Natalia Kills

Natalia Kills

Kills performing in February 2014
Background information
Birth name Natalia Noemi Keery-Fisher
Also known as
  • Verbal
  • Verbalicious[1]
  • Verse
  • Natalia Noemi Cappuccini[2]
Born 15 August 1986
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • actress
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • drums
  • guitar
Years active 1995–present
Labels
Website www.nataliakills.com

Natalia Noemi Cappuccini-Sinclair (born Natalia Noemi Keery-Fisher; 15 August 1986),[5][6][7] better known by her stage name Natalia Kills, is an English singer and actress. She was born, and raised for part of her early life, in Bradford.

Kills studied at the Bradford Girls' Grammar School before briefly attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She withdrew from LAMDA to focus on her musical career. In 2008, record executive and producer will.i.am signed her to his label will.i.am Music Group, an imprint of Interscope Records. She released her debut album, Perfectionist, in 2011, and her second album, Trouble, in September 2013.

In 2014, she married boyfriend Willy Moon, who is also a singer on the same label. In March 2015, Kills and Moon were fired from the second season of the New Zealand version of The X Factor after their scathing remarks towards a contestant were deemed as unacceptable by broadcaster TV3.

Life and career

1986–2010: Early life and career beginnings

Kills was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, to a British father of Afro-Jamaican heritage and a Uruguayan mother,[8] and attended Bradford Girls' Grammar School. Her family left Bradford when Kills was a child and she spent her early years travelling between England, Jamaica and Spain.[9] Kills' and her family moved to London.[10] Acting professionally since the age of nine, Kills attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, where she studied classical drama. Kills ran away from home when she was 14 and shifted her focus away from acting.[5][11][12][13][14] Kills has described her teenage years as "degenerate," stating that she tried to set her ex-boyfriend's house on fire while both were in it. Kills had frequent legal trouble and periodically experienced suicidal depression.[11][15] She was also briefly involved with a religious cult.[16]

Kills's acting debut was in New Voices. She had a regular role as Sima on the TV sitcom All About Me and as Amy Franks in the BBC's radio drama The Archers. She began writing songs at 14.[17] After finishing with The Archers in 2003, Kills began pursuing a music career and had a significant breakthrough as "Candy Rapper" in 2003, when she won a BBC Radio 1 MC Battle in Leeds.[5] She signed to the UK record company Adventures in Music and released her first single "Don't Play Nice" under the name Verbalicious in February 2005. Kills told W that her childhood nickname from her mother was "Verbal" because she talked and sang a lot. She adopted the name and variations of it as her stage name at some points during her career.[18]

In 2007, while writing music for films,[19] Kills posted Womannequin, a demo she produced and wrote under the name Natalia Cappuccini, to MySpace. The EP received 2 million plays on the website, and Kills reached the top of the unsigned artists chart.[18] During this time, using the name Verse, she also co-wrote and appeared on "They Talk Shit About Me" by French recording artist M. Pokora and met Guillaume Doubet, who would go on to direct many of her videos, in Paris. Kills moved to Los Angeles in 2008. Arriving without money or a place to live, Kills "lived out of these motels, bumming around, trying to work with or make songs with anyone who would have me for a couple of hours in the studio". At the time she says she did awful things adding "I was just trying to survive and I was too young to know better."[20] While in L.A., a DJ introduced her to will.i.am after hearing her demo and learning that she did not have a record deal.[21][22] In January 2009, will.i.am signed her to his record label, will.i.am Music Group.[19] "We had a really good creative chemistry," she said in a 2011 Billboard interview.[23]

2010–13: Perfectionist and Trouble

Kills adopted the stage name Natalia Kills from the interjection "you killed it!",[24] after her record company advised her that her legal name, "Natalia Cappuccini", was "indescribable."[19] Kills released her debut album Perfectionist in Germany in April 2011 following the release of her first single, "Mirrors," which hit the German Top 10. The album was described as a concept album by Kills, claiming that everybody is a perfectionist.[17] The album was accompanied by four singles, "Mirrors," "Wonderland," "Free" and "Kill My Boyfriend." Through 2010 and 2011 Kills opened for Kelis, Robyn, Kesha, Katy Perry and the Black Eyed Peas over various tours.[18][24][25] Two tracks from Perfectionist, "Free" feat. will.i.am, and "Mirrors," went Top 10 in Europe and achieved sales of over 750,000.[14][26] Kills was featured on LMFAO's 2011 single, "Champagne Showers," and on Junior Caldera's single "Lights Out (Go Crazy)".[27]

