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Kerli
Kerli performing "Supergirl" at the 2011 South by Southwest.
Kerli performing "Supergirl" at the 2011 South by Southwest.
Background information
Birth nameKerli Kõiv
GenresPop, alternative rock, electropop, dance-pop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, music producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano
Years active2002–present
LabelsIsland
Websitekerlimusic.com

Kerli Kõiv Template:IPA-et (born February 7, 1987), better known mononymously as Kerli, is an Estonian recording artist.

She was signed to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2006 by LA Reid and in 2008, she released her debut album, Love Is Dead which charted at 126 on the Billboard 200 in July 2008 and at 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart the following month.[1] The album contained the singles "Love Is Dead", "Walking on Air" and "Creepshow", with "Walking on Air" being the most notable. It charted at number seventy-five on the European Hot 100[2] and was featured twice on the United States television dance competition So You Think You Can Dance.

In 2010, she appeared on the Almost Alice album — music inspired by the film Alice in Wonderland — with the song "Tea Party" and the song "Strange" with Tokio Hotel.[3]

The lead promotional single from her second album, "Army of Love", was released for free via download on her official website on December 16, 2010 and the music video was officially released a week later. "Army of Love" peaked at number 1 for the week of May 7, 2011 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[4] It was released for purchase as a single on April 12, 2011[5][6] The album is not expected to be released until early fall of 2011.[7]

Early life

Kerli was born in Tartu County, Estonia in the municipality Elva, with a population of 5,000[8] during the Soviet occupation of Estonia which ended when she was four years old.[9] Her mother was a social worker and her father was an auto mechanic.[10][11] Her parents separated when she was 16.[12] Kerli stated when she wrote "Supergirl", a song about domestic violence from her upcoming album, she "put [herself] in [her] mother's body and said things that [she] wished that [her mother] would've said to her dad when [she] was little".[13] Her younger sister, Eliisa Kõiv[14] is also a musician and competed in season three of Eesti otsib superstaari. Her great-great-grandmother, nicknamed "Beautiful May" for her beauty, was a maid to a duke in Germany, with whom she had a baby.[15]

As a child, she studied ballroom dancing for eight years, practicing five days a week.[16] She was first introduced to music by her kindergarten teacher when she told her mom that Kerli had "nice pitch" and that she was interested in taking her to various singing competitions.[17] At 8 years old, Kerli gained interest in classical music and as there was an absence of music in her early life, she only possessed one cassette by Bonnie Tyler.[8] She was also a big fan of The Spice Girls.[8] She began writing stories, mini books, and poems at the age of 10 to escape from her "abusive" household to an "imaginary world".[18] Despite being discouraged, Kerli dropped out of school at the age of 16 to pursue her musical career.[19]

Career

2002–05: Career beginnings

File:Kerli signing autographs (Orem, Utah, 2008).jpg
Kerli signing copies of her self-titled EP in Orem, Utah in May, 2008.

In 2002, Kerli competed in the singing competition Laulukarussell in the age group category 13–15 and on May 18, won with the song "Bridge over Troubled Water".[20] Also in 2002, she lied about her age to enter the Baltic song contest Fizz Superstar, as the minimum age was fifteen. She ended up winning the contest, gaining a singing contract to Universal Sweden.[21][22] She was later dropped as the person who signed her was fired.[18] Later, the media in Estonia labeled failure as "Kerli Syndrome". Kerli has stated she feels no resentment towards her home country, as she told in a 2008 interview:

No, I don’t feel any resentment. For a while, because I left Estonia and Estonians didn’t hear anything about me so all these Estonian young singers were like… I guess they’re slowly turning around now and understanding that I really was doing something here.[23]

Kerli was later signed to an independent label founded by the person who was previously fired from Universal Sweden but the label went bankrupt.[22] At the age of 16, Kerli moved to Stockholm where she competed in Melodifestivalen in 2003 but was eliminated in the second semifinals.[24] In 2004, she was the runner-up in that year's Eurolaul – a televised competition that determines the song that will represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest – with her song "Beautiful Inside".

