Kylee Saunders (born 25 May 1994), sometimes known mononymously as Kylee, is an American singer who is signed with Sony Music Japan's DefStar Records label.
Early life and career
Kylee Saunders was born in Chandler, Arizona, to a Japanese mother and British American father. Her father inspired her to become a singer. She has a younger sister and a younger brother. When she was eleven years old, she passed an audition to perform the national anthem at the opening of an NBA game, earning a standing ovation.2004 Portland Trail Blazers game. This performance earned her the interest of music producers, and she was signed onto the independent label RX-Records. Saunders attended Stoller Middle School in Portland, Oregon, until 2007, when she returned to Arizona. She then attended Hamilton High School and in 2016 graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree.
On October 17, 2008, her first single, "Vacancy", was released by RX-Records in the United States as a digital single. "Vacancy" was featured as the ending theme to the Sony Computer Entertainment anime series Xam'd: Lost Memories. On March 24, 2010, Saunders released her first major-label single under Sony Music Japan's label DefStar Records, titled , which was featured as the theme song to the 2010 film Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, a Japan-America co-production in which she also gave a cameo performance. Her second major-label single, "Missing/It's You", was slated for release on July 7, 2010, with "Missing" being the second opening theme song to the Bones and Stan Lee anime Heroman. She also performed as one of the opening acts for the 2010 Summer Sonic Festival, playing on the Urban/Dance Stage. This was followed by her single "Everlasting", which was used as the theme song for the second episode of the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn OVA series. Saunders appeared on NBC's Today in the United States on May 13, 2011, where she was interviewed by Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, before she performed her fourth major single "Never Give Up". Kylee performed at Otakon 2011 on July 31, 2011, in Baltimore, Maryland, her US concert debut. Her fifth major single, "Crazy for You", was released on October 5, 2011; the song was used in Japanese online clothing retailer Nissen's 2011 fall collection television commercial. Saunders released her debut album, 17, on November 23, 2011. She also did a duet with Sam Tsui in May 2013. She was married August 2017.
Discography
The RX-Records era (2008–2009)
Single Release Date Title Notes EPYearMonth/Day2008December 3"Vacancy" The ending theme to the anime Xam'd: Lost Memories B-sides: "Justice", "Plan B" Available for download on USA iTunesKylee meets Xam'd: Lost Memories (DefStar Records)
EP Release Date Title NotesYearMonth/Day2009March 4Love Kicks... Includes "You Get Me", "Empty Handed" and more
The DefStar Records era (2009–)
Singles Release Date Title Notes AlbumYearMonth/Day2010March 24"Kimi ga Iru Kara" (キミがいるから) Theme song to the film Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac B-sides: "On My Own", "She Wishes"17July 7"Missing / It's You" "Missing" is the 2nd opening theme to the anime television series Heroman the coupling track "Just Go"October 27"Everlasting" Theme to the second episode of the anime Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn B-side: "The Luckiest Girl in the World" All tracks are available as downloads on USA iTunes.2011July 13"Never Give Up"October 5"Crazy for You"500,000 downloads2012June 13"Mirai" (未来) Theme song to the film B-side: "Feel"2013February 13"Daisukinanoni" (大好きなのに) Second opening theme to the anime television series Blast of Tempest B-side: "Anywhere" (closing credits song for J-Melo, Oct–Dec 2012)
