Mentions worth a mention

Kiria 'Alright (Single)'

This is the second single of KIRIA's debut album "Radio" that we reviewed a few months ago on here. "Alright" is a catchy pop rock'n'roll song, think TRANSVISION VAMP meets BLONDIE. It starts with a sunny California kind of guitar melody and it's all about the classic girl-boy theme, a recipe that always works for a good bubblegum pop song.
As winter and grey weather are taking over Europe, this is the kind of song you should be listening to right now!

Review by Laurent Veglam webzine 25 November 2010

KIRIA- Radio

KIRIA describes herself as the love child of Marilyn Monroe and Ziggy Stardust, and says she produces pop punk music that cites both the Buzzcocks and Sex Pistols amongst her many influences. So out of the window straight away goes my original prejudice that she was another X factor clone.
Her first band had the rather catchy moniker of Suck Baby Suck, before she moved on to an all girl combo Friction. Now having gone solo, she still retains a band for recording and live purposes. The video for track Sex on Stage contains actor/comedian Paul Kaye singing backing vocals in the form of his alter ego Mike Strutter.
As for the album RADIO well it's actually quite a mix of styles and genres from punk to reggae to pop and back again. However predominantly the overall feel is guitar driven, hook laden pop. Stand out tracks are highly infectious single Jelly Baby, lead track Radio and the aforementioned Sex on Stage. However she ably turns her hand to dub reggae on Another Things, a love song on er... Love Song and has more than a touch of Lily Allen on Mirror of You.
All in all a creditable debut effort and well worth a listen.

Review by Bones Repeat Fanzine November 2010

Kiria - Radio

I recently joined the music team of our university's newspaper, Spark. My first review was of solo artist Kiria and her album Radio. I really liked it!
London-based solo artist Kiria is on track to bring back positive views of 'pop-punk.' Backed by a four piece band, she has already received rave reviews, not only for her recorded work, but for her live performances too.
Album opener Radio, with its heavy riffs and catchy drumbeats, is a song which can easily be imagined as a stadium anthem. Kiria opens the song with the "I can't turn switch my radio on, I can't stand the tunes," which sums up her preference for older tunes over the hits of today. Radio gives us a great impression for the rest of the album, which doesn't disappoint, especially with Fussy Girl. With the main hook as "I'm not one of those fussy, fussy girls," this seems set to be a future fun, girly, sing-a-long anthem.
Lead single Jelly Baby is the perfect mix of girl power pop and energetic punk. Instantly recognizable as another future sing-a-long, it packs beefy guitar riffs from the start. Teamed with innocent vocals, including a round of "bababadada," a hit record is made. This is followed by Love Song, a piano and violin collaboration, something which is not often seen in the charts these days. It's a sweeter, more low key track, providing a calming break in the album. It also gives us a chance to see a different side of Kiria.
The album finishes on the rockier Live Sex on Stage. A collaboration with comedian Paul Kaye, this brings out the punk influences that Kiria often refers to. The track is raw, fresh and brilliantly neat whilst still encapturing the essence of pop-punk, with lyrics such as "just make sure your knickers get seen." It's a great, fun end to the album.
4/5

Reviewed by Rachel Anne Spark Monday, 8 November 2010.

Kiria launches "Radio" album - 29th October at Cafe Rocks

Another night at Cafe Rocks - a debut album launch for female artist Kiria - this time with an audience reminiscent of the fans of 1980's phsychobilly band King Kurt.

I arrived in time to catch a song and a half from 50's style "punks" Knocksville, with a heavy train-like sound featuring great slap bass, banging drums, as well as a punk/rockabilly guitar player. Although fairly simplistic, as many three-piece acts are, they also had a direct powerful sound that gave their show an undeniably rocking edge, although they had someway to go to compare to such aficionados as the Stray Cats and the Cramps.

After this positive start, it was time to check out the main band. With a female singer who takes a provocative approach to performing and has more than a dash of lascivious humor, it was interesting to see where the performance was going. The band, which incorporated two guitarists, a violinist, drums and bass, had all turned up in fancy dress-style outfits and seemed to possess the necessary musical skills, which was a good thing as it turned out as they were in for quite a workout, musically speaking. Swigging JD dressed in a hitched up long white dress with white fishnet's, Kiria sung well and certainly had the largely male audience up on their feet from the very beginning.