Kills performing at The Bootleg Theater

On 14 September 2012, Kills unveiled the video for "Controversy" to start promotion of her second studio album, Trouble. The album was centered around her troubled childhood.[28] Kills attended an after-party for the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, held on 25 August 2013 in Brooklyn, New York City, where she performed various songs from Trouble. Two days later, "Outta Time" was released as the album's second promotional recording free of charge in a Polydor Records newsletter,[29] coinciding with the US release of Trouble.[30] Trouble was officially released on 3 September 2013 as a digital download in the United States and Canada.[31]

2014: Marriage, upcoming third studio album

On 10 April 2014, American singer-songwriter Madonna shared pictures online showing her along with Kills and Kierszenbaum in a recording studio.[32][33] On the same day, fashion editor Alex Catarinella officially declared to BlackBook magazine that Kills would be married to Willy Moon on 23 May, in New York City.[34] During an interview she gave to New Zealand-edited fashion magazine Black, Kills said she had just moved in with Moon and that she had been recording a few songs.[35] On 31 May 2014, she was invited to charity event Life Ball, which took place in Vienna, Austria,[36][37] mostly for a live performance kicking off the event, and a concert. On 29 June, she made an appearance at the Minneapolis gay pride festival,[38] where she appeared on stage dressed as a bride. In mid-October 2014, while interviewed for Paper Magazine, she confirmed the future release of a new material.[39]

2015: New Zealand X Factor and departure from record label

In 2015, Kills was featured as a judge and mentor on the New Zealand version of The X Factor alongside her husband, Willy Moon. Kills only spent a few months on the show. At an audition she swore at audience members after becoming frustrated with their behaviour.[40]

Kills was accused of bullying contestant Joe Irvine as she judged his performance during the airing of the first live show.[41] She described Irvine as a doppelganger over his alleged copying of Moon's hairstyle and dress sense, deeming him a "laughing stock", overtly "cheesy" and "disgusting".[42] The comments led to widespread condemnation on social media, including a petition to have Kills fired from the show, which reportedly received over 70,000 signatures within 24 hours.[43] The show's sponsors, franchise owner and fellow judges also voiced public disapproval of the incident, and Moon and Kills were both fired from the show the next day.[44]

After departing The X-Factor, it was revealed in the media that Kills had parted ways with her record label, Cherrytree Records, shortly before appearing on the show.[45][46] Kills confirmed to Billboard that she was no longer with Cherrytree Records, but that she still has a U.S. distribution deal with Interscope Records "for now."[47]

Style and influences

Kills has mentioned Kate Bush and Alanis Morissette as her most important musical influences, describing them as emotional artists "who write honestly about their opinions and experiences."[48] The singer also stated she considered Gwen Stefani, who is a musical and stylistic inspiration, as her "hero",[49] adding that Prince, Vanity 6, and Freddie Mercury have already inspired her during live performances.[24] Kills explores music that is both confessional and bold when looking for inspiration, she reveals: "I don't listen to music to let go, I listen to dive in", listing Hole, Marilyn Manson, and Eminem among her favorite artists and bands with whom she grew up.[50] According to Jon O'Brien of AllMusic, Kills gradually composed a musical tone incorporating "the theatrical dance-pop of Lady Gaga, 1940s film noir, and the electro-gloom of Depeche Mode."[51] She also reported that she has always been a pop music fan, especially in evoking contemporary "new age" artists as Adele, Lana Del Rey, Marina and the Diamonds,[52] Ivy Levan and Lorde.[53]

Kills claims to be influenced by her own experiences. She's also inspired by cinema when composing songs. In this regard, she said during an interview for MKR Magazine:

I'm a huge fan of Stanley Cooper, Tarantino, Gaspar Noé, and Stanley Kubrick. I love anything that's beautiful and disturbing and horrifying and gorgeous at the same time. I do get inspired, definitely. I don't listen to a lot of music except my own, but I definitely like music a lot.[54]

A musical transition between Kills' debut and second records is undeniable. Perfectionist mixes elements of synthpop on fractious, reserved, and almost superficial tones while Trouble adopt a more open and soft shade with bubblegum pop and electro-rock music fragments, but also with new melodic experiments as new wave or industrial music.

