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Key Information

Kiesa Rae Ellestad (born January 16, 1989), known professionally as Kiesza (/ˈkaɪzə/ KY-zə), is a Canadian singer and multi-instrumentalist from Calgary. In 2017, she was involved in a car accident in Toronto, suffering severe injuries that required her to take several years off to recover. During her career, she has released multiple singles, including "Hideway" and "Giant in My Heart", as well as the albums Sound of a Woman (2014) and Crave (2020). She has also toured, both as headliner and as opening act, and she has earned several nominations and won multiple awards.

Early life

[edit]

Kiesza was born on January 16, 1989,[1][2] in Calgary, where she was also raised.[3][4][5] Her middle name is Rae, but she prefers to be called by her first name only.[3] Her last name, Ellestad,[6][7] is Norwegian from her paternal side, and her grandfather is from Fagernes in Norway.[8][9][10] In an interview with Metro in July 2014, Kiesza claimed that she can trace her lineage to someone who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn, elaborating, "There's a lot of Scottish people in Canada. Tons. My grandpa was of Scottish heritage—he was of the black Douglases."[11]

At 13, Kiesza took a sailing class at summer camp[12] and continued her interest past age 16, when she took part in the Sail and Life Training Society program.[4] She later became a sailing instructor at the Glenmore Sailing School, in 2007. A year after, she joined the reserves of the Royal Canadian Navy,[13] along with her brother,[14] becoming a Naval Communicator.[4][14][15] She taught herself to play guitar during crew singalongs in the Navy.[16]

Meanwhile, she also entered the Miss Universe Canada pageant.[14][17] She stated that her time in the Navy motivated her to give away 4,500 CDs to Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan in 2008.[3][4] Kiesza took part in the Young Canadians program, a singing and dancing group that performed at the Calgary Stampede, where she trained in jazz and tap dancing as well as theatre.[3] She also trained as a ballerina,[17] but a knee injury at age 15 ended her ballet career.[7][18] When Kiesza was 18, she said that her parents' divorce inspired her to write her first song as a way of expressing her feelings.[4] The same year, she heard one of her songs played on the radio.[14]

Music career

[edit]

2006–2013: Career beginnings

[edit]
Kiesza performing at Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary, July 2007

In 2005, CKUA Folk Routes host Tom Coxworth selected Kiesza to perform for a live audience and to be broadcast live on his radio show.[4] Shortly after, she was accepted to Selkirk College in Nelson, British Columbia, where she studied keyboard, voice, and guitar;[3][19] she graduated in 2009.[20] Next, Kiesza won a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.[14] Afterward, she went to New York City in 2010[2] to advance her music career.[14] Although she started as mainly a folk singer,[14] after attending Berklee and then living in New York, she moved to a more "uptempo sound",[14] on which she worked with producer Rami Samir Afuni.[21] In 2010, she was selected to play at the Canada Day celebrations at Trafalgar Square in London, to 30,000 people.[14][22]

In 2012, Kiesza released her first single after starting work with Afuni in New York, a "disco-infused pop" song titled "Oops".[6][21][23] She labelled her style of music at the time as "SteamPop", described by AjanWrites as "a flaming brew of bold, boisterous pop filled with tongue-in-cheek lyrics".[21] In a 2014 interview, Kiesza said "Oops" was made as a joke.[6][21] In 2013, the singer was featured in the single "Triggerfinger" by the Norwegian band Donkeyboy.[24] She also wrote music for other artists, such as Rihanna, Kylie Minogue, and Icona Pop.[6][25]

2014–2016: Sound of a Woman

[edit]
Kiesza in Munich, 2015

In February 2014, Kiesza released the video for the single "Hideaway", through the label Lokal Legend.[21][26][17] Frank Alex of Vanity Fair considered it her "breakout solo single".[27] Idolator called it unique for having a long take throughout the entire video, as Kiesza walked and danced through N 12th Street in Brooklyn, New York City.[26] Kiesza reported to Rolling Stone that she had trouble making the video, partly because she broke a rib just before filming and "couldn't move for an entire month afterward".[28] The video was premiered by Annie Mac on her Mac's Special Delivery segment on BBC Radio 1.[29] "Hideaway" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart.[30][31] The song, written and recorded by Kiesza in less than 90 minutes, achieved further success, with its music video amassing over 135 million views by October 2014, and it also took the top spot on two UK charts and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Dance Airplay chart.[32]