While in Stockholm for two years, she worked with numerous producers and due to lack of money as the contracts she had gained previously were unsuccessful, she ate nothing but rice for three months when she lived in an abandoned house during winter and slept on a cot.[24] At the age of 18, she moved to the United States where she continued to perform and write songs, ultimately getting an audition with L.A. Reid, who signed her to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2006.[23]

2006–09: Kerli EP and Love Is Dead

Kerli performing in 2008.

In 2006, Kerli signed a contract with Island Records. Kerli worked with producer, songwriter, and mixer David Maurice on an autobiographical set of songs, the first set of which were released on a self-titled EP in 2007 and her debut album, titled Love Is Dead released on July 8, 2008. The music video for the song "Love Is Dead" was released on February 29, 2008 and the music video for "Walking on Air" premiered on MTV Overdrive on May 20, 2008. Starting in mid-July 2008, "Walking on Air" got minimal rotation on Top 40 stations. "Walking On Air" was also the free "Single of the Week" on iTunes for the week of July 21, 2008.

During the 2008 season finale of So You Think You Can Dance?, Fox used Kerli's video for "Walking on Air" for part of a commercial promoting their new show Fringe. Kerli also performed the song at the 2008 Scream Awards.[25] Kerli's song "Creepshow" was used in the game Burnout Paradise for its in-game soundtrack[26] and by Fox for its promotion of Fringe's April 7, 2009 return.[27]

She was chosen to perform the theme for the 2008 videogame Quantum of Solace, "When Nobody Loves You." She also performs the song "Bulletproof" on the official soundtrack of Punisher: War Zone.

In 2009, Kerli performed at the Estonian music festival Õllesummer in Tallinn.[28] On September 10, 2009 Island Def Jam announced Kerli's iPhone application[29] and the first song, Saima was released the following month.[30] Kerli re-released the single "The Creationist", which is a duet with the Italian songwriter Cesare Cremonini.[31]

Kerli received an European Border Breakers Award for the success of the album Love Is Dead in Estonia.[32]

2010–present: "Tea Party" and upcoming second album

On March 2, 2010, Almost Alice, a compilation album featuring music inspired by Disney's Alice in Wonderland was released. It contains two songs performed by Kerli, "Tea Party" and "Strange", the latter being a collaboration with Tokio Hotel.[3] A remix maxi single of "Tea Party" was released on June 15, 2010.[33] She covered the song "Nature Boy" for a promo for the tenth season of Smallville.[34]

On December 19, 2010, Kerli performed a song in Estonian titled "Sa kuldseks jää" ("Stay Golden") at her Grandparents' art show in Estonia.[35] Kerli has stated that she wishes to officially release the song in Estonia to gain local airplay.[36]

Kerli is currently working on her second studio album. She has stated that she's developing a "new musical style called Bubble Goth" and that the Love Is Dead album was "really moody and dark and introverted, so this album is actually more fun, but it still has that twistedness" and that she's "trying to develop a whole new sound-scape that [she doesn't think she's] heard before". She has also said that it is a "a very strong album" about "overcoming the darkness in [her]..overcoming blaming the world for what's wrong...taking responsibility, being inspired and inspiring others."[37] The album is slated for an early fall release.[38][39] "Army of Love" was released for free via download on Kerli's official website. It was then released as a single for purchase on April 12, 2011. The song is currently being considered for promotion to become the album's lead single.[36] The music video for "Army of Love" was filmed over several days in Estonia during early November.[40][41] The video "sets the undertone of [her] entire new album".[40] The music video officially premiered on December 22, 2010.[42] "Army of Love" peaked at number 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart for the week of 7 May 2011.[4]

