Talent, perseverance and congeniality are critical to the success of any aspiring pop artist. It is not merely enough to be able to sing. An artist must have an unrivaled skill to compete with others in her field, the passion to win and keep going in the face of adversity and a personality filled with warmth that universally appeals to music fans. Kiley Dean, undeniably beholds all that and more. Kiley, a beautiful statuesque blond pop singing dynamo. Her voice, melodic and soulful, transmits impressively and powerfully. On one of her new singles titled “Who I Am,” from her upcoming as-yet-untitled CD, Kiley breathes life into the musical story of an adoring lover’s dedication. The depth and range of her vocal abilities are undeniable as she croons with the fortitude of a seasoned singer. And yet, she’s so young. Similarly, Kiley’s vocals stand out, amongst pungent guitar riffs and drum beats, on the superbly instrumentally arranged songs “Dangerous” and “Changes.” It is truly the conviction in Kiley’s voice that adds the necessary spice to complete such a flavorful production. On “Like That” Kiley further displays her range, singing the ballad with a breathy and sensual ease that commands a vibe of relaxation and elevation in the first twenty seconds of the track. However, it’s the recently recorded “Convince Me,” that Kiley holds very dear to her heart. “The hook is ‘convince me I’m not being ignored and why won’t they let me in?’ It’s about this past seven years of my life. It’s meaningful and most important, it’s true,” Kiley says with her charismatic southern drawl. “This song is my story.” A small town girl with a big city vibe, Kiley’s story begins in Alma, Arkansas, a town with a population of 4000. She and her family resided there until she was eight years old. They then moved to the place where many of today’s great pop stars are bred — Orlando, Florida. From an early age, Kiley displayed a talent for performing. “I have tapes of me at two singing ‘Tomorrow,’ from Annie. My parents used to say, ‘you would do the beats and the music breaks with your mouth,’ and that’s how they knew it was more than child’s play,” says Kiley. From singing around that house to performing in church and at community functions, Kiley began to make a name for herself.
In 1999, with a limited number of local gigs under her belt, Kiley was hired to sing background on then new pop phenom Britney Spears’ Hit Me Baby One More Time tour in support of the multi-platinum smash hit record “Baby One More Time.” Even Kiley was shocked at the turn of events. “It was my first professional gig ever. I sang at a wedding but that’s nothing. I just believe that if you have it in your blood it’s just meant to be.” She was just 17 years old when she began touring with Britney. For a year and half she went from city to city, learning the ins and outs of touring. “I know what to expect when I go on my own tour,” Kiley says of the experience. “Being so young, I was able to take everything in and store it.”
Kiley also appeared on the MTV Awards and the Grammy Award show in 2000. That same year she began working on her demo. Shortly after it was completed, Kiley met and instantly signed with famed beat maestro Timbaland and his Beat Club/Interscope record label and commenced working on her debut CD Simple Girl. However, despite the imminent success, due to the always prevalent label restructuring and Kiley realizing she needed a different type of machine behind her, she decided to pursue other opportunities. Here is where many aspiring artists might have given up, but not Kiley. For almost two years, she was determined, working on her sound, her image, and her performance. “I started recording again, finding my direction and doing shows in L.A.,” Kiley recollects of the years 2004-2006. Kiley was able to build a fan base and steadily perform, all the while, finding radio play of her various earlier works. With the proper direction, Kiley has started on a new success-guaranteed path, recording her as yet-untitled debut CD. “I know now, exactly what I need to do with this chance and that’s go for it.” With such pertinent skill, undying commitment, and a bubbly personality, Kiley Dean is finally right where she should be – on the cusp of worldwide triumph.
|
