Pennsylvania-based singer/songwriter Kiana Corley has swiftly paved her way through the music scene with her raw lyrical storytelling & soothingly heartfelt vocals.
Kiana recently released the passionately intimate single “Lukewarm” & has kindly taken the time to speak with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution about her latest musical piece, along with getting to know more about the artist behind the music.
Hey Kiana, thank you for this interview. Can you start by telling the readers a little bit about yourself?
Kiana: Hi! My name is Kiana and I was raised in Lancaster, PA! I graduated from college in 2019 with a degree in music. Some of my all-time favourite artists are Corinne Bailey Rae, H.E.R., Stevie Wonder, SZA, Anderson. Paak, Lianne LaHavas, Ari Lennox, and others. When I’m not writing or performing, I teach voice and make lattes!
When did you first discover your passion for music?
Kiana: I’ve been surrounded by music ever since I was born – my mom is a professional pianist and everyone in my family plays an instrument – so I think it was just something I grew into rather than something I discovered! Like as I grew as a person, so did my passion for music.
When is the first time you can recall performing in front of a live audience?
Kiana: The first time I sang in front of people was when I was about 9! It was during a summer camp talent show and the song was “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys. I sat on the edge of the stage and looked down into the microphone the entire time. People were still so supportive, even though I was the mousiest thing.
Have you always known that you wanted to pursue a career within the music industry?
Kiana: Honestly, yeah. I’ve known ever since I was really really young, I just didn’t have the confidence to fully pursue it until I was about 16, and even then I had a long way to go with the drive I really needed to go for the things I wanted!
How would you describe your musical style to someone unfamiliar with your music?
Kiana: I usually describe it as soulful pop/folk! People usually raise their eyebrows or give blank looks when I say that, so then I usually just say that I’m heavily influenced by artists like Corinne Bailey Rae.
You recently released the official video for “Lukewarm”. How did the idea for this song come together?
Kiana: The song itself is about a love that hasn’t grown cold, but isn’t on fire anymore. I wanted to portray that in a story of two people whose relationship has grown inwardly and outwardly stale. My friends and I came up with the idea of showing a couple who’s just going through the motions, and with each day beginning, things get harder and harder to endure.
How would you compare the creative process behind this single to your previous releases?
Kiana: This single process actually happened relatively easily! I was sitting down with a cup of coffee that had gotten weirdly lukewarm, and that’s when the first line just popped into my head – “our love is like lukewarm coffee in the morning.” From there, I just started writing lines that catered to that analogy, and that’s how the song was created! I made the demo with my guitar and sent it to my friends to record the drum, bass, and guitar parts. I recorded the vocals in my one friend’s home studio!
What does this song personally mean to you?
Kiana: This song is really special to me because it’s the only song I have that talks about this subject matter. It also was one of the easiest songs for me to write, and the process of recording it was so special because it involved all of my super talented friends. While I didn’t write it about a specific situation that happened to me, the thought of it hopefully being relatable to other people makes it that much more special to me too.
If listeners could take one thing away from this song, what would you like it to be?
Kiana: I want them to feel like they relate to this very real moment in a relationship, and I want them to feel a sense of comfort from the story painted in this song. I hope it makes people who feel stuck in these relationships feel less alone.
What are some of the things you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Kiana: In my spare time I like going on runs and doing yoga! I also like hiking and going on random drives.
If you could perform a duet with anyone in the world, who would you choose & why?
Kiana: Oh goodness there are so many!! I think right now I would pick SZA because she seems like such an ethereal and beautiful human being and she’s one of my favourite artists. I also think our voices could blend well together, but I feel like I would just be mostly letting her sing while I listen if this were to ever happen.
What song do you always keep on your playlist?
Kiana: There are a lot of these too! One that immediately comes to mind is a song called ‘Why iii Love the Moon’ by Phony Ppl. It just gives off such happy vibes and makes me want to drive somewhere random under a clear night sky. I usually put it on my playlists because once it comes on, I’m a drastically happier person.
What three words best describe you?
Kiana: I would say optimistic, loyal, and determined!
If you could offer advice to someone looking to pursue a career within the music industry, what would you say?
Kiana: This is super corny, but I would say to believe in yourself and your art first and foremost! If you try to go into the industry and you haven’t accomplished that first thing yet, everyone you try to connect with will be able to tell and they’ll be less likely to move you forward or more likely to take advantage of you. You’ll also be able to handle rejection and setbacks way more easily once you build up your confidence as well!
Finally, is there a message that you would like to share with the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Kiana: Firstly, I wanted to thank you so much for reading if you’ve made it this far! I also wanted to say that, while the pandemic still rages on and things are still a little bit crazy, don’t forget to take time for yourself to reset and recharge whenever you need it!! Also, if you wanted to follow me on Instagram (@kianacorleymusic), that would make me really happy & we could talk and be friends!!
You can check out the official video for “Lukewarm” below or stream by clicking here.
Kiana Corley: Facebook / Instagram.
Fierce & Fabulous Revolution 