Digital singles Release Date Title Notes AlbumYearMonth/Day2013May 8"Just Give Me a Reason" Cover of a song by Pink featuring Fun's lead singer, Nate Ruess Available for download on iTunes Stores all over the world With YouTube stars Sam Tsui and Kurt Hugo Schneider Released as Sam Tsui feat. Kylee under mudhutdigital.comJuly 1"Crazy for You" (English version) With two English cover anime songs (Naruto and Rurouni Kenshin) Available on iTunes Stores & Amazon in 20 countries, but not in JapanAugust 7 Japan-only release With two English covers and one new heavy rock song, "Don't Say Goodbye"October 7"Wrecking Ball" Miley Cyrus cover Available for download on iTunes Stores all over the world With YouTube stars Sam Tsui and Kurt Hugo Schneider Released as Sam Tsui feat. Kylee under mudhutdigital.com
EPs Release Date Title NotesYearMonth/Day2009July 29Kylee meets Xam'd: Lost Memories Includes "Vacancy", "Just Breathe" and "Over U" All songs are the ending themes to the anime Xam'd: Lost Memories The EP was recorded in only two months
Studio albums Release Date Title NotesYearMonth/Day2011November 23 (Japan)17Including "Unnoticed", "Yours Truly", "Brand New Wave" (feat. Orianthi) and more2013July 1 (20 other countries)
Album appearances Release Date Song Album NotesYearMonth/Day2012October 24"My Generation" (Yui cover)She Loves You (A Tribute to Yui)a new recording2013March 27"Never Give Up"女子力を磨く歌 (Girl Power Songs) (avex trax)Taken from 17August 28"One"Ivory7 Chord's second mini album, Synesthesia (magnifique)only co-writing lyrics
Live performances
2009 Hurley NIGHTS Vol. 0 Summer Sonic Festival
2010 Girl Pop Factory Summer Sonic Festival
2011 NBC's TODAY show Otakon Minami Wheel Girls Award by CROOZ blog 2011 Autumn/Winter FIFA Club World Cup
2012 Otodama Sea Studio (Japan) MTV ZUSHI FES 12 supported by RIVIERA (Japan) J-POP Summit Festival (USA) Inazuma Rock Fes (Japan)
2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival (USA) Japan Day @ Central Park (USA) Japan Expo (France) J-POP Summit Festival (USA)
2014 Playlist Live (USA) J-POP Summit Festival (USA)
Covers on YouTube Kylee started a covers project on YouTube. Release Date Song Original Artists NotesYearMonth/Day2013May 15"Just Give Me a Reason"Pink featuring Fun's lead singer Nate Ruesswith Sam Tsui and Kurt SchneiderAugust 26"Come & Get It"Selena Gomezvideo director: Jerry CorriaOctober 5"Clarity"Zedd featuring Foxes video director: Daisuke Okamoto producer: Troy LauretaOctober 6"Wrecking Ball"Miley Cyrus with Sam Tsui and Kurt SchneiderNovember 28"Young and Beautiful" remixLana Del Rey video director: Ryusuke Okajima producer & remix: Wiley Webb vocal producer: Troy Laureta remix & additional production: Thor Laewe2014January 11"Story of My Life" / "Best Song Ever" mashupOne Direction video director: Tadashi Tawarayama cover producer: Merchants Of Venice Entertainment (M.O.V.E) January 23"Mirrors" / "Stay" / "Holy Grail" mashupJustin Timberlake / Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko / Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake director/editor: Ross Ching music producer: PJ Bianco February 4"Let It Go" from Disney's film FrozenIdina Menzel / Demi Lovato video: Richard Frias song producer: Troy Laureta acoustic guitar: John NottFebruary 10 Valentine's Day Love Medley! (27 songs in 3 mins)
Ne-Yo - "Let Me Love You" Justin Bieber - "As Long As You Love Me" Calvin Harris - "I Need Your Love" Rihanna - "We Found Love" Drake - "Find Your Love" Justin Bieber - "Somebody to Love" Leona Lewis - "Bleeding Love" Sara Bareilles - "Love Song" Selena Gomez & the Scene - "Love You Like A Love Song" Taylor Swift - "Love Story" Haddaway - "What Is Love" Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" Maroon 5 - "She Will Be Loved" Maroon 5 - "Love Somebody" The Beatles - "All You Need is Love" Usher - "DJ's Got Us Falling In Love" Elvis Presley – "Can't Help Falling In Love" Kesha - "Your Love Is My Drug" Cher - "Believe" Foreigner - "I Want To Know What Love Is" Lady Gaga - "LoveGame" Plain White T's - "Rhythm of Love" Dolly Parton - "I Will Always Love You" The Shirelles - "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" Rihanna - "I Love The Way You Lie" Elton John - "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" Icona Pop - "I Love It"Ne-Yo / Justin Bieber / Calvin Harris / Rihanna / Taylor Swift and morewith Chester See and Kurt Schneider
Management Kylee is managed in the US and Japan by Antinos Management America.
References
External links
by DefStar Records by RX-Records