Kiara Saulters (born May 24, 1995), known professionally as Kiiara, is an American singer-songwriter from Wilmington, Illinois. She is currently signed to Atlantic Records. Her 2015 single "Gold" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She is also known for contributing vocals to Linkin Park's 2017 single "Heavy".
Early life Kiiara was born on May 24, 1995, in Wilmington, Illinois. She attended Wilmington High School where she played for the school's volleyball team. While recording her breakout EP, she also worked as a hardware store clerk. She started a studio internship to help familiarize herself with the music process and get practice recording.
Career In 2013, Kiiara independently released an acoustic pop single called "Bring Me Back" under her real name.
In June 2015, after signing a deal to Atlantic Records and changing to her stage name from Kiara Saulters to Kiiara, she released her debut single "Gold". Later that year, "Gold" was chosen as background music of a 15-second Apple Watch commercial titled "Style". The song was her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 13. Her debut extended play (EP), Low Kii Savage was released on March 22, 2016. The video for "Gold" quickly gained popularity, reaching five million views during mid-May 2016.
On September 15, 2016, Kiiara made her television debut, performing "Gold" on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Kiiara was featured on Linkin Park's single, "Heavy", which was released digitally on February 16, 2017 and on radio on February 21. She later performed "Heavy" with Julia Michaels at the Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington concert at the Hollywood Bowl which was held after the death of Linkin Park's vocalist Chester Bennington.Top 5 Moments at Linkin Park & Friends Concert Celebrating Chester Bennington's Life & Legacy. Billboard. Author - Denise Quan. Published October 28, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
In March 2018, she was featured on the Cheat Codes single "Put Me Back Together".
On June 7, 2019, she released the single "Open My Mouth". Kiiara stated that it would serve as the lead single from her debut studio album, along with another single "Bipolar", released on September 6, 2019. However, both were cut from the final track listing, although the first one featured on a deluxe edition of the record.
On October 9, 2020, she released her debut studio album Lil Kiiwi, which includes her previously released singles "Gold", "Feels", and "Whippin" featuring Felix Snow, as well as new singles "I Still Do", "Never Let You", and "Numb" featuring DeathbyRomy and Pvris. A deluxe edition of her album was later released, which included two songs "Intention" and "Tennessee" taken from her debut extended play, Low Kii Savage, as well as two previous non-album singles, "Messy" and "Open My Mouth".
Influences Kiiara has cited Eminem, Rihanna, Joyner Lucas, Yelawolf, and Linkin Park as her influences.Conan Geisler Eigenmann Eminem, Yelawolf, Linkin Park influenced me: 'Gold' singer Kiiara. Yibada. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
Discography
Studio albums Title Details Certifications Lil KiiwiReleased: October 9, 2020 Label: Atlantic Formats: Digital download, streaming MC: Gold RIAA: Gold
Extended plays Title Details Peak chart positions US USHeat. AUS Low Kii SavageReleased: March 22, 2016 Label: Atlantic Formats: Digital download, vinyl 41 13 46
Singles As lead artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US AUS BEL(FL) CAN DEN ITA NLD NZ SWE UK "Bring Me Back" 2013 — — — — — — — — — — "Gold" 2015 13 5 15 20 12 53 56 22 29 48 RIAA: 3× Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum BEA: Platinum BPI: Platinum IFPI DEN: Gold FIMI: Platinum MC: 4× Platinum RMNZ: Platinum Low Kii Savage and Lil Kiiwi "Feels" 2016 — — — — — — — — — — RIAA: Gold MC: Gold "Hang Up tha Phone" — — — — — — — — — —Low Kii Savage "Dopemang"(featuring Ashley All Day) — — — — — — — — — — "Whippin"(featuring Felix Snow) 2017 — — — 94 — — 113 — — — MC: Gold Lil Kiiwi "Wishlist" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="1" "Messy" 2018 — — — — — — — — — — Lil Kiiwi "Gloe" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="1" "Diamonds"(with Jauz) — — — — — — — — — — The Wise and the Wicked "1%" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="4" "L*** Is a Bad Word" — — — — — — — — — — "I Don't Wanna Be Friends" — — — — — — — — — — "How Can You Love Me" — — — — — — — — — — "Open My Mouth" 2019 — — — — — — — — — — Lil Kiiwi "Bipolar" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="1" "I Still Do" 2020 — — — — — — — — — — Lil Kiiwi "Never Let You" — — — — — — — — — — "Numb" — — — — — — — — — — "So Sick" — — — — — — — — — —"Happy Hour" 2021 — — — — — — — — — — Expensive Sounds for Nice People"Used to Be" — — — — — — — — — —rowspan="11" "King" — — — — — — — — — —"Closer" 2022 — — — — — — — — — —"Miss Me" — — — — — — — — — —"Microdose" — — — — — — — — — —"Hangover" 2023 — — — — — — — — — —"Cum in Peace" — — — — — — — — — —"Speed" — — — — — — — — — —"Whoops" — — — — — — — — — —"This Time" 2025 — — — — — — — — — —"Love & Drugs" — — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US AUS AUT BEL(FL) BEL(WA) CAN IRE ITA SWI UK "Heavy"(Linkin Park featuring Kiiara) 2017 45 33 9 — — 46 88 78 8 43 RIAA: 2× Platinum ARIA: Gold BPI: Silver BVMI: Gold FIMI: Gold IFPI SWI: Gold One More Light "Complicated"(Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and David Guetta featuring Kiiara) — — 51 4 6 — — — 37 — BEA: Platinum rowspan="2" "Cross My Mind Pt. 2"(A R I Z O N A featuring Kiiara) — — — — — — — — — — "Darkside"(Ty Dolla $ign & Future featuring Kiiara) — — — — — — — — — — Bright: The Album "Put Me Back Together"(Cheat Codes featuring Kiiara) 2018 — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="5" "Be Somebody" (Steve Aoki and Nicky Romero featuring Kiiara) — — — — — — — — — — "You're Not Alone"(Don Diablo featuring Kiiara)2019 — — — — — — — — — — "Obsessed"(Ashley All Day featuring Kiiara) — — — — — — — — — — "Lonely Baby" (Hyphen Hyphen featuring Kiiara) — — — — — — — — — — "Back to You" (Ekali featuring Kiiara) — — — — — — — — — — A World Away "Never Felt Like This"(Devault featuring Kiiara)2021 — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="1" "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Guest appearances +List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album nameTitleYearOther artist(s)Album"Chit Chat"2018AlmaHeavy Rules Mixtape"Makin Money"Lil AaronRock$tar Famou$"In the Stars" 2019One OK RockEye of the Storm"Ain't About You"2021WonhoLove Synonym Pt.2: Right for Us
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