My Garden

At the age of 18, after saving money from jobs as a waitress, Dahlia decided to leave Miami and moved to New York City a month later, "on a whim."{{cite web|title=Kat Dahlia Interview With Vibe TV|url=http://videos.huffingtonpost.com/healthy-living/kat-dahlia-interview-with-vibetv-517653837|work=March 13, 2013|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=14 March 2013|archive-date=15 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315172039/http://videos.huffingtonpost.com/healthy-living/kat-dahlia-interview-with-vibetv-517653837|url-status=dead}} Shortly thereafter, Dahlia became involved in what she describes as a "toxic relationship," which she would later come to regard as a source of inspiration and "writer's gold."{{cite web|last=Gonzales|first=Nicole|title=New Artist Kat Dahlia|url=http://www.latinrecap.com/2013/02/28/new-artist-kat-dahlia|work=Latin Recap|date=February 28, 2013|accessdate=14 March 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323012958/http://www.latinrecap.com/2013/02/28/new-artist-kat-dahlia/|archivedate=23 March 2013}} After self-financing an extended play (EP) and a music video, Dahlia was discovered by Vested in Culture (VIC) Vice President of A&R, Amanda Berkowitz. Berkowitz quickly brought Dahlia to the attention of veteran record executive Sylvia Rhone.{{cite web|title=Kat Dahlia's Gangsta Video|url=http://music.broadwayworld.com/article/KAT-DAHLIA-Releases-Video-For-Single-Gangsta-20130305|work=Broadway World|date=March 5, 2013|accessdate=14 March 2013}} In 2012, describing Dahlia as "more than just a pop artist," Sylvia Rhone signed Dahlia to her newly launched label, VIC, a joint venture with Epic Records. Dahlia's debut album is set be VIC's inaugural release.{{cite magazine|last=Mitchell|first=Gail|title=Sylvia Rhone Talks Vested In Culture|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1537975/exclusive-sylvia-rhone-talks-new-label-vested-in-culture|magazine=Billboard|date=February 5, 2013|accessdate=14 March 2013}}{{cite web|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1701143/kat-dahlia-gangsta-follow-up.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202074020/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1701143/kat-dahlia-gangsta-follow-up.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2013|title=Kat Dahlia Is Prepping 'Swaggy' Follow-Up To 'Gangsta'|publisher=MTV|date=January 31, 2013|accessdate=March 3, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Sylvia Rhone Announces Joint Venture|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sylvia-rhone-announces-joint-venture-416843|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 30, 2013|accessdate=14 March 2013}}

In April 2013, it was announced Kat Dahlia was scheduled to collaborate with English music producer Naughty Boy, for her upcoming debut album, My Garden.{{cite web |url=http://hamadamania.com/2013/04/10/kat-dahlia-to-work-with-shahid-naughty-boy-khan-for-debut-album/ |title=Kat Dahlia to work with Shahid "Naughty Boy" Khan for debut album {{!}} Hamada Mania Music Blog |website=hamadamania.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129054141/http://hamadamania.com/2013/04/10/kat-dahlia-to-work-with-shahid-naughty-boy-khan-for-debut-album/ |archive-date=2014-11-29}} In July 2013, Dahlia revealed she was working with fellow American rapper and singer-songwriter Missy Elliott, on her debut album My Garden.{{cite web|title=Kat Dahlia works with Missy Elliot for debut album 'My Garden'|url=http://hamadamania.com/2013/07/19/kat-dahlia-works-with-missy-elliot-for-debut-album-my-garden/|publisher=hamadamania.com|date=19 July 2013|accessdate=13 March 2014|archive-date=14 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314060435/http://hamadamania.com/2013/07/19/kat-dahlia-works-with-missy-elliot-for-debut-album-my-garden/|url-status=dead}} In addition to Elliott, Dahlia revealed further collaborations with American record producers Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, Salaam Remi and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.

