Kiria (musician)
Encyclopedia
Kiria is a British
singer, songwriter
and guitarist
, born and currently based in London
Her debut album Radio was released in October 2010, by independent record label Koochie Coo Records.
, with the singer citing original British punk groups, such as the Sex Pistols
and The Clash
as key inspirations. This combination of influences has led some critics to associate her music with the pop punk
genre
, however Kiria has made efforts to distance herself from the label, telling EGL Magazine she resents associations to "bad, cheap, manufactured record 'industry' style 'punk' pop". Instead she has adopted the tag 'Pink Punk', a phrase initially used by veteran Ritz
journalist Frances Lynn
to describe her music.
Other critics have commented that Radio is too diverse in its musical influences to be easily categorized, with particular reference being made to reggae
track And Another Thing - and notably more aggressive, overtly punk-influenced closing track Live Sex On Stage, on which Kiria duets with actor and comedian Paul Kaye
. Kiria and Kaye have also appeared onstage together in Kaye's Mike Strutter Group
, and at media events such as 2008's Loaded
LAFTA Awards.
. Performances are often theatrical, with the band sometimes appearing in fancy dress and frequently being joined by Kiria's mascot 'Jelly Baby', seen in the video for her single of the same name. Kiria has played at a diverse range of events, from the annual Warborough
festival to the opening of LGBT
art exhibition Loudest Whispers.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, born and currently based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Her debut album Radio was released in October 2010, by independent record label Koochie Coo Records.
Musical style
Kiria plays melodic guitar pop incorporating elements of punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, with the singer citing original British punk groups, such as the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
as key inspirations. This combination of influences has led some critics to associate her music with the pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
genre
, however Kiria has made efforts to distance herself from the label, telling EGL Magazine she resents associations to "bad, cheap, manufactured record 'industry' style 'punk' pop". Instead she has adopted the tag 'Pink Punk', a phrase initially used by veteran Ritz
Ritz Newspaper
Ritz Newspaper, colloquially Ritz Magazine, sometimes simply Ritz, was a British magazine focusing on gossip, celebrity and fashion. It was launched in 1976 by David Bailey and David Litchfield, who acted as co-editors. Published on newsprint and described by Litchfield as "the Lou Reed of...
journalist Frances Lynn
Frances Lynn
-Biography:Lynn was born in St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington in London, and was educated at Malvern Girls' College.In 1977, Lynn started her journalistic career when she became the film editor and gossip columnist for the now defunct Ritz Newspaper, published by David Bailey. Interview subjects...
to describe her music.
Other critics have commented that Radio is too diverse in its musical influences to be easily categorized, with particular reference being made to reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
track And Another Thing - and notably more aggressive, overtly punk-influenced closing track Live Sex On Stage, on which Kiria duets with actor and comedian Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye is an English comedian and actor. He achieved notoriety in 1995 portraying the character of Dennis Pennis, a shock interviewer on The Sunday Show...
. Kiria and Kaye have also appeared onstage together in Kaye's Mike Strutter Group
Mike Strutter
Michael 'Mike' Strutter is a fictional character of an MTV show, Strutter. He was created and is played by Paul Kaye, the comedian and actor behind the character Dennis Pennis. The character debuted in segments on Pennis' show, and is even responsible for the death of Pennis...
, and at media events such as 2008's Loaded
Loaded (magazine)
Loaded, first published in 1994, is a British magazine for men that is considered to be the "original lads' mag". Its motto is "For men who should know better".-History:...
LAFTA Awards.
Live shows
At live shows, Kiria is joined by a four-piece backing band, consisting of Evil Eden on bass, Jessie May on violin, Steve Rooney on drums, and on guitar Tony Feedback - formerly of Angelic UpstartsAngelic Upstarts
Angelic Upstarts are an English punk rock/Oi! band formed in South Shields in 1977. The band espoused an anti-fascist and socialist working class philosophy, and have been associated with the skinhead subculture...
. Performances are often theatrical, with the band sometimes appearing in fancy dress and frequently being joined by Kiria's mascot 'Jelly Baby', seen in the video for her single of the same name. Kiria has played at a diverse range of events, from the annual Warborough
Warborough
Warborough is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire, about north of Wallingford and about south of Oxford. The parish also includes the hamlet of Shillingford, south of Warborough beside the River Thames.-History:...
festival to the opening of LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
art exhibition Loudest Whispers.