Kim Dracula
{{Short description|Australian trap metal music artist}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{For|the Deftones song|Saturday Night Wrist}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kim Dracula
| image =Kim Dracula performing at Caesars Windsor, 2024-12-01 07.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Dracula performing in 2024
| birth_name = Samuel Wellings
| birth_place =
| death_place =
| origin = Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| other_names =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- songwriter
- musician
- rapper
}}
| genre =
| years_active = 2020–present
}}
Samuel Wellings, known professionally as Kim Dracula, is an Australian singer, songwriter, musician, and rapper from Hobart, Tasmania whose songs have achieved popularity on TikTok.{{cite magazine |author= |date=3 December 2020 |title=The Top 100 TikTok Creators, Trends And Videos In 2020 |url=https://www.bandt.com.au/the-top-100-tiktok-creators-trends-and-videos-in-2020/ |url-status=live |magazine=B&T Magazine |publisher=The Misfits Media Company Pty Limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118095334/https://www.bandt.com.au/the-top-100-tiktok-creators-trends-and-videos-in-2020/ |archive-date=18 January 2021 |access-date=4 April 2021}} They{{cite news |title=Kim Dracula releases "Make Me Famous" |url=https://frontview-magazine.be/en/news/kim-dracula-releases-make-me-famous |access-date=19 September 2022 |work=FrontView Magazine |date=2 June 2022|quote=Kim Dracula (pronouns: they/them)}} are known both for original work and for metal covers of songs not typically associated with the genre. They became popular on YouTube for their authorial song "Make Me Famous" from their album A Gradual Decline In Morale. Dracula was previously the drummer of multiple bands (including The Dead Maggies, a Tasmanian folk-punk group).{{Cite web |last=Innes |first=Matt |date=2019-02-06 |title=The Dead Maggies Bring Colonial Punk To National Folk Festival |url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/the-dead-maggies-bring-colonial-punk-to-national-folk-festival-20190206 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=scenestr.com.au |language=en-gb}} They were also the vocalist of Australian heavy metal band Jesterpose, which formed in 2017 and released the EP COVID-19 in 2020.
Kim Dracula's name is a reference to the Deftones song "Kimdracula" from their album Saturday Night Wrist.
Musical career
In November 2020, Kim Dracula released on TikTok a metal cover of "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga.{{cite news |author= |date=13 January 2021 |title=Une reprise qui a surpris et séduit |url=https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/top-10-des-morceaux-les-plus-streames-sur-spotify-306510202176 |url-status=live |language=fr |work=20 minutes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113145439/https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/top-10-des-morceaux-les-plus-streames-sur-spotify-306510202176 |archive-date=13 January 2021 |access-date=4 April 2021}} The song was subsequently released to Spotify on 11 December 2020.{{cite news |last=Wihangga |first=Felisitas Dhwani |date=20 January 2021 |title=Lirik Lagu Paparazzi dari Kim Dracula yang Trending di Spotify |url=https://www.kompas.com/hype/read/2021/01/20/104000866/lirik-lagu-paparazzi-dari-kim-dracula-yang-trending-di-spotify |url-status=live |language=id |work=Kompas |location=Jakarta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120093653/https://www.kompas.com/hype/read/2021/01/20/104000866/lirik-lagu-paparazzi-dari-kim-dracula-yang-trending-di-spotify |archive-date=20 January 2021 |access-date=4 April 2021}} Their "Paparazzi" cover acquired viral popularity within months, with six million views on YouTube,{{cite news |last=Kluziewicz |first=Maksymilian |date=14 January 2021 |title=TikTok - stary hit Lady Gagi rządzi w apce! Kto śpiewa metalową wersję Paparazzi? |url=https://www.eska.pl/news/paparazzi-kim-dracula-lady-gaga-tik-tok-piosenki-aa-6CsT-x2Nq-JZ93.html |url-status=live |language=pl |work=Radio Eska |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123120220/https://www.eska.pl/news/paparazzi-kim-dracula-lady-gaga-tik-tok-piosenki-aa-6CsT-x2Nq-JZ93.html |archive-date=23 January 2021 |access-date=4 April 2021}} thirteen million plays on Spotify,{{cite magazine |last=Thomas |first=Jen |date=9 February 2021 |title=10 musical TikTok artists you should be following right now |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/10-musical-tiktok-artists-you-should-be-following-right-now |url-status=live |magazine=Louder Sound |publisher=Future plc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209124318/https://www.loudersound.com/features/10-musical-tiktok-artists-you-should-be-following-right-now |archive-date=9 February 2021 |access-date=4 April 2021}} and use in over 60,000 TikTok clips{{cite magazine |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=5 January 2021 |title=CJ Hits No. 1 on Emerging Artists Chart as 'Whoopty' Reaches the Hot 100's Top 40 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/cj-tops-emerging-artists-chart/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=4 April 2021}} before the end of the year. The runaway success of the song propelled Kim Dracula to fourth-most followed Australian TikTok music artist of 2020, trailing Sia, Iggy Azalea, and Mia Rodriguez.{{cite magazine |author= |date=2 December 2020 |title=The Biggest Aussie Music Acts On TikTok This Year Revealed |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/tiktok-top-australian-music-artists-2020/43b_9_b5-Ps/03-12-20/ |url-status=live |magazine=The Music |publisher=Street Press Australia |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211007153716/https://themusic.com.au/news/tiktok-top-australian-music-artists-2020/43b_9_b5-Ps/03-12-20/ |archive-date=7 October 2021 |access-date=4 April 2021 }}{{cite magazine |last=Eliezer |first=Christie |date=3 December 2020 |title=How the TikTok universe created its own Australian stars in 2020 |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/tiktok-australia-2020-review/ |url-status=live |magazine=The Music Network |publisher=Take 2 Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202214309/https://themusicnetwork.com/tiktok-australia-2020-review/ |archive-date=2 December 2020 |access-date=4 April 2021}}
In January 2021, "Paparazzi" entered Spotify's Global Viral 50 chart, where it reached as high as number 4 on 13 January. The same month, Kim Dracula opened at number 47 on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart, fueled mostly by the success of "Paparazzi" which entered the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart at number 31.