During a May 2013 interview with Interview magazine, Dahlia expressed wanting to work with Detroit-based rapper Eminem, Fugees singer Lauryn Hill and American pop singer Madonna.{{cite web|last=Holmlund|first=Marcus|title=Exclusive Song Premiere and Interview: 'Fireman,' Kat Dahlia|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/exclusive-song-premiere-and-interview-fireman-kat-dahlia#_|work=Interview Magazine|date=20 May 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} In a May 2013 interview with Fuse, Dahlia spoke on her collaborations with Timbaland, Snoop Dogg and Meleni "Polly A." Smith, the latter of which contributed to Dahlia's song "Money Party".{{cite web|last=James|first=Nicole|title=Miami Rapper Kat Dahlia Chats Working With Snoop Lion and Timbaland|url=http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/05/kat-dahlia-snoop-lion-timbaland-interview|publisher=Fuse.tv|date=21 May 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}}

In a June 2013 interview, Dahlia revealed she co-wrote song with some friends, such as Tawanna "Frankie Storm" Dabney, who wrote "Don't Stop the Music" for Barbadian singer Rihanna.{{cite web|last=Pajer|first=Nicole|title=Q&A with Rising Latin Star Kat Dahlia|url=http://www.lol-la.com/qa-with-rising-latin-star-kat-dahlia/|work=Living Out Loud LA|publisher=lol-la.com|date=25 June 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} During the same interview, when asked about her dream collaborations, Dahlia stated: "I'd love to work with B.B. King. I would love to work with Robert Plant and Kendrick Lamar who is a great writer. Eminem is an amazing writer, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande, I like writers. I like people that have a message in their music. Damian Marley,..". In July 2013, Vested in Culture founder Sylvia Rhone, announced via her official Twitter account that Dahlia had entered recording sessions with Timbaland and Missy Elliott. Rhone spoke highly of the sessions, adding that it "felt like good 'ol days" and cited it as "magic".{{cite web|title=Twitter / IamSylviaRhone: In with @KatDahlia and the ...|url=https://twitter.com/IamSylviaRhone/status/358243456432353281|publisher=Twitter|date=19 July 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}}

In May 2013, Dahlia stated that she wanted to release the " Synematic " –produced "Fireman", as a follow-up to her debut single, "Gangsta".{{cite web|title=New Music: Kat Dahlia - 'Fireman'|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/05/20/new-music-kat-dahlia-fireman/|work=Rap-Up|publisher=Rap-Up.com|date=20 May 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} On July 25, 2013, Kat Dahlia performed an acoustic version of her song "Mirrors", for Perez Hilton's Perez TV.{{cite web |url=http://perezhilton.com/2013-07-25-exclusive-kat-dahlia-mirror-performance-video-watch-here#.VGxszcnF9pM |title=EXCLUSIVE! Kat Dahlia Tones Things Down For An Acoustic Mirror Performance! {{!}} PerezHilton.com |website=perezhilton.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728080508/http://perezhilton.com/2013-07-25-exclusive-kat-dahlia-mirror-performance-video-watch-here |archive-date=2013-07-28}} On August 8, 2013, a song titled "Clocks". was released by Epic subsidiary label Vested in Culture, exclusively via VEVO.{{cite web|title=Kat Dahlia - Clocks (Audio)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBml2xDDADU|work=VEVO|publisher=YouTube|date=8 October 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} The following month, Dahlia performed a live acoustic rendition of "Clocks", as part of Billboard's Tastemaker Sessions.{{cite magazine|title=Kat Dahlia - "Clocks" LIVE Billboard Tastemakers Performance|url=http://www.billboard.com/video/kat-dahlia-clocks-live-billboard-tastemakers-performance-5740676|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Billboard|date=3 October 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} On August 22, 2013, an album teaser of My Garden, was released.{{cite web|title=Kat Dahlia - My Garden Album Teaser|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a18cX4gIn4M|work=VEVO|publisher=YouTube|date=22 August 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}}