Currently, the only confirmed tracks from her second album are "Doll Face" (written by Heather Bright, Kerli, and Stereotypes' Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus, and Jonathan Yip),[43] "Speed Limit" (written by Kerli using GarageBand),[44] "Supergirl",[45] "When You Cry" (written by Kerli, Jean Baptiste–who co-wrote "Army of Love", Nick Marsh and Bonnie McKee),[46] and "Zero Gravity".[47] The album version of "Speed Limit" contains some vocals from the original demo version recorded with the built-in microphone in Kerli's laptop.[44] On August 26, 2011 Kerli announced on Twitter that the next single from her second album would be released within a couple of weeks.[citation needed]

Style and influences

One of Kerli's logos which features "Moon Marks".

She frequently cites Björk as a major influence and one of her favorite musicians[48] and Sigur Rós as her favorite band.[49] Among her other influences are Anouk, Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin.[50]

BubbleGoth

After the release of Love Is Dead, Kerli was labeled as "goth" and a disagreeing critic said she was more along the lines of "bubblegum goth." Kerli stated "that's exactly what I am" and that she was "going to take this concept and roll with it" and she created the derivative "BubbleGoth." Described by Kerli, BubbleGoth is "putting together light and dark, opposites, and things that you don't really necessarily think go together."[51]

Kerli cites the Spice Girls as being a major influence of BubbleGoth, which she stated is "like a gothic spice girl".[52]

Public image

Kerli hugs a fan during her performance at South by Southwest in 2011.

She frequently wears three dots called "moon marks" that represent integrity, love and unity,[53] three things that are also followed by Moon Children: an elaborated fan community/street team established by Kerli in 2006[54] for people who "feel too much and find it hard to exist in this world, so that they wouldn't think they're crazy."[55] It originally began as a "gathering for Indigo kids" but developed into a "movement of Integrity, Love and Unity" which is "trying to be the best you can be, taking responsibility for your reality and living with your eyes open. It's not some religious preachy thing, rather being a passenger in this dimension, trying to make the most of your experience and striving for perfection while understanding it's okay not to be perfect."[56]

In regards to LGBT rights, she has stated that she wishes "the world would already be in a place where everyone is equally able to marry, adopt and live their life without having to explain themselves" and that it is "not a matter of political views, it's a matter of human rights. All humans need to have equal rights, straight or gay. As long as one likes to go to church and believe in God and that makes them a better, nicer person, that's great. Once hatred and superiority comes to play, I'm against religion."[57]

While not belonging to any religion, nor labeling herself as such, Kerli believes in reincarnation as well as other forms of life after death,[58][59] fairies,[60] angels and demons, although once defining them as "reflections" of one's "inner light" and "inner darkness" respectively.[61] However, besides thanking her guardian angels in the liner notes for Love Is Dead, she has also stated she feel angels are beings, as well as using angel oracle cards.[36]

She also strongly opposes censorship.[62]

In 2011, Kerli was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Estonian Women.[63]

Personal life

"Agnus Dei" on Kerli's arm.

She has five tattoos. At the age of 15, Kerli asked her mother for a tattoo that states "music" in Chinese ("音乐"). Dubious, her mother told her that if she read "every book ... in town" on China and did a report on it, she would allow her to get the tattoo. Kerli did as requested and her mother took her to get the tattoo the day before her 16th birthday.[49] She has two tattoos on her forearm: one of a butterfly which symbolizes "living everyday like it was [her] last" and that she would never "leave a person that [she loves] without them knowing how much [she loves] them" and the other tattoo states in Latin "Amicus Humani Generis" which Kerli translates "a friend of the human race." On her left forearm, again Latin, states "Agnus Dei" which Kerli translates "a servant of God." (The actual translation from Latin is "Lamb of God," referring to Jesus Christ).[49] On her right foot, she has the letter "E", an initial of someone who "broke her heart."[64]

Kerli currently lives in Los Angeles, California.[65]

