Kiesza

Kiesa Rae Ellestad, professionally known as Kiesza, was born on January 16, 1989, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her early life included diverse experiences such as sailing instruction and service in the Royal Canadian Navy reserves as a Naval Communicator. During her time in the Navy, she taught herself to play guitar. Kiesza also trained in jazz and tap dancing with the Young Canadians and studied ballet before a knee injury at age 15 shifted her focus to music. The divorce of her parents when she was 18 inspired her to write her first song. She gained early recognition when a song she wrote was played on the radio the same year. Kiesza studied keyboard, voice, and guitar at Selkirk College, graduating in 2009, and later received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston. She moved to New York City in 2010 to pursue her music career, evolving from a folk singer to an artist known for an uptempo sound.

In 2012, Kiesza released “Oops,” a disco-infused pop track that she described as a joke. Her career saw a significant turning point in February 2014 with the release of “Hideaway.” The music video, noted for its single long take of Kiesza dancing through Brooklyn, premiered on BBC Radio 1’s “Mac’s Special Delivery” segment and subsequently reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. She followed this success with a cover of Haddaway’s “What Is Love,” which involved a slowed-down version and an accompanying video to convey raw emotion. Her second single, “Giant in My Heart,” debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart. Her debut album, “Sound of a Woman,” was released in 2014.

Kiesza has collaborated with various artists and producers, including Skrillex and Diplo (as Jack Ü) on “Take Ü There,” and co-wrote “Go All Night” for Gorgon City, featuring Jennifer Hudson. She also appeared on Duran Duran’s album “Paper Gods” in 2015 and worked with Loreen. Her songwriting credits include contributions to artists such as Rihanna, Kylie Minogue, and Icona Pop. In 2017, Kiesza released the single “Dearly Beloved,” inspired by the passing of her friend Alicia Lemke. Later that year, she was involved in a car accident in Toronto, resulting in a traumatic brain injury that led to a two-year hiatus. She returned to performing in 2019 with the single “Sweet Love” and released her second studio album, “Crave,” in 2020. In May 2024, she released the EP “Dancing and Crying: Vol. 1.”