Initially sounding like a cross between Transvision Vamp and Catatonia, Kiria's third song "Let Me In" changed to embrace a freer grungier sound, which seemed to settle the band into a more natural feel. As the gig progressed the sound gradually became heavier and by the 6th song "Fussy Girl" had achieved a Stooges-like intensity. It was as if the more heavily choreographed/produced sound of the first couple of numbers was a commercially orientated compromise that failed to ignite the band and it somehow failed to convince in the way that the heavier, later material did.

There was a short interlude during which the band played a Doorsy/Santanaesque style piece of music that impressed with its tightness and intensity, whilst giving the guitarists and harem pants wearing violinist room for an interesting workout (which included some interesting Led Zep style violin playing).Kiria reappeared in a leopard skin , swigged yet more JD and suggesting once again that amorous audience members "join the queue backstage" the cat suited front woman joined in the now much more Cramps-like music and, whilst crawling around the stage on all fours, really attacked the performance with a renewed vigour that suggested she was really getting into it. At best when playing in a heavier, swampier style the band now seemed to be really getting into it and the two guitarists, one dressed as a witch and the other as a priest, were now driving the music forward in a frenzied style.

A final number reminiscent of X-Ray Spex saw a couple of audience members stage a lightsabre fight whilst the band knocked out a tight number with a great violin riff, as well as heavy bass from the consistently good (Thai?)lady bass player dressed in an interesting short-trousered black military style outfit.

All in all it was a good gig - although everyone seemed to perform the more ballsy material much more convincingly than the more restrained material. The Wendy O'Williams style hard woman image that Kiria employs seems to be much more suited to the Cramps/Nirvana/Pistols/Stooges type material and less suited to music with popular pretensions such as Transvision Vamp or even Catatonia.

On my way out of the gig I was given a flyer by a rockabilly hairdresser who seemed convinced that I would require his services and was obviously keen to cut my shoulder-length-and-a-bit hair into a natty quiff despite my protestations. For me the fifties was something that my dad did in his crepe shoes and drape jacket and, as such, has always seemed tremendously old-fashioned. It is always difficult to be original, yet Kiria at times had a sound that could potentially appeal to a wider audience, as well as a ballsy delivery that could surely win many an audience over.

Written by James Simmins The Source Mag October 2010.

Kiria, The Star Who Sings Pink Punk

I was thrilled to witness Kiria, the sensational looking 'pink punk' singer buying a copy of my novel Frantic in Celia Birtwell's shop when I went in there yesterday to sign some copies.
It must have been a case of delayed synchronization, as I had been to her Radio album launch at 'My Beautiful Launderette' on Talbot Road in Notting Hill Gate last week.

This had been no ordinary music launch. The event was a glamour-puss stuffed klieg lit premier. And what made the event megawatt extra special was the spectacle of Kiria arrived in a convoy of twelve Harley Davidsons and a pink Cadillac.
If all of this wasn't spectacular enough, pin up showgirl's served pink champagne and cocktails in the pink back lit Launderette, which was full of bubbles and .... projections of Kiria's forthcoming video releases on the wall!
Kiria's current single is titled Jelly Baby which is guaranteed to stick in one's brain for an eternity.
I predict her next single Alright arriving in November, will also be equally as addictive. But, it looks like I might get hooked on Kiria's startling music (which she writes as well as playing her guitar). Her next single after that will be the waltz, titled Love Song. Aaaaaah!

It must have been kismet I bumped into Kiria inside Celia's emporium, because she also put me on red alert about her next gig: it will be this Friday, October 29th at the Cobden Club, London's 'favorite' membership club.
If Kiria's gig is anything as exciting as her Sex On Stage video clip, I guarantee the entire audience will be throwing jelly babies at her and her band.
After I signed Kiria's copy of Frantic, I dragged her onto the 31 bus. She usually takes taxis everywhere, so the bus ride was an adventure for her. Especially, as an old lady next to us crooned 'would you like another Jelly baby'?.