In September 2013, Dahlia announced she would be releasing an extended play (EP) titled Seeds.{{cite web|last=Breezy|first=Elle|title=Kat Dahlia Readies New 'Seeds' EP, East Coast Tour (Tracklist & Dates)|url=http://singersroom.com/content/2013-09-20/Kat-Dahlia-Readies-New-Seeds-EP-East-Coast-Tour-Tracklist-Dates/|publisher=Singersroom.com|date=20 September 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} In support of Seeds, Dahlia set out on a nine-date concert tour along the east coast. Beginning on October 8, in New York City, at Webster Hall and end on October 20, at Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. On November 21, 2013, Dahlia released the EP for free via digital download.{{cite web|url=http://www.epicrecords.com/news/kat-dahlia-release-5-song-ep-seeds|title=Kat Dahlia To Release 5 Song EP "Seeds"|publisher=Epic.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060407/http://www.epicrecords.com/news/kat-dahlia-release-5-song-ep-seeds|archivedate=2013-09-21}} The project includes six songs, including "Happy and I Know It" and "The High", which Dahlia released music videos for.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/11/21/new-mixtape-kat-dahlia-seeds/|title = New Mixtape: Kat Dahlia – 'Seeds'}}

The album was at one point scheduled to be released in February 2014, and more recently moved to September 2014 by Epic Records.{{cite magazine|title=10 New Artists You Need to Know: June 2014|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-june-2014-20140619/kat-dahlia-0284530|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=18 June 2014|accessdate=2 July 2014}} On October 25, 2014, it was revealed the album would finally be released on January 13, 2015.{{cite web |url=https://heartbeatmusik.wordpress.com/tag/kat-dahlia-my-garden-release-date-january-13/ |title=Kat Dahlia "My Garden" | Release date: January 13 | ☆ HeartBeatMusik (♥BMK) |accessdate=2014-11-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222053335/https://heartbeatmusik.wordpress.com/tag/kat-dahlia-my-garden-release-date-january-13/ |archivedate=2014-12-22 }} On November 19, 2014, Vested in Culture released "Money Party", featuring Polly A., as a single via iTunes.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/money-party-feat-polly-a/943257292|title=Money Party (Feat. Polly a.) - Single by Kat Dahlia|website=iTunes|date=19 November 2014}}

On December 13, 2012, Sylvia Rhone, founder of Vested in Culture (VIC), premiered a song titled "Gangsta", by her newly signed artist, Kat Dahlia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/12/13/new-music-kat-dahlia-gangsta/|title = New Music: Kat Dahlia – 'Gangsta'}} On March 1, 2013, "Gangsta" was officially released via digital distribution, by Vested in Culture and Epic Records, as Dahlia's commercial debut single. The digital download also featured the songs "Mirror" and "Money Party", the latter of which features fellow American singer, Polly A.{{cite web|title=iTunes - Music - Gangsta - Single by Kat Dahlia|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gangsta-single/id607242787|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420101602/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gangsta-single/id607242787|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2013|work=iTunes|publisher=Apple.com|date=1 March 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} The music video for "Gangsta", directed by Samantha Lecca, was released on March 5.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/03/05/video-kat-dahlia-gangsta/|title = Video: Kat Dahlia – 'Gangsta'}}{{cite web|title=Kat Dahlia - Gangsta|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trtdEg34eII|work=VEVO|publisher=YouTube|date=5 March 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} In May 2013, Dahlia released a Spanish-language version of "Gangsta".{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/gangsta-en-espanol-single/647386394|title = Gangsta en Español - Single by Kat Dahlia|website = iTunes|date = 14 May 2013}}

On December 17, 2013, Dahlia released the album's second single, titled "Crazy", on her official website.{{cite web|title=New Music: Kat Dahlia - 'Crazy'|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/12/17/new-music-kat-dahlia-crazy/|work=Rap-Up|publisher=Rap-Up.com|date=17 December 2013|accessdate=15 March 2014}} On February 20, 2014, Dahlia premiered the music video for "Crazy", during an appearance on BET's 106 & Park.{{cite web|title=Tune In: Kat Dahlia on 106 & Park Tomorrow|url=http://www.epicrecords.com/news/tune-kat-dahlia-106-park-today|work=The Official Epic Records Site|publisher=EpicRecords.com|date=19 February 2014|accessdate=15 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315231609/http://www.epicrecords.com/news/tune-kat-dahlia-106-park-today|archive-date=15 March 2014|url-status=dead}} On July 28, 2014, Vested in Culture released a remix of "Crazy", featuring new production and vocals from Puerto Rican reggaeton producer and singer, Jose "Gocho" Torres.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/crazy-remix-feat-gocho-single/903445182|title = Crazy (Remix) [feat. Gocho] - Single by Kat Dahlia|website = iTunes|date = 28 July 2014}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211210/URqsEsdNWLA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150607230733/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URqsEsdNWLA Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URqsEsdNWLA&list=UU61hM6HVvVf12lUkJ0qu0Pg| title = Kat Dahlia - Crazy (Remix) (Audio) ft. Gocho | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-garden-mw0002794715|title=My Garden - Kat Dahlia - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic|author=Kellman, Andy|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|accessdate=2 February 2015}}

