Keiyaa
{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = KeiyaA
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| birth_name = Chakeiya Camille Richmond
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1992|7|28}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| genre = Neo soul{{cite web | url=https://www.okayplayer.com/originals/top-new-neo-soul-r-and-b-singers.html | title=Neo-Soul 2020: 23 Contemporary Artists Pushing the Sound Forward - Okayplayer }}
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, record producer
| instrument = Vocals, alto sax
| years_active = 2015–present
| label = Forever Recordings
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}}
Chakeiya Camille Richmond (born 28 July 1992), known professionally as Keiyaa (stylized as KeiyaA), is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a record producer. She independently released her debut album Forever, Ya Girl in 2020.{{Cite web|last=Gaillot|first=Ann-Derrick|date=2021-01-26|title=Cover story: KeiyaA – The artist is here for her things|url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/profiles/keiyaa/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Crack Magazine}}
Early life and education
Chakeiya Camille Richmond was born and raised in Chicago on the city's south side.{{Cite web|last=Blacksher|first=Devine|date=2020-12-11|title=The R&B Singer Who Makes Her Own Beats|url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/12/they-seem-cool-r-and-b-artist-keiyaa.html|access-date=2021-02-12|website=The Cut|language=en-us}} During childhood she sang in the Chicago Children's Choir until switching to the alto saxophone in seventh grade.{{Cite web|date=2015-02-24|title=Download the debut EP by jazz saxophonist turned R&B singer Keiya|url=https://www.factmag.com/2015/02/24/listen-to-the-stunning-debut-ep-by-jazz-saxophonist-turned-rb-singer-keiya/|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Fact Magazine|language=en-US}} She cited soul artists including Chaka Khan, Patrice Rushen, jazz musicians like John Coltrane and Miles Davis and R&B groups such as SWV as early musical influences. She also finds inspiration in goth and post-punk/alternative rock artists like Nirvana and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Richmond attended University of Illinois at Chicago and Columbia College to study jazz and play alto sax before leaving due to disillusionment with the program's hierarchical nature, as well difficulty balancing school with working full-time.{{Cite web|last=Jagota|first=Vrinda|title=KeiyaA's Divine Soul|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/rising/keiyaa-forever-ya-girl-interview/|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Pitchfork|date=28 July 2020 |language=en-us}} Shortly after she decided to pursue music professionally.{{Cite web|last=Nostro|first=Lauren|date=|title=Premiere: KEIYA Shares the Video for "Work"|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2015/05/keiya-new-video-premiere-work|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Complex|language=en}}
Career
While still playing and performing on alto sax, she collaborated with Chicago musicians including Noname and Vic Mensa.{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/5-great-albums-from-2020-you-may-have-missed/|website=brooklynvegan.com|title=5 great albums from 2020 you may have missed|date=2020-07-21|accessdate=2021-02-12}} She decided to switch her focus to solo work producing and singing R&B and electronic music. Performing under the name Keiya, she released her debut EP, WORK, in July 2015.{{Cite web|last=Cliff|first=Aimee|date=|title=KEIYA Is Unapologetically "Fly"|url=https://www.thefader.com/2015/07/15/keiya-fly|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-12|website=The FADER|language=en}} It was described as "emotional, sleepy, and yet strikingly optimistic" by These Days magazine.{{Cite web|title=Keiya • "Simple" & "Rite 1"|url=https://thesedaysmag.com/releases/2015/12/17/keiya-simple-rite-1|access-date=2021-02-12|website=These Days|date=8 May 2020 |language=en-US}} Shortly after its release she moved to New York.{{Cite web|last=DJBooth|date=2020-04-30|title=Chicago R&B Singer KeiyaA Has Come for Her Things: Interview|url=https://medium.com/@DJBooth/chicago-r-b-singer-keiyaa-has-come-for-her-things-interview-5240979bccbd|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Medium|language=en}} She added an additional "A" to her name (KeiyaA) in order to differentiate herself from other performers on streaming sites.
KeiyaA's debut album Forever, Ya Girl was released in March 2020 and self-produced under her personal label Forever Recordings. It was reviewed by Olivia Ovendon for KEXP as featuring "powerful mantra-esque lyrics, and woozy, heady, immersive beats in captivating fashion." Esquire described the sound as "downcast grime and smooth R&B."{{Cite web|last=Ovenden|first=Olivia|date=2020-12-11|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2020|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a30427570/best-albums-2020/|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Esquire|language=en-GB}} Pitchfork writer Clare Lobenfeld rated the album an 8.2/10 and praised its "resolute realness that can only happen outside the major label gaze."{{Cite web|last=Lobenfeld|first=Clare|date=2020-04-22|title=KeiyaA: Forever, Ya Girl|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/keiyaa-forever-ya-girl/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Pitchfork|language=en}} Forever, Ya Girl was named to Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian
She performed an NPR Tiny Desk concert at her home on February 11, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Madden|first=Sidney|date=2021-02-11|title=KeiyaA: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/11/966328581/keiyaa-tiny-desk-home-concert|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-12|website=NPR.org|language=en}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.instagram.com/keiyaa Keiyaa] on Instagram
- [https://www.discogs.com/artist/7487216-KeiyaA Keiyaa] on Discogs
Category:African-American women singer-songwriters
Category:American women singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:American rhythm and blues singers
Category:American electronic musicians
Category:American jazz saxophonists
Category:21st-century African-American women singers
Category:American record producers