Written by Frances Lynn Fave Raves Tuesday, October 26, 2010.

Album Review: Kiria - Radio

Following on from the catchy-as-bright-pink-rabies single Jelly Baby, pop-punk starlet Kiria delivers a full twelve tracks of quirky sweetness here with her debut album, Radio. The trick is not to get this confused with the manufactured pop shite you hear on your actual radio these days. Sweet, sexy and ever so slightly twisted, Kiria's slick and sultry style takes us through songs that are eminently more relatable and believable than any that MTV's pop divas could ever produce. Forget Girls Aloud et al, we're talking more in the realms of Kenickie or Bellatrix here.

From the defiantly independent stomp of title track Radio to the angry commentary on the music industry on rocker Live Sex On Stage (featuring a duet with comedian Paul Kaye of Dennis Pennis fame), this is an intelligent record, not just another blonde singer pouting. And for all her Marilyn Monroe stylings and bubblegum hooks, this rocks pretty hard at the same time.

At the end of the day though, great pop music doesn't need to be analysed or justified. It just needs to put a smile on your face and make you do a little dance when your thrash metal friends aren't looking, and this is a record that does just that.

Reviewed by Dave Pure Rawk October 2010

Single Review: Kiria - 'Jelly Baby'

For those of you despairing at the fact that the hated X Factor has been commissioned for another series to pollute our ears with more sanitised corpo-pop slop and wondering what the heck happened to the days when bands could write good simple catchy pop songs... I think I may have spotted a small speck of light at the end of the tunnel. And for once it doesn't look like it's merely an oncoming train either.

The debut single from West London pop-punk singer/songstress Kiria, is a slice of sweet-as-candyfloss rock which is as near-as-dammit to perfect as anything of this genre as you'll probably hear this year. Think Voice of the Beehive, think Blondie at their most tuneful, think "why the heck can't there be more songs like this nowadays?". It's as satisfying as watching that worthless mallrat Avril Lavigne being thrown off a 30-storey skyscraper and, if the imminent album can keep these high standards up I'd strongly recommend you keep an eye out for it.

Reviewed by Andy James Pure Rawk Monday, October 18th, 2010

KIRIA - Radio (Album) Koochiecoo Records

Kiria's debut album 'Radio' does exactly what it says on the cover, and let me say, it does it extremely well. Platinum blonde Kiria smiles on a white background, one hand holding a cream guitar and one hand up in the hair, coordinated skimpy playsuit and a pin up pose, clearly taking inspiration from number one glamour icon Marilyn Monroe; on the back, a pink retro radio.
Enough, I guess, to expect some fizzy pop punk a-la Transvision Vamp, and that's just what you get. Flirty, funny and oozing vitality, Kiria starts us off with title track 'radio' throwing a stylish, catchy blow to manufactured music, then shows a humorous, feminine yet not girly side in 'Fussy Girl'. She turns all Lily Allen in 'Mirror of you' proving some unexpected versatility from such a young artist.
'Crazy' starts all languid and seductive to break into one memorable pop riff, then single 'Jelly Baby', so awesomely danceable and so... Blondie! But that's where Kiria really passes her final test: the woman can do ballads too. Don't believe me? Here's 'Love Song' for you.
After some more Lily Allen in her reggae-ish form with 'And Another Thing', 'Live sex on stage' is probably the punkiest number on Kiria's 'Radio' album, and sees the bubbly Londoner duet with comedian Paul Kaye - you MUST remember Dennis Pennis and Mike Strutter! - for the final fireworks.
Did I mention this CD came in pink bubbly envelope with a pink press release? Remember to always give the benefit of the doubt to those who have the balls to go so overly pink...