By April 2021, Kim Dracula's "Paparazzi" cover had 13.4 million views on TikTok, 33 million views on YouTube, and 55 million listens on Spotify, while Kim Dracula had ascended to becoming the second most followed Australian TikTok personality, with only Sia having more followers.{{cite news |last=Dale |first=Jessica |date=26 April 2021 |title=Meet The Upcoming Aussie Who Is One Of The Most Followed Artists On TikTok |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/kim-dracula-tiktok-sia-most-followers-australia/CNIQGh0cHx4/26-04-21/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211003203957/https://themusic.com.au/news/kim-dracula-tiktok-sia-most-followers-australia/CNIQGh0cHx4/26-04-21/ |archive-date=3 October 2021 |url-status=live |work=The Music |access-date=3 October 2021 }} Kim Dracula's 2022 singles "Make Me Famous" and "Drown" were reviewed favorably by Rock Sound magazine, the latter track being described as "a barrage of sounds and styles...as weird as it is wonderful."{{cite magazine |last=Rogers |first=Jack |date=23 November 2022 |title=Kim Dracula Releases Chaotic New Track 'Drown' |url=https://rocksound.tv/news/kim-dracula-releases-chaotic-new-track-drown |url-status=live |magazine=Rock Sound |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123220313/https://rocksound.tv/news/kim-dracula-releases-chaotic-new-track-drown |archive-date=23 November 2022 |access-date=1 January 2023}}
On 14 July 2023, Kim Dracula released their debut album A Gradual Decline in Morale, which contains 20 tracks, including four previously released singles.
Kim Dracula plays the role of Luther on the 2024 concept album by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, Warriors. {{Cite web |title=Pre-Order Warriors, The New Concept Album From Lin-Manuel Miranda And Eisa Davis, Based on the Paramount Pictures film The Warriors and the book "The Warriors" by Sol Yurick |url=https://www.warriorsalbum.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007161918/https://www.warriorsalbum.com/ |archive-date=2024-10-07 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Warriors |language=en}}
Personal life
Kim Dracula uses they/them pronouns. In a 2023 interview, Kim Dracula revealed that they have obsessive-compulsive disorder.{{Cite web |last=Madden |first=Emma |date=July 12, 2023 |title=KIM DRACULA: Unmaking A Murderer |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/kim-dracula-unmaking-murderer/ }}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of studio albums, with selected details |
| scope="col" style="width:9.5em;" | Title
! scope="col" style="width:21.5em;" | Album details |
|---|
| scope="row" | A Gradual Decline in Morale
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of singles, with year released and album name shown ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| NZ Hot Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Killdozer"
| rowspan="4"| 2020 | — || — | rowspan="4" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "1-800-CLOSE-UR-EYES"
| — || — |
| scope="row"| "Say Please!"
| — || — |
| scope="row"| "Paparazzi" (Lady Gaga cover)
| 19 || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Paparazzi" did not enter the Billboard 100 but did peak at number 47 on the Emerging Artists Chart and at number 31 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart.}} |
| scope="row"| "Make Me Famous"
| rowspan="2" |2022 | — || — | rowspan="3" | A Gradual Decline In Morale |
| scope="row"| "Drown"
| — || — |
| scope="row"| "Seventy Thorns" {{small|(featuring Jonathan Davis)}} | 2023 | — || — |
| scope="row"| "Hysterics"
| rowspan="2" |2023 | — || — | rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Death Before Designer" {{small|(featuring SosMula)}} | — || — |
| scope="row"| "Land of the Sun"
| rowspan="18" |2023 | — || — | rowspan="18" | A Gradual Decline In Morale |
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ ! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Album |
| scope="row"| "The Bard's Last Note" {{small|(Ricky Desktop featuring Kim Dracula)}} | 2020 | {{N/a|Non-album single}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Vinny Rotten" {{small|(SosMula featuring Kim Dracula)}} | 2021 | 13 Songs 2 Die 2 |
| scope="row"| "Червь / Worm" {{small|(IC3PEAK featuring Kim Dracula)}} | 2022 | {{N/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Artificial Anatomy" {{small|(Left to Suffer featuring Kim Dracula)}} | 2023 | Feral |
| scope="row"| "W H A T (We're Hungry And Thirsty)" {{small|(Tech N9ne featuring HU$H, Kim Dracula)}} |2023 |W H A T (We're Hungry And Thirsty) |
| scope="row"|"Lubricant Like Kerosene" (SeeYouSpaceCowboy... featuring Kim Dracula) |2024 |Coup De Grâce |
==Notes==
{{Notelist-ua}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Award Ceremony !Year !Work !Category !Result |
| rowspan="2" |Berlin Music Video Awards
|2022 |MAKE ME FAMOUS |Most Bizarre |Nominated |
| 2023
|Drown |Best Director |Nominated |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dracula, Kim}}
Category:Musicians from Hobart
Category:Australian LGBTQ singers
Category:Australian LGBTQ songwriters
Category:Australian non-binary musicians
Category:21st-century Australian singers
Category:21st-century Australian LGBTQ people