Discography

Main article: Kerli discography

Songwriting credits

  • "Ishy" (co-written with Dan Chase, Patrick Julian, William Renkosik and John Taylor Jr.)
  • Violina
  • "Iialgi"
  • "Too Much Is Never Enough" (co-written with Toby Gad and Lindy Robbins)

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Herself MTV Europe Music Award for Best Baltic Act Nominated
"Walking on Air" MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video Nominated
2009 Raadio 2 Hit of the Year Won
Estonian Music Award for Music Video of the Year Won
Herself Estonian Music Award for Pop Artist of the Year Won
Estonian Music Award for Female Artist of the Year Won
Love Is Dead Estonian Music Award for Album of the Year Nominated
2010 European Border Breakers Award Won
"Army of Love" Raadio 2 Hit of the Year Nominated
2011 Estonian Music Award for Music Video of the Year Won

References

  1. ^ "Love Is Dead - Kerli". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Walking on Air - Kerli". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Tokio Hotel And Kerli Will Collaborate On Tim Burton's 'Alice In Wonderland' Soundtrack". MTV. January 12, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Club Music, Hot Dance Songs, Club Songs, Dance Club Music Charts". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Army of Love - Single by Kerli". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  6. ^ "Army Of Love: Kerli: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  7. ^ Music Blog (March 19, 2011). "Interview with Kerli Video". Myspace. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c "Interview with Estonian Pop Princess Kerli". Pop Culture Madness. November 15, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Perry, Clayton (May 31, 2008). "Interview: Kerli - Singer and Songwriter". Blogcritics Music. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Kerli Kõivu isa ähvardab vangla!". Kroonika. Retrieved September 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Template:Language icon
  11. ^ "Does it annoy you that you're constantly being accused of being an Illuminati? I couldn't take it. How do you handle it?". Formspring. Retrieved September 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  12. ^ Kerli (December 19, 2010). "What year did your parents get divorced?". Formspring.me. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  13. ^ "Kerli Performs "Supergirl"". Cambio. May 3, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  14. ^ "Eliisa Kõiv". Õhtuleht. Retrieved September 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Template:Language icon
  15. ^ "What's your heritage? Anything other than Estonian?". Formspring.me. October 20, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  16. ^ Kerli. "You imagine yourself dancing "samba" in brasil? UAHSUAH". Formspring.me. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  17. ^ "WeirdMusic.net Magazine Exclusive Interview with Kerli". WeirdMusic.net. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  18. ^ a b Avina, Christina. "Kerli ~ An artist in every sense of the word". Rock on Request. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ "MTV Buzzworthy Interview: Kerli". MTV. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  20. ^ "2002 - History - Estonian Television - BBC". Oetv. Retrieved October 3, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ "Kerli Shakes Up European Pop With Island Release "Love Is Dead"". Universal Music. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  22. ^ a b Kiwibox.com. "Music Artist Kerli, Interview with Kiwibox Part 1". YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  23. ^ a b Amanda Bradshaw (July 8, 2008). "Neon Limelight Interviews: Kerli". Neon Limelight. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  24. ^ a b Wood, Eric (July 8, 2008). "Record Deal Means Kerli Can Ditch the Rice-Only Diet". allPOP. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  25. ^ "Kerli performs 'Walking on Air' at the 2008 Scream Awards". Fantastic Weapon. October 21, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  26. ^ "Burnout Paradise Track listing".
  27. ^ "Adtunes ID of Creepshow in Fringe promo".
  28. ^ Koppel, Eduard. "Tallinn's Õllesummer fun". OnCulture.eu.
  29. ^ "Official Kerli iPhone App Now Available". Island Def Jam.com. September 10, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  30. ^ "New Song from Kerli for iPhone Users". Official website. October 27, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  31. ^ http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=5712&artistID=7278
  32. ^ "Kerli [Official Site]". Kerlimusic.com. 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  33. ^ "Tea Party" at Amazon