Don't deny it, we all need a bit of cheeky pink in our lives. 7/10

Reviewed by The Wicked Witch Sonicshocks 25th September 2010

Kiria - 'Radio' (Koochie Coo Records)

Kiria is going to kickstart a much needed makeover of the 21st century pop-punk scene. Taking her cues from 80's greats Transvision Vamp - Wendy James being an obvious starting point - and taking a distinctly British sense of humor mixed with a femme fatale image, Kiria is looking to taking over the world.
Lead single 'Jelly Baby' comes blasting out of the speakers with such an annoyingly infectious riff and uber cool lyrics - "Jelly Baby, you knock me off my feet, Jelly Baby, you look like you taste so sweet" - this lady appears to have it all. This leads into 'Fussy Girl' which Kiria wastes no time in letting us and any potential partners know that she requires them to adore her but does not want any diamonds or pearls. In other words everything a guy or gal wants from a prospective suitor...
The track that I think will get Kiria out to the masses is the third song on offer, 'Radio', where she delivers the beautiful simple line "don't wanna live like a battery hen, they feed me the same shit again and again" - What is there not to love about this star!
This debut album showcases twelve irresistible sweet melodic pop songs that Kiria has given birth for us to enjoy and revel in their delight. To give you an image of how great this new artist is try Transvision Vamp, with an unhealthy obsession with Kay Hanley/Letter to Cleo. Yes, it truly is THAT good!
Closing track 'Live Sex On Stage' is a raw, raucous tongue-in-cheek duet with Paul Kaye, who some of you may know better as anarchic comedic geniuses Dennis Pennis and Mike Strutter! The PR info states that the video for this song has clocked 75,000 YouTube plays, maybe being mistaken for something else but still pretty impressive nonetheless!
Needless to say I'm gonna be on the lookout for any live shows in my area as the six foot loveliness of this timeless beauty and the universal pulling power of gorgeous pop is too much for me to miss!
Having been inspired by Hendrix to pick the guitar up at the tender age of thirteen and crediting the instrument as the escape route from the North London housing estate she was raised on, by the age of seventeen Kiria was perfecting her craft with her first band Suck Baby Suck and then on to Friction leading us to the here and now with the release of 'Radio'.
This lady is wet pantingly AWESOME! I just cannot believe it has taken 22 years since Transvision Vamp and 17 years since my discovery of Shampoo to find an artist to take their place in my heart! To quote a line from the violin/piano playing maestro "Jelly Baby, you knock me off my feet!"

Reviewed by David Prince Uberrock Monday, 06 September 2010 05:00

KIRIA - Radio

If you're looking for something very cool then you should check out this beauty by London based artist Kiria. Usually I'm very cynical about really hot women taking up the pop punk image but it's fair to say that Kiria does this with style. She can also sing well and does it in her own style. It's good to see an artist that manages to blend in touches of the new wave sound into her music too! I think that's what makes this lady so damn appealing. This twelve track album really does deserve to be heard and if tracks like 'Jelly Baby', 'Fussy Girl', 'Mirror Of You' and 'Live Sex On Stage' don't do anything for you I don't know what will? This also comes well produced. If you're looking for a simple but cool package then this is really worth investing in. 8.5/10

Reviewed by Street Voice News Zine August 2010

Kiria Radio Album Koochie Coo Records Ltd

In 1977 the world was looking towards the UK as Punk took over the airwaves. Later in the 90's the US unleashed their own band of Punk, more Pop Punk with the likes of The Offspring, Blink 182 and Green Day dominating the genre. Now in 2010 the UK has its own brand of Pop Punk and leading the way is London based Kiria. With her debut release 'Radio' and her obvious eye candy looks, the name of Kiria is about to be the in name in the genre. Joining Kiria on her musical journey are Steve Rooney (drums), Evil Eden (bass), Jessie May (violin) and Tony Morrisson (lead guitar).
The album mixes typical 80's pop with a modern punky vibe and this is instantly noticeable from the opener 'Jelly Baby'. There is definitely a Bow Wow feel to it as Kiria has that same feel about her vocal style. But this isn't your usual all out Punk fair, Kiria mixes a more poppy element with 'Fussy Girl' before turning things back up with 'Radio' and the excellent 'Make Up'.
With Lily Allen high in the public spotlight it's clear that Kiria has a place in the more international market place, and is due to step out of the underground and into the spot light. One of the many highlights on the album has to be 'Alright', which is more of the same pop punk that has gone before, but this one has a touch more zing to it than the previous songs. A similar vibe is found on 'Let Me In', again a very commercial slice of modern day pop/rock that wouldn't go a miss in the national charts. Then it's all change once more with what I'd like to call Jazz Punk, an eclectic mix of styles that works remarkably well. Probably one of the most commercial tracks on the album has to be 'Love Song', which is not what you'd expect to hear on a pop/punk album. More Enya than the Sex Pistols, with the added strings and piano bringing an air of the classical to proceedings. Just as quickly we switch things again with touch of reggae infused pop punk with 'And Another Thing', before the album finishes on a high with the New York Dolls influenced 'Live Sex On Stage', which I believe is also the first single to be taken from the album. Truth be told this album is a great debut release from a band with a big big future, however I do think the single is perhaps not a true reflection of the rest of the album so have a listen to a few more tracks before making your mind up either way about this album. I can't help but feel they may be batting in the wrong direction with the punk vibe and may have a more commercial future ahead of them if they head more down the mass pop/rock direction.

