biographical info
In the last 5 years, Kia Kadiri has become a West Coast phenomenon. Drawing on hip hop, jazz, funk and soul to create a sound that is truly universal, she has emerged as a stand out artist from a scene that has produced some of this country’s most exciting urban artists.
Born to a Nigerian father and Irish mother in Liverpool, UK, she spent her formative years in Victoria, BC where she got involved with musical theatre and became active in many community and youth outreach programs. Once out of High School, she was soon established on the local music scene - cutting her teeth at local MC battles with urban contemporaries like Prevail and Moka Only, while holding down various weekly club nights with her live bands D.I.G.G. and Stirfry.
In 2001 Kadiri relocated to Vancouver were she was instantly in demand as a live performer, recording artist and conscious member of the urban community performing regularly at benefits like Sistahood and Rock for Choice.
Now after almost a decade of turning heads, Kia has released her debut full length recording “Feel This”, on Maximum/Universal. Kia’s eclectic vision really shines through on Feel This and the 16 track epic is a powerful document that is deep in both musicality and lyrical consciousness. Produced by Joby Baker (with co producer Scott Sanft), it features everything from anti war outcries to infectious power-to-the-people rave-ups.