Kiai

Irrepressible, unstoppable and undeniable, Kiai is an artist who speaks and sings to be heard-- no matter what she's saying. Her songs range from the silly to the profound and in the totality of her expression, she has revealed herself to be a unique singer/songwriter emerging in the New York indie scene.

The child of Korean parents, Kiai grew up in Woodstock, NY. By age 17, Kiai was a full-fledged rebel-- abandoning her classical music upbringing to play at jazz jams filled with Woodstock locals. "My passion came out of the years of repression-- that's where the punk in me comes from," she explains.

Kiai has written hundreds of songs, but she's currently readying the 13 that will be on her upcoming album, Middle of Mayhem. The songs written so far display the range of Kiai's moods and skills. There's the classic three chord Ramones influenced punk of "I Want To Be You," Kiai's expression of her desire to be a kid again free of responsibility. "Guarded Heart" is her lament of a friendship that has run it's course and serves as a goodbye and "Sumo Things" is a wry and witty reflection on Kiai's philosophy of taking things lightly.

Kiai is poised to bring her infectious spirit to unsuspecting audiences from coast to coast, and to Japan, England and maybe France. "I make music for me and the listener to really enjoy," she says. "In the midst of the world's turmoil we have to enjoy our lives as much as we can. That's what my music is made for."