Reviewed by The Mayfair Mall Zine July 2010

Kiria 'Radio'

I've seen so many guys going to see girl bands live just because they are girls and not really paying attention to the music itself and the songwriting, it can be depressing!... In that sense it's good to get records like this one, 'cause sure KIRIA is a good-looking girl but she shows us in these 12 songs that a good song is a good song before all whether it's being played by a boy or a girl..."I'm Not One Of Those Fussy, Fussy Girls" she says while playing a BOWIE/LOU REED kind of guitar riff!
This is good candy pop rock with a punky touch and good hooks "Jelly Baby", "Radio", "Alright"... There's a lot of make-up and sweet perfume in here but substance is never forgotten and this is what makes you want to listen to these songs more than once! It's not just a pretty glossy image.
This girl definitely has good taste since she cites MORRISSEY and ZIGGY STARDUST as influences! The whole thing sometimes reminds me of the amazing TRANSVISION VAMP and I can't remember saying this about any other band these last years. Some songs like "Mirror Of You", "This Time" or "Let Me In" could easily fit in the Brit pop category too though you'll still get this sweet bubblegum aftertaste in them. KIRIA's vocals also work well with the piano (in a DRESDEN DOLLS way) on "Crazy" and the party ends up with the reggae "And Another Thing" and punk rock'n'roll song "Live Sex On Stage", two songs showing KIRIA's various talents in such different music styles. This album is a proof that the best things are often unexpected!.

Reviewed by Laurent Veglam Webzine 23 July 2010

Kiria - Radio CD

Being a qualified OB (Ed: Old Bastard) I'm pretty stuck in my ways and its very rare for me to step out of my wrinkly comfort zone but every once in a while something inspires me. Take this blog for example. I've been writing it for over four years and whadda ya get for it? Pages and pages and pages of this kind of inane drivel. Only once have I ever featured a video on here, and only once have I featured such a modern device as a piccie. Both, I guess it doesn't need to be said, are from good looking women but that's probably just me trying to get my DOB badge (Ed: Dirty Old etc). The reason I featured Kiria (she was the piccie) was because she is a) a good singer and songwriter and b) she has a great image. Or at least that's my reason, officially anyway, for saying (an a furtive DOB kind of way) (Ed: Gilmore!! You ******* sexist!! Isn't this supposed to be about the music, get with it man!!!)

When I reviewed her very first single - Radio (October 2008) - I was most impressed with the energy and drive the whole band had (Ed: see how easy this is once you get past the eye candy) and am a bit surprised that it's taken so long to get an album out. Still, I'm just happy to get one (thank you Alison from Koochie Koo) and it has had a severe mauling since it dropped into the letterbox of my bijou hovel. OK, I'm biased because, in effect, Kiria is a local band - literally - and they play the kind of music I actually go and see. It doesn't hinder matters that they have outstanding eye candy but ultimately the kind of audience these local (London) bands play to are some of the hardest in the world to please, and that's where the music matters. By the time you roll onto the CD version of Radio (track three as it happens), it's obvious that Kiria has some serious songs on offer, all encased in an incredibly live and vibrant mix. Radio, btw sounds even better to me now that it did when I wrote the original review and gave it a Must Have.