|rev2 = Billboard

|rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6443436/kat-dahlia-my-garden-album-review|title=Album Review: Singer-Rapper Kat Dahlia's Debut 'My Garden' Transcends Sum of Her Disparate Influences|magazine=Billboard|date=January 15, 2015|accessdate=January 27, 2015|author=Garvey, Meaghan}}

|rev3 = Exclaim!

|rev3score = 5/10{{cite magazine | url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/kat_dahlia-my_garden | title=Kat Dahlia - My Garden | magazine=Exclaim! | date=January 13, 2015 | accessdate=January 19, 2015 | author=Patrick, Ryan B.}}

}}

My Garden received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 63, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on four reviews.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/my-garden/kat-dahlia|title=Reviews for My Garden by Kat Dahlia - Metacritic|publisher=Metacritic.com|accessdate=2 February 2015}} Andy Kellman of Allmusic wrote, "'Gangsta,' a tough ballad about self-reliance with a twist on 50 Cent's "Wanksta," was released in early 2013 as her debut single and topped out at number 40 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart. It made for an ideal introduction to her as an autonomous individual and throaty vocalist, but her progress stalled. Two years of delays preceded the release of her first album. Regardless of the time taken for preparation, My Garden is an assertive, fully formed debut." Writing for Exclaim!, Ryan B. Patrick described Dahlia's sound as "a bit dated" and the release "a tad obligatory" after the delay, further explaining that "though the album aims high, it runs out of steam landing in the realm of just okay." Meaghan Garvey of Billboard, gave the album three out of five stars, saying "she sings, writes and raps; she has a bit of Rihanna's swagger and the gravelly vocals of 1990s grunge. If that sounds like a lot to balance, well, sometimes it is. But if nothing else, on Dahlia's debut, My Garden, she transcends the sum of her seemingly disparate influences, proving herself to be a relatively distinct artist, even if her risks don't always pay off." Judy Cantor-Navas of Billboard praised the song "Tumbao", which adopts the chorus of Celia Cruz's "La Negra Tiene Tumbao".{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin-notas/6443672/kat-dahlia-channels-celia-cruz-flys-cuban-flag-on-tumbao|title = Kat Dahlia Channels Celia Cruz, Flys Cuban Flag on 'Tumbao'|magazine = Billboard}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = My Garden

| writer1 = {{flat list|

• Katriana Huguet
• Justin Anthony DeSantis

}}

| extra1 = J. Dens

| length1 = 3:57

| title2 = Gangsta

| writer2 = {{flat list|

• Huguet
• DeSantis

}}

| extra2 = J. Dens

| length2 = 4:05

| title3 = Crazy

| note3 =

| writer3 = {{flat list|

• Kirby Dockery
• Glass John

}}

| extra3 = Glass John

| length3 = 3:31

| title4 = Saturday Sunday

| note4 =

| writer4 = {{flat list|

• Huguet
• Tawanna "Frankie Storm" Dabney
• Andrew "Broadway" Williams
• Curtis Troy Austin

