No Hiding from Kiesza

Pop’s newest queen talks gay roots, how Babs taught her to sing, and her hit song ‘Hideaway’

Chris Azzopardi

Even before making the streets of New York City her own private dance floor for “Hideaway,” Kiesza was courting the queers. The lead single off the 25-year-old’s major-label debut, “Sound of a Woman,” has certainly boosted her appeal within the community, but the LGBT community and this former sniper-in-training for the Canadian Army actually go way back.

On her way to the airport, Kiesza called to chat about pretend-marrying her gay best friend, how Barbra Streisand taught her to sing, and her request for the drag queens.

Have you been feeling the LGBT love yet?

I’ve been feeling it before any other love actually. Even before “Hideaway,” when I was doing other projects, the LGBT community was always the community that supported me as a brand new artist. I always felt supported by them before anyone else, so it’s a really special community to me.

When did you know the LGBT community was in love with you?

I would actually meet the people who were coming to my shows and it showed me who my audience was, and I had a very strong gay following, which is amazing. They’re so enthusiastic, and they come dressed in clothes that emulate my own style.

You know you’ve made it when guys are doing you in drag.

(Laughs) Yeah, I saw some people doing “Hideaway” in drag, which is amazing. I wanna go to a drag show and see someone performing “Hideaway” live!

Because of your mom, you grew up on big voices like Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and then later Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. How did listening to them affect your vocal technique?

Without realizing it, I learned a lot about my voice by singing along with them. I didn’t actually learn to sing the way I sing now until I started going to music college and really finding my voice as a songwriter, but I was always singing along (to them) growing up and I definitely developed my voice that way.

“Hideaway” is obviously influenced by ’90s music; how about the rest of “Sound of a Woman”?

Very influenced. Once I wrote “Hideaway,” I had this vision of the whole album being reminiscent of this era. I love the early ’90s, and not just the dance music. I like the R&B. I love all the ballads. I love the hip-hop. I just wanted to pay homage to an era I love so much, but also take it and make it current. That was the idea — to have that nostalgia in the music, but also have it be very fresh and new at the same time.

Speaking of the ’90s: ’NSync or Backstreet Boys?

I was a Backstreet Boys girl.

Britney or Christina?

Christina.

Whitney or Mariah?

Whitney. I mean, Mariah’s an amazing singer, but I was definitely more blown away by Whitney.

“Full House” or “Saved by the Bell”?

That’s a hard one! I feel like I was a bit more of a “Full House” kid. Actually, I was very much a “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” kid. I was all about that show.

Destiny’s Child or TLC?

Let’s go with TLC. I listened to Destiny’s Child a lot, but TLC had a lot of fashion influence on me.

Growing up, who were some of your favorite Canadian musicians?

I was a big fan of David Foster growing up because I was really into songwriting. I actually was more focused on songwriting first, and I was really inspired by his writing on all of those Toni Braxton songs. Vocally, Celine, and you know also who I really loved growing up? Sarah McLachlan.

You’ve written some songs for Kylie Minogue and Rihanna, for whom you penned a yet-to-be-released tune that’s said to have a very particular message. What would that message be?

I don’t wanna give away the song, but it reflects the way people look at the world and the way that people mirror themselves off of other people and live through other people’s eyes.

Check out Kieza’s “Sound of a Woman” online at kiesza.com.