Musically Kiria (a full band consisting of Kiria (vocals/guitar), Steve Rooney (drums), Evil Eden (bass), Jessie May (violin) and Tony Morrisson (lead guitar) ) get a lot of influence from punk and high energy rock, as well as pop so pretty much all twelve tracks on this CD zip by as if their asses are on fire (with one exception) and even now after almost two weeks of hearing this shiny little beauty I'm still finding bits I missed. Great tracks and good songs? Damn, where do I start? Radio, obviously is a high point but so is Make Up, the track immediately after it. Mirror Of You could give Lily Allen a run for her money and IMHO show that this band would go down great in a festival, but I could easily say the same about every other track on this CD. Massively, overwhelmingly commercial as hell and I'm loving it. I'm aware that I am fatally biased in this review but when I look at the current UK commercial market, and listen to this CD I get a really severe disconnect. Wtf, does she have to do? REALLY have 'Live Sex on Stage' (Ed: that's track twelve btw, not Gilmore going off on one.)

Get the right attitude. MUST HAVE.

Reviewed by Steve Gilmore RebelRiffs Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Kiria: Radio (album, Koochie Coo)

This showed up with a press release insisting that "pop punk has long been looked upon as dirty word" and adding "Kiria could just be the charismatic figurehead to give it that much needed makeover." This hardly filled me with rapt anticipation. But then seeing as we're told that Kiria knocks out a lyrical mixture of Morrissey and Ziggy era Bowie, I figured that whoever wrote the press release either had it in for her, or had access to some really good shit. In the end, I decided to just listen to the bloody thing. Obviously, this is one for the kids. Possibly those who are too smart for whatever asinine whiny South Californians that Kerrang! are currently promoting, but would prefer some guitar noise with their Kate Nash kitchen-sink lyrics.

One is hardly Berlin, but it does have more depth and content than today's pop-pickers have become inured to. There's some range here too, you get some Transvision Vampery, a dismissive lambasting of contemporary popular culture, a spot of post-feminism, a horrible, xylophone infused jazzy vamp, some pleasant Devoish keyboard bleepery, occasional outbreaks of Steve Jones power chords, and plenty of glottal vocalizing and nicely layered vocal overdub's. Indeed, there's such a quantity of variety here - from piano-practice nursery rhyme allegory ("Love Song") to a broken-hearted attempt at lovers rock ('And Another Thing'), that Kiria comes across as an artist looking for a cohesive direction. I'd suggest booting your band in the cods any time they played anything that sounded remotely like Blink 182 and strike out in a Chrissie Hynde or KT Tunstall direction. Whether you want to continue hanging out with Paul Kaye is your own business, missus.

Reviewed by Mudkiss July 2010

kiria kiria

There is nothing more enjoyable than reviewing an album that deserves to be reviewed and certainly should be listened to by as many people as possible. "Jelly Baby" is just so catchy with Kiria's voice matching the song perfectly. Next up "Fussy Girl" continues the foot tapping trend and its beginning to dawn on me that this is bloody good. I have very little information on Kiria as the promo only lists that all music was written and performed by said lady, well she should take a bow. "A1right" and the beautiful "Love Song" show the contrast in the material on offer on this album. We even get a reggae feel to closing song "And Another Thing" how many times do I review a CD and the songs are consistently good? .... not often, yet here we have eleven tracks and not a duffer in sight this is everything rolled into one, good catchy songs`, that make you feel good, with plenty of thought gone into the song writing with "Love Song" being special indeed. Lets hope the word gets spread and this album gets the recognition it deserves.