  34. ^ Masters, Megan. "Superman Returns! Exclusive Last First Look at Smallville's 10th and Final Season". E! Online. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Kerli (December 19, 2010). "I just saw the video of you singing this song "Siniliind". Soooo beatiful *-* U did great with the high notes *-*". Formspring.me. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  36. ^ a b c Kerli (March 31, 2011). "Kerli 03/31/11 05:17PM". Ustream.tv. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  37. ^ Kerli (November 16, 2010). "is your new album more pure and light? I feel like you need to get back in touch with some light ness". Formspring.me. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  38. ^ "Kerli Interview - SXSW 2011". AOL. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  39. ^ Kerli (April 12, 2011). "@cambioconnect + @Brat_zilla : As of now - early fall. I can not wait to share it with you guys <3 #ArmyofLove". Twitter. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  40. ^ a b "Kerli uus muusikavideo aitab teistele paljastada tema "salajast Eestit"". Noorte hääl. November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Template:Language icon
  41. ^ Kerli (October 26, 2010). "MC mission #1.mov". YouTube. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  42. ^ "Kerli, 'Army of Love' -- Exclusive Video Premiere". PopEater. December 22, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  43. ^ "Kerli Performs "Doll Face"". Cambio. May 3, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  44. ^ a b Kerli. "Was "Speed Limit" written for you, or as a demo to sell? I really like it. :) and will it maybe be on your new album?". Formspring.me. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  45. ^ Kerli. "Hey Kerli. I'm soo pumped for your album/single/ any new msuic and was wondering if you could tell us one line from a song you wrote (hopefully new) to hold us over for a bit?". Formspring.me. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  46. ^ "When You Cry". ASCAP. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  47. ^ Kerli. "My week:)". iamamoonchild.net. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  48. ^ "Kerli Interview!". Rock N Roll Experience. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  49. ^ a b c Kiwibox.com. "Music Artist Kerli, Interview with Kiwibox Part 2". YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  50. ^ Djamoos, Anton (January 28, 2008). "Kerli Koiv - 01.28.08 - Interview". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  51. ^ "Kerli Performs "Army Of Love"". Cambio. May 3, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  52. ^ We've Got You Covered (March 11, 2011). "Buzznet Catches Up With Kerli as She Preps for Buzznet's SXSW show; BubbleGoth Goddess Cites the Spice Girls as a Major Influence". Buzznet. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  53. ^ "Moon Marks". MySpace. September 2, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  54. ^ Kerli. "Did you know there is no actual scientific proof for "indigo children"?". Formspring.me. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  55. ^ Triana, Mark (August, 2008). "Interview with Kerli Kõiv". Chicago Music Guide. Retrieved October 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ Kerli. "this is one question ive just been trying to figure out. its the only question ive had. what exactly is a moonchild? thanks kerli! and bt the way i love your new song army of love :)". Formspring.me. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  57. ^ Kerli. "What is your opinion on gays, lesbians, & bisexuals?". Formspring.me. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  58. ^ Kerli. "when you are reborn why cant you remember your past life?". Formspring.me. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  59. ^ Kerli. "Do you believe in life after death?". Formspring.me. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  60. ^ Kerli. "lolum, I'm really obsessed with fairies and you really pulled off the whole fairy look in your super cool army of love music video!Do you beleive in fairies?Because you're very fairy-like.I was wondering if you could do a fairy outfit tutorial?". Formspring.me. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  61. ^ Kerli. "I saw Angels a few times before, the ones I see look like human but very bright and comepletely white, but I've never seen a fairy... how can I see them? And do you believe demons exist?". Formspring.me. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  62. ^ Kerli. "how do u feel about censorship?". Formspring.me. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  63. ^ "Sada Eesti naist" (in Estonian). Ekspress.ee. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  64. ^ Blair, Eric. "KERLI talks Tattoos with Eric Blair 2008". YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  65. ^ "Kerli : Profile". Kerlimusic.com. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
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