Kat Dahlia

Katriana Sandra Huguet, known professionally as Kat Dahlia, was born on July 29, 1990, in Miami, Florida. Her early life involved rapping from the age of eight and writing songs by 15. At 18, she independently relocated to New York City. This personal journey, including a “toxic relationship” she experienced, served as significant creative inspiration for her early work. Her stage name, Kat Dahlia, was suggested by her producer, aiming to reflect both softness and a dark undertone. Her distinctive musical style gained recognition for its ‘razor sharp’ lyrics and ‘unique, aggressive flow’, often blending alternative R&B, Latin pop, and hip-hop elements. She performs and composes in both English and Spanish, highlighting her Cuban and Lebanese heritage. Dahlia cites diverse influences including Christina Aguilera, B. B. King, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra, and Celia Cruz, with a particular emphasis on Bob Marley’s impact on her musical approach.

Dahlia’s career began to solidify after self-financing an extended play (EP) and a music video. She was discovered by Amanda Berkowitz, VP of A&R at Vested in Culture, who introduced her to veteran record executive Sylvia Rhone. In 2012, Rhone signed Dahlia to her newly established label, Vested in Culture (VIC), a joint venture with Epic Records, describing Dahlia as “more than just a pop artist.” Her debut album was initially slated to be VIC’s first release in 2014. Her first single and music video for VIC, “Gangsta”, released in March 2013, received positive critical reception, with MTV noting its “fierce rapping”. The video, filmed in Miami, provided a visual narrative to her early life experiences.

Following her debut, Dahlia continued to build her career. In 2013, she was honored as a BET “Music Matters” artist and ranked number eight on Billboard’s “Next Big Sound” chart. Her debut album, “My Garden,” was released in January 2015 via Vested in Culture and Epic Records, debuting at number 54 on the US Billboard 200 chart and gathering generally favorable reviews. She later released the EP “20s, 50s, 100s” in May 2016 and collaborated with Salaam Remi on the EP “South Beach Social Club” in May 2018. In 2022, Dahlia contributed as a co-writer for Joel DELEŌN’s song “COCO.” Her fourth studio album, “Electrika,” released in April 2025, marks her first entirely Spanish-language project, further embracing her Latin roots and showcasing her artistic evolution.