Reviewed by Speedy Hicks Bubblegumslutzine June 2010

Kiria ft. Mike Strutter - Live Sex On Stage - Video

oldsinick
Ok. Now this video link has been? knocking around my office and I thought I'd join to give my two pence worth. Growing up in the 70's, much about this band is hugely reminiscent of my youth, which is what I love about it. Although a sneaky peek at the obvious charms of "Kiria" may grab today's youth's attention, I sincerely hope the music and it's message is not overlooked for being incongruous with today's sterile, mass produced, corporate products they call music. Best of luck!

midlandmaverick
Brilliant - restored my faith in good British music! Good message in the lyrics too - about bloody time! As for the guitarist sitting down, I reckon he looks kinda cool - anyway, he doesn't sit for the whole video, he does also stand LOL Kiria is gorgeous and Mike Strutter has Elvis Costello attitude!?

rufftrader
Ha! Nice point! Well - the video is fab but I spose men cant? help but notice a woman's, err, finer points.... It looks tinted and sort of old style on screen which is different. Like that jerky filming too. As for the song it's feisty. Reminds me of old style punk which can only be good compared to a lot of shoegayzing bands around now! This has great energy! Like it, a lot.

thorensglieres
I'm a huge fan of punk,? gravitating towards the NYHC of Agnostic Front and SOIA as well as DRI, Exploited, Baker's Dozen and so on. I absolutely love this song and video! Poppy like Baby Gopal, and very, very catchy...I repeated the video eight times just to hear the tune! Sexy lead singer definitely a plus...The song is strong without even seeing the video.

Reviews from Youtube

Kiria - Radio

Kiria is a new name to me (and maybe you too). Billed as either pop rock, alternative or punk, Radio is currently available on the website and It will blow your head off, and definitely augers well for this London based band. Personally I haven't been to a gig in a million years (had enough of that in my mis-spent youth) but judging by Radio, Kiria is one band it may well be worth searching out live.

It's a kinda rock pop track in a proud English tradition, bristling with hooks and a powerful, focussed production and mix and if it doesn't grab you within the first few bars, you just have to be clinically dead. I usually listen to reviews on lots of different systems just to get different perspectives and this sounds absolutely cracking no matter what I play it on. At its heart is an excellent song, performed with lots of frive and energy by Kiria and chums. It's also a fresh, clean sound that flows into your ear holes, blowing away years of cobwebs. Whatever you do, play this track loud for the best effect and just imagine how good this should sound live. Ace song (and a very commercial one at that). MUST HAVE.

Reviewed by Steve Gilmore RebelRiffs Friday, October 24, 2008.

Kiria Madame JoJo's 8 Jan 2008

Rising punk-pop starlet Kiria took to the stage at Madame JoJos just before Christmas to rapturous applause in a red rubber dress. She was introduced on stage by two sexy burlesque dancers, with her male backing band hammering out a sleazy intro befitting the venue. Kiria stormed into her numbers, punk rock with bittersweet lyrics, not so much girl power or even riot grrrl, rather Marilyn Monroe-tinged sweetness with a Kill Bill edge. She has a powerful live presence, matched with some clever, angular punk riffs from lead guitarist, Robert Marche (ex Subway Sect).

If you haven't heard of her yet you are likely to in the next few months. With a guest appearance on the new series of Strutter on MTV (Strutter being comic Paul Kaye's latest creation - a coke-snorting nihilistic entertainer, a humorous take on Sean Penn's character in Carlito's Way) this six-foot leggy blonde pens her own songs, designs her own clothes, finances her band and promotes her own fashion label. She is set to release her first official single, Live Sex on Stage, on Feb 4. The song is a withering attack on the music industry's manipulation of sexuality for financial gain, which she has direct experience of, having been offered all sorts of deals if she will exploit her image - which, she has rejected in true punk fashion with two-fingers in the reverse direction! It's refrain (Live Sex on Stage - it's not about the music/they forgot about the music) has been misinterpreted by some, who may miss the lyrical content of the verses in all the raucous thrashing of guitars and drums.

And it's her lyrics that stand out, even though her sexy stage presence is the first thing people notice. Songs such as Alright, Make Up and Anything for Me are feisty romantic musings, often disparaging of the usual type of man she encounters, who she is either fending off for being a sex-pest or being let down by if they do pass muster. But far from being anti-man, there is the longing for true romance, though, if Kiria's songs are anything to go by, it would probably be of the Tarantino kind. But then this catwalk queen is up for the fight. While the upcoming MTV appearance will certainly garner a new audience, it is the live performance and her bolshie personality that will challenges stereotypes and demand a reaction. It's hard to imagine anyone not putting forward a strong opinion about her one way or another. Her songs are slices of infectious pop that have already gained her a loyal fan base and it's great to know that in a world of z-list celebrity, reality tv and exploitative images, there is still room for individual talent to shine.