Aesthetically, she explained in an interview during a Christian Lacroix exhibition in Paris on March 2011 that she didn't follow fashion but the dress style is a "visual expression of who we are, our identity, and how we feel at the present moment." She added that she has always liked to wear black or leather clothes and that it's an "expression of who I am" and that it's "more important to have a style for this reason rather than follow a fashion that is not necessarily us, and that changes every three months." Kills concluded by stating that she favors "aggressive and feminine" clothes, and that she likes to define her style as "feminine brutality", thinking that leather brings a "hard and soft style at the same time."[55]

Discography

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1995 New Voices Pearl Episode: "The Treasure of Zavimbi"
2002–04 All About Me Sima Main cast
2003 Casualty Samina Khan Episode: "Stuck in the Middle with You"
2003 Coronation Street Laura Mangen 2 episodes
2004 Doctors Hazel Perry Episode: "A Decisive Moment"
2004 Blue Murder Anisa Khan Episode: "Fragile Relations"
2005 No Angels Sujata Series 2, episode 7
2006 Silent Witness Kelly Wetherby Episode: "Supernova: Part 1"
2006 Tripping Over Julie 2 episodes
2007 Cape Wrath Kerry Episode: "Pilot"
2015 X Factor (New Zealand), TheThe X Factor (New Zealand) Herself Series 2 judge; 1 episode
2015 You're a Star Herself Guest judge
Web
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Love, Kills xx Herself Web series; 10 episodes

Tours

Promotional concerts

Co-headlining tours

  • The Cherrytree Pop Alternative Tour[d] (2011–12)

Opening act

In 2011:

Notes
a This 58 dates promotional tour started on 24 June 2011 in Paris, France and ended on 22 November 2011 in Vancouver, Canada.
b This promotional tour took place in Russia.
c This promotional tour took place in the United States.
d This tour was performed with other artists from the same record label.

