Killian Wells

Killian Wells is a pop singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur^[4] from New York City.^[5]

Wells owns the record label Inferno Records, is the inventor of XUVO (a cocktail mixer),^[6] and is the founder and head perfumer of Xyrena (a celebrity-branded perfume company).^[7]

Music career

At age 17, Wells began co-producing his own material and formed the production team Sir Killian and Christof, a musical partnership. His first single to receive significant attention was "V.I.P.", released as a digital EP on July 21, 2009 on iTunes and Amazon MP3 ^[8] through Wells' own indie label Inferno Records.^[9] "V.I.P." has received airplay on Top 40 stations ^[10] and was added to US Airways in-flight entertainment Hit List channel in November 2009.^[11] Wells co-wrote and co-produced the album version of "V.I.P." The digital EP also features remixes by LorD and Master (who also remixed Dangerous Muse),^[12] Purple Moon Banana (RuPaul), and Wells under the moniker "Knightwriter".

The digital EP was replaced on May 25, 2010 by a new single mix of "V.I.P.", re-released to coincide with the debut of an accompanying music video by director Karl Giant^[13] which featured a cameo by Wells' friend Laverne Cox^[14] of Orange Is The New Black fame.

In Summer 2011 Wells' song "(If Only Life Could Be Like) Hollywood" was featured in Hollister and Claire's stores nationwide.^[15] Wells' co-wrote the song with Mark Calderon from Color Me Badd.^[16]

In 2011 Wells released "Psycho" along with a music video directed by Bec Stupak and co-starring Playboy Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk as Wells' love interest.^[17]

In 2012 Wells' released "It's Like That (feat. Nixon)" with a 1950's stylized video featuring an appearance by popular YouTube star Glozell.^[18] The video featured a handful of product placements from brands including Big Red, Bosco, Kit-Cat, Brooklyn Industries, Bed Head, and Instagram shortly before it was purchased by Facebook.^[19]

Wells' "STRFKR", also released in 2012, co-starred gay porn actor Brent Everett and film actor and writer Michael Serrato. The music video was directed by Wells. Everett said he chose to be in the music video as he liked Wells' work and couldn't pass up a chance to work with him. The "STRFKR" video features some of the first adult product placements set to a mainstream song including Astroglide, ONE Condoms, and Manhunt.net.^[20] "STRFKR" became the opening title theme for Charlie David's 2013 documentary I'm A Porn Star,;^[21] the opening sequence also features clips from the "STRFKR" music video.

In 2013, Wells released "Remix My Love" featuring Kristinia DeBarge. The accompanying music video featured product placements from Pop Rocks, Shasta, Members Only, Numark, and South Beach Smoke.^[22] In the video both Killian and Kristinia are shown wearing authentic clothes and hairstyles from the 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000, and present day.

On September 18, 2015, Wells released the song "Flatline" which samples the 1980s hit "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" by Cutting Crew.^[23] The song was Wells' first release mastered for iTunes.^[24] An 1980s-inspired lyric video for the song was also released on Vevo^[25]

In popular culture

In December 2008 Wells became part of photographer Adam Bouska's NOH8 Campaign^[26] in response to California Proposition 8 (2008)^[27] making him one of the first pop artists to join the campaign.^[28]

Wells was selected ^[29] as one of 30 acts to perform in the music showcase Pure Pop 2009 ^[30] at Webster Hall. The performance on November 14, 2009 was Wells' first live show.^[31] Jack Chambers (2008 season winner of So You Think You Can Dance Australia) appeared as one of Wells' dancers.^[32]

In 2014 it was revealed that Wells wrote, produced, and starred (anonymously in a 'mouse head') in a commercial spot for Beamz which caused Deadmau5 to hint at possible legal action. Wells produced the commercial (and coined the slogan "So Easy Even a Mouse Can Play It") as a result of a feud between Deadmau5 and Flo Rida (a spokesperson for Beamz). EDM artists including Zedd, Wolfgang Gartner, Steve Angello and Dirty South all commented about the spot on Twitter.^[33] In an article regarding deadmau5's trademark dispute with Disney, Complex Magazine quoted Killian as saying "The spot didn't imply an endorsement and the character could've easily been Mickey Mouse, Mighty Mouse, or Chuck E. Cheese. The front of the Deadmau5 head is unique, but to claim IP of a generic mouse silhouette is really grasping for straws."^[34]

Other works

Wells art directed and photographed adult performers Tommy Defendi and Andy Taylor for the 2013 TLA Gay holiday catalog cover.^[35]

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

• 2010: "V.I.P."
• 2011: "Psycho"
• 2012: "It's Like That" (feat. Nixon)
• 2012: "STRFKR"
• 2013: "Remix My Love" (feat. Kristinia DeBarge)
• 2015: "Flatline"

Awards

OUTMusic Awards

• 2010: Nominated - OUTStanding Dance Song (V.I.P.) ^[36]
• 2010: Nominated - NEXT Generation Talent Search Contest - OUTStanding Original Song (V.I.P.)

Independent Music Awards

• 2008 (7th Annual): Nominated - Best Website Design for an Indie Label (Inferno Records) ^[37]

References

External links

• Official website