Reviewed by Giulio Sica Music News 27th Jan, 2008.

Kiria

I've seen Kiria play several times this year and she keeps getting better and better. Lots of guitars, lots and lots of guitars. the tunes themselves have a way of getting stuck in your head whether you want them to or not.

Some people may write Kiria off on the basis that she is a stunning tall blonde woman whose range of sometimes overwhelming gig costumes have a way of sticking in the memory, and that therefore she couldn't possibly be actually singing, playing or writing those songs - which is obviously complete nonsense.

To those people, I suggest going to her next gig and performing the 'close your eyes' test, which she passes with flying colors. And as the cartoon suggests, her gigs aren't just full of guys pretending they're not really leering at her, it's also girls, singing along with meaningful glints in their eyes. Some boys singing along too. No music on myspace at the moment but there's some on her site. Go listen.

Written by Wayne Myers for Fit and the Conniptions December 8, 2006.

Eat your heart out Blondie!

With a veritable mane of strawberry blonde hair, legs up to her neck and a figure that makes men go weak at the knees and women reach for the surgeon's knife, it's not often someone like Kiria comes along. You'd be very wrong though to think this act is a triumph of style over substance. Yes, Kiria is the kind of stage eye candy that keeps you riveted - confident, strutting, and kinda likeable too, but shut your eyes and you'll realize why this girl is destined to become a fixture on your radio for years to come. Tight guitar riffs underline vocals of sugar coated angst, the overall sound making you wonder what it might have been like if Blondie had been cool enough to join The Clash in 1979.

"Crazy" starts like a languid ballad, lulling the listener into thinking this is all it has, before an angry chorus and guitar break rips you out of the comfort zone. Kiria seems able to put her finger on the female zeitgeist, as in "You're just alright", where another would-be lover is put firmly in his place with a melody that befits her moody disappointment, and the bouncy, here-we-go-again optimism of "Make-Up". "Johnny kissed Madison" is a schoolyard tale of boy meets-girl, while "Jelly Baby" shows she's really a big softie after all.

Her finale "(You don't do) Anything for me" tells it like it is, there being nothing synthetic about this girl's power. Festival crowds are notoriously blase about new acts, and outdoor sound systems have a tendency to make all bands sound much the same in the end, so it is to her credit that Kiria galvanized the Sunrise audience into dancing, a couple of them on the stage! A dash of kitsch, a pinch of punk, a dollop of dance, you can't really put Kiria into words, but it's refreshing to hear pop music re-invent itself with such confidence, verve, wit and charm.

Review by Leo Dexter, Entertainments Manager, Sunrise Celebration, July 2006.

Festival Eye CD KIRIA Crazy

KIRIA is a uniquely talented singer and songwriter from North London. she first picked up a guitar at 13 and developed a obsessive passion for all things musical. She joined her first group (a dodgy covers band, Kiria happily admits) at 17, But she has never looked back - later honing her sound with a stint in Suck Baby Suck. She soon started writing her own songs and, in 2002, founded and produced all-girl band Friction, playing lead guitar before deciding it was time to bite the bullet and step up to the front. She now leads a fantastic band of amazing musicians who will be appearing with her at the Sunrise Celebration Festival.

Kiria's influences range from the Sex Pistols and The Buzzcocks to The Prodigy and Prince. She writes and performs quirky, intelligent, timeless pop with a healthy lashing of early punk as her influence. She creates a unique mixture of creamy slinky, sweet vocals and driving, melodic guitar riffs that pack a serious punch. Her CD track, Crazy, shows an entirely different and original facet of Kiria's varied songwriting talents. With a host of hit singles ready to go, don't miss Kiria, the 21st century Blonde.

Festival Eye 2006.