References

  1. ↑ "Zombies in Wonderland: The Curious Case of Natalia Kills". Vertigo Shtick. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Christine Challand (26 February 2006). "The Borchester Babes". The Mail on Sunday. p. 32. Natalia Keery-Fisher in Ambridge: Natalia, who has recently changed her stage name to Natalia Cappucini, ...
  3. ↑ O'Brien, John. "Natalia Kills". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  4. ↑ Villagomez, Andrew (11 March 2013). "LISTEN: Natalia Kills' 'Problem'". Out. Here Media. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Emma Clayton (7 April 2006). "Natalia's rapping delight". Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Natalia Keery-Fisher". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  7. ↑ Sergio Kletnoy (15 August 2013). "MC@Play: Natalia Kills". Marie Claire. Retrieved 15 November 2013.Michael Slenske (July 2011). "Five Minutes with Natalia Kills". W. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Leigh Belz (1 December 2010). "Natalia Kills on Her Album Perfectionist and Lady Gaga". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  9. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (8 August 2013). "Natalia Kills Gets Real on 'Trouble' Album: 'I Wanted To Confront Who I Am Head-On'". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Woods, Mickey (3 September 2013). "Exclusive: Natalia Kills Shares Her Obsessions and Premieres "Boys Don't Cry" With Us!". Glamour. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Stoeffel, Kat (31 October 2012). "Natalia Kills Wants to Watch You Watch Her Do 'Horrible Things'". New York. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  12. ↑ Caterinella, Alex (20 November 2013). "How To Be a Popstar With Natalia Kills". Style Icon. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  13. ↑ Fairfax NZ News (22 November 2013). "Natalia Kills has a guilty mind". Stuff New Zealand. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Corner, Lewis (7 August 2013). "Natalia Kills interview: 'I thought I would be dead by now'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  15. ↑ Swaggerblog Staff (Fall 2013). "Exclusive: Natalia Kills Wears The Best In Fall Fashion, Causes "Trouble" With Her Sophomore Album". Swagger New York. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  16. ↑ Breslin, Yale (11 September 2013). "Natalia Kills: Bad Girl. Big Trouble.". Life + Times. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Natalia Kills – Music Interview". Digital Spy. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Michael Slenske (15 August 2011). "Five Minutes With Natalia Kills: Editors' Blog". Wmagazine.com. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Natalia Kills: Interview". Gigwise. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  20. ↑ Chunks, Rebecca (Fall 2013). "Exclusive Interview: Natalia Kills". MKR Magazine. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  21. ↑ Shoonmaker, Vaughn (16 November 2010). "Natalia Kills Hooks Up With Will.i.am For 'Dark Pop' Debut". MTV. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  22. ↑ "Interview with...Natalia Kills!". MuuMuse. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  23. ↑ Chapman, Alex (13 July 2011). "Natalia Kills on Will.i.am, Bill Clinton, Her 'F--k You Pop'". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Natalia Kills Interview". MVRemix. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  25. ↑ "Ke$ha Confirms Special Guests LMFAO For 'Get Sleazy' UK Tour & Tickets – Stereoboard UK". Stereoboard.com. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  26. ↑ "NATALIA KILLS – TROUBLE (ITUNES MASTERED VERSION) (2013)". Fresh Remix. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  27. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Lights Out (Go Crazy) [feat. Natalia Kills & Far East Movement] - Single by Junior Caldera". Itunes.apple.com. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  28. ↑ Lansky, Sam (3 September 2013). "Natalia Kills' 'Trouble': Album Review". Idolator.
  29. ↑ "Natalia Kills". Polydor/Universal Music. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  30. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Outta Time – Single by Natalia Kills". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  31. ↑ "Trouble: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  32. ↑ "Madonna hits studio with Kills". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  33. ↑ "Martin Kierszenbaum : Mes sessions en Studio avec Madonna !". madonnarama.com (in French). 3 June 2014.
  34. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Natalia Kills Announces Marriage to Willy Moon + Exclusive Photos". bbook.com. 13 May 2014.
  35. ↑ "BLACK #21: KISS & KILLS - NATALIA KILLS". blackmagazine.co.nz. 19 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "Life Ball 2014 in the City Hall". lifeball.org. 2014.
  37. ↑ "From kooky to cool: Kesha arrives in Vienna for the Life Ball looking fresh in a floral dress and with bubblegum pink hair". dailymail.co.uk. 30 May 2014.
  38. ↑ "TWIN CITIES PRIDE GUIDE 2014". vita.mn. 25 June 2014.
  39. ↑ Tahirah Hairston (15 October 2014). Paper Magazine, ed. "HOW NATALIA KILLS IS SEDUCING THE WORLD".
  40. ↑ Etheridge, Jess (3 December 2014). "Swearing X-Factor judge shocks audience". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  41. ↑ "Pressure on TV3 after X Factor judges Willy Moon and Natalia Kills humiliate contestant on live TV". New Zealand Herald. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  42. ↑ Downes, Siobhan (16 March 2015). "X Factor: Bullying outcry over Natalia Kills attack". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  43. ↑ "X Factor judges Natalia Kills, Willy Moon sacked". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  44. ↑ Beswick, Angela (16 March 2015). "Natalia Kills, Willy Moon fired from X Factor NZ". TV3. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  45. ↑ "Axed X Factor judge Natalia Kills no longer has a record deal". New Zealand Herald. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  46. ↑ Team, News (18 March 2015). "Natalia Kills already dropped from her label prior to 'X Factor' sacking". NME. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  47. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (19 March 2015). "Natalia Kills Speaks To Billboard: 'Sometimes TV Producers Plan Drama For Ratings'". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  48. ↑ Pamela (14 August 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Natalia Kills Speaks to GTS". Girlstalkinsmack.com.
  49. ↑ "Twitter / NataliaKills: @gagas_lil_hobo Gwen Stefani". Twitter.com. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  50. ↑ "Natalia Kills - Homepage". Mataliakills.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  51. ↑ O'Brien, John. "Natalia Kills | Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  52. ↑ "Natalia Kills - interview (effect music tour)". YouTube. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  53. ↑ "Bootleg Theater // Miriam Bryant, Ivy Levan, Natalia Kills on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  54. ↑
  55. ↑ "Natalia Kills in Paris". YouTube. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2014.

External links