Delfeayo Marsalis), Brad Turner (Metalwood), Adonis Puentes, Rob Hamilton, Coco Love Alcorn and Tim Proznick, combined with the chunky underground beat production of Metty The Dirt Mechant (Sweatshop Union), Vudu (In Tha Chamber) and Brian Carson & Vinyl Richie (Lestor). The disc also features guest appearances by some of the west coast's most promising underground MCs, renowned UK beat boxer Killa Kella and Malcolm Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show fame, who recites a speech by Martin Luther King.
In the last decade hip hop has emerged as the worldwide voice of a new generation and a mode of artistic expression that knows no bounds. Kia Kadiri has the artistic depth, vocal skills, dynamic stage presence and universal message to become a shining new beacon for that movement and the release of Feel This marks a bold step into the spotlight for an artist who's time has come. |
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