}}

| extra4 = Young Boyz

| length4 = 3:20

| title5 = I Think I'm In Love

| note5 =

| writer5 = {{flat list|

• Jon Levine
• Huguet
• DeSantis

}}

| extra5 = Levine

| length5 = 3:22

| title6 = Tumbao

| writer6 = {{flat list|

• Huguet
• Adeniyi Adelekan
• Heny Puro
• Jon Redwine

}}

| extra6 = Redwine

| length6 = 3:50

| title7 = Mirror

| writer7 = {{flat list|

• Huguet
• Meleni Smith
• Dabney
• Williams
• Jared Blake Scharff
• Danny King

}}

| extra7 = {{flatlist|

• Williams
• Scharff

}}

| length7 = 4:17

| title8 = Lava

| writer8 = {{flat list|

• Salaam Remi
• Bilal
• Huguet
• Smith

}}

| extra8 = Salaam Remi

| length8 = 4:13

| title9 = Walk on Water

| writer9 = {{flat list|

• Huguet
• Dabney
• Hans Zimmer

}}

| extra9 = Manny Marroquin

| length9 = 5:29

| title10 = Clocks

| note10 =

| writer10 = {{flat list|

• Remi
• Huguet
• Smith

}}

| extra10 = Salaam Remi

| length10 = 3:04

| title11 = Just Another Dude

| note11 =

| writer11 = {{flat list|

• Huguet
• Javier Garcia
• Dave Julca
• Johnny Julca

}}

| extra11 = Julca Brothers

| length11 = 3:36

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Best Buy bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title12 = Pleasin

| note12 =

| writer12 = {{flat list|

• Huguet
• Smith
• DeSantis

}}

| extra12 = J. Dens

| length12 = 3:38

}}

Credits for My Garden adapted from Allmusic.{{cite AV media notes |title=My Garden |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-garden-mw0002794715/credits |publisher=Epic Records}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Adeniyi Adelekan - composer
• Will Anspach - engineer
• Curtis "Barbosa" Austin - composer, programming
• Warren Babson - engineer
• Amanda Berkowitz - A&R
• Danny King - composer, producer, programming, keyboards
• Bilal - composer, vocals (background)
• Anita Marisa Boriboon - art direction, design
• Delbert Bowers - assistant
• Matthew Vine Burke - executive producer
• Maddox Chhim - assistant
• Stephen Coleman - string arrangements
• Gonzalo Contreras - engineer
• Kat Dahlia - primary artist
• Anthony Daniel - engineer, mixing
• Justin Anthony Desantis - composer
• Gleyder "Gee" Disla - engineer, mixing
• Kirby Dockery - composer
• Chris Galland - assistant
• Javier Garcia - composer
• Chris Gehringer - mastering
• Sergio George - composer
• Glass John - composer, keyboards, producer, programming
• Dalia Glickman - A&R
• Nicole Guzman - composer
• Kuk Harrell - vocal producer
• Katriana Sandra Huguet - composer
• Jaycen Joshua - mixing
• The Julca Brothers - arranger, bass, engineer, guitar (electric), organ, producer, programming
• David Julca - composer, guitar

{{col-2}}

• Johnny Julca - composer, mixing
• Ryan Kaul - assistant
• Daniel Iyere - composer
• Michael Klein - A&R
• Dave Kutch - mastering
• Jon Levine - bass, composer, drums, engineer, piano, producer, programming, synthesizer
• Manny Marroquin - mixing, producer
• Orchestra Bratislava - orchestra
• Fernando Osorio - composer
• Jermaine Pegues - A&R
• Heny Puro - composer
• Kevin Randolph - piano
• Rankin - photography
• Redwine - producer
• Jean-Robert Redwine - composer
• Salaam Remi - arranger, bass, composer, drums, keyboards, producer
• Jared Scharff - composer, producer
• Scott "A-Trak" - engineer
• Asdru Sierra - orchestral arrangements, string arrangements
• Meleni Smith - composer, vocals (background)
• Frankie Storm - composer
• Synematik - vocal producer
• Andrew "Broadway" Williams - producer, programming
• Andrew A. Williams - composer
• Steve Wyreman - guitar
• Young Boyz - producer
• Mansur Zafr - drum programming

{{col-end}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.katdahlia.com Official Kat Dahlia Website]

{{Authority control}}

Category:2015 debut albums

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Salaam Remi

Category:Hip-hop albums by American artists

Category:Southern hip-hop albums

Category:Contemporary R&B albums by American artists