In the ever-evolving music landscape, few artists embody reinvention and fearless creativity as vibrantly as KIARAA. From her late start at 32 to becoming a critically acclaimed artist with over 2 million streams, her journey is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. With the electrifying release of Robert Parker’s remix of her gripping pop anthem Feel With Me, KIARAA continues to push boundaries, blending cinematic 80s nostalgia with raw emotion. In this exclusive interview, she opens up about her musical journey, artistic vision, and what’s next for her in 2024.
Hi KIARAA, welcome to NewsBlackbird and thanks for joining us! How does it feel to release the electrifying Robert Parker remix of ‘Feel With Me,’ and what inspired the collaboration with such a renowned producer?
It feels like setting a firework to the sky and watching it explode into a thousand colourful sparks, thrilling, visceral, and alive. The remix breathes this cinematic 80s energy into ‘Feel With Me,’ a song to me that already pulses with heart and desire. Robert Parker is a wizard of sound, his work feels like stepping into a neon-lit dream. Collaborating with him was like painting a canvas with electrified brushstrokes. He’s amazing and so easy to work with. I wanted the song to have a new life, a heartbeat that could take listeners into a bold, nostalgic reverie, and Robert brought that vision to life in ways that feel impossibly perfect.
Your journey into music at 32 is inspiring. Can you share what sparked this bold leap into the music scene and how you’ve crafted your unique sound so quickly?
It was as if a flame was burning in my chest, whispering, Why not now? I’d carried stories in my soul for years, and at 32, I stopped waiting for permission. Learning music wasn’t just about melodies or lyrics, it was about taking something that felt impossible and making it possible. It was about reaching for that wild, out-of-reach goal that scared me and doing it anyway. Every note I learned, every lyric I wrote, became a testament to what’s possible when you believe in yourself.
More than anything, I wanted to inspire and motivate women to colour outside the lines, to embrace the messy beauty of chasing their dreams, no matter how far away they seem. I want every woman to live a life that feels bold, fearless, and full of purpose, a life where she knows she can. Yes, it’s hard. You’ll fall, you’ll fail, but falling while reaching for your dreams is far more alive than standing still. My sound is the chaos and courage of that journey, raw and vibrant, a reminder to every woman: it’s never too late to start living fully.
‘Feel With Me’ is a gripping pop anthem, now reimagined with an 80s cinematic vibe. How do you feel Robert Parker’s remix complements or transforms the emotional core of the original track?
The original is like the raw nerve of falling into someone’s arms; it’s bare, unfiltered emotion and it grooves. Robert’s remix adds this luminous, dreamlike aura to it. It’s as if the song has stepped into a hazy midnight cityscape, lit by neon lights and drenched in electric rain. The remix transforms it into something that feels untouchable yet deeply intimate, like a memory you’re aching to relive. It’s bold, sexy, and cinematic, capturing a different dimension of the emotional core while still holding onto its heartbeat.
Your style has been compared to artists like Gwen Stefani and Olivia Rodrigo, blending pop-rock energy with raw storytelling. How do you approach balancing vulnerability with high-energy performance in your music?
To me, vulnerability in music is power. It’s standing on a stage and ripping your heart out for everyone to see, but doing it with glitter on your cheeks and fire in your eyes. I want my music to make people feel like they’ve been punched in the chest but can’t stop dancing. That’s the balance, pairing unfiltered truth with an unapologetic energy that makes you want to move, cry, and scream all at once. It’s the rush of being alive, messy and magnificent, and I try to channel that in every beat, every lyric, every performance.
Fashion plays a huge role in creating a persona for artists. How does your style reflect your music and personality, especially in your music videos and live performances?
Fashion is my love letter to my music. It’s how I show the world who I am before they hear a single note. My style is colourful, daring, unapologetic, a mix of retro-glam and edgy modernity. Think sparkly jumpsuits, leather boots, and pops of neon that scream, Look at me! My music videos are like living art galleries, where every outfit tells a story, everycolour adds a layer to the sound. On stage, my fashion becomes armour, turning vulnerability into strength. It’s all part of the same wild, vivid story I’m telling through my music and my life.
Your journey from a self-taught musician to a critically acclaimed artist with over 2 million streams is extraordinary. What advice would you give to someone starting their creative journey later in life?
Start messy, start scared, just start. It’s never too late to claim your dream, to rewrite your story, to step into who you’re meant to be. I was terrified when I began, I still am sometimes, but fear is just the price of admission for something extraordinary. Let yourself fail, because failure is where the magic starts. And don’t try to fit into someone else’s mould, break it, reshape it, make it yours. You’re never too old, too late, or too anything to set the world on fire with your passion.
With this remix release and a growing fanbase, what’s next for KIARAA in 2024? Can fans expect more collaborations or perhaps new directions in your music?
2024 feels like the start of a wild new chapter. I’ve been diving headfirst into collaborations that push me out of my comfort zone, exploring new sounds that are sexier, grittier, and more unfiltered than ever. There’s new music on the horizon, tracks that will make you feel like you’re dancing through a fever dream, heart pounding, soul alive. And, of course, I’m dreaming up more visuals that feel like stepping into another world. Expect the unexpected, because I’m throwing everything I’ve got into making this next year unforgettable.
You can follow KIARAA on website itskiaraamusic.com, Facebook, Soundcloud, TikTok, Youtube @itskiaraamusic, Instagram @itskiaraamusic and Spotify