Shortly after "Hideaway" charted, Kiesza released a new video for her cover of Haddaway's "What Is Love".[33] Mike Bell of the Calgary Herald referred to it as a "jaw-droppingly gorgeous cover".[5] Kiesza's second single, "Giant in My Heart", premiered on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on June 13, 2014.[34] It entered the UK Singles Chart at number four, with 33,414 copies sold in its first week.[34] Her first studio album, Sound of a Woman, was released on October 13, 2014, and included "Hideway" and "Giant in my Heart".[35]

Kiesza collaborated with Skrillex and Diplo (working together under the name Jack Ü) on the song "Take Ü There", which was released as the first single from the producers' collaborative 2015 mixtape, Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü.[36][37] The song premiered at Diplo's Mad Decent Block Party on August 9, 2014.[38] She co-wrote Gorgon City's "Go All Night", featuring Jennifer Hudson singing her lyrics, which was on the British duo's debut album, Sirens.[39][40] Kiesza appeared as a guest on Duran Duran's album Paper Gods, on the song "Last Night in the City",[41][42][43] released in September 2015,[44][45] with a music video published a year later.[46] She wrote several songs for Rihanna, which were considered for the Barbadian artist's eighth studio album, Anti.[47] She also worked with Loreen on the 2015 single "I'm in It with You".[48]

2017–present: Hiatus and Crave

[edit]

Kiesza released the single "Dearly Beloved" on January 6, 2017.[49] An accompanying music video was posted on YouTube the same day through the KieszaVevo channel.[49] According to Kiesza, the song and her future material were inspired by her best friend Alicia Lemke, who had died in November 2015 from leukemia.[49] On March 17, 2017, Pitbull released the album Climate Change, featuring a collaboration with Kiesza titled "We Are Strong".[50][51] At the same time, Cerrone issued the album RedLips, which included a collaboration with Kiesza titled "Ain't No Party".[52][53] On June 2, 2017, she was featured in "Don't Want You Back" by Bakermat,[53][54]

Nick Krewen, writing in the Toronto Star, reported that Kiesza was involved in a car accident in 2017 in Toronto, when an Uber vehicle she was in was struck by a taxi in a side collision.[55] He stated that part of her recovery, from what she described as a traumatic brain injury, required her staying in a darkened room for six months.[55] After a two-year hiatus,[56][57][58] Kiesza released a new single, "Sweet Love", and returned to touring in June 2019.[59] Paper magazine referred to the new song as being a "blurring of genres unlike her other dance-pop anthems" and also reported that Kiesza was working on a musical.[59] In 2020, she released her second studio album, Crave.[60] In 2022, she was featured in the song "Money in the Bag" from the Lights album Pep.[61] In May 2024, Kiesza released a new EP, titled Dancing and Crying: Vol. 1, which received praise from critics.[62][63] She issued its follow-up, Dancing and Crying: Vol. 2,[64] in July 2025.[65][66][67]

Other ventures

[edit]
Kiesza in 2014

In 2014, Kiesza was selected to be the face of a new line of fashion eyewear called Color Block by retailer Fendi,[7] appearing in a promotional video shot by Ruth Hogben.[68][69][70] It featured Kiesza "strolling on a treadmill against a painted skyline, while singing and donning the double-framed, colourful sunglasses".[71] She announced plans to release her own line of fashion under the name SteamPop sometime in 2014.[69] In May 2014, she was a guest star at the party organized by Safilo and Fendi at the closing of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival to celebrate the New Color Black Eyewear collection.[72] In September 2014, she reiterated she wanted "to put my own fashions out and just sort of make my own fashion ideas accessible to my audience. That's the idea behind Steampop."[73]

In August 2015, Kiesza designed the latest Bad Bunch NYC latest clothing line, titled Select Surrealism.[74][75] She mentioned blending Old Hollywood style with punk rock elements, as she loved "really eccentric people", citing Alice Cooper and Freddie Mercury, as well as "those with simple glamour" like Audrey Hepburn and Lucille Ball.[76][77]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Kiesza discography

Tours

[edit]

Headlining

  • Sound of a Woman Tour (2015)

Opening act

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Awards Category Work Outcome
2014 UK Music Video Awards Best Pop Video – International "Hideaway" Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Video Nominated
Best New Act Herself Nominated
Best Push Act Nominated
Best Canadian Act Nominated
BBC Music Awards Song of the Year "Hideaway" Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Choreography Nominated
2015 ECHO Awards[78] Female Artist Rock / Pop internationally Sound of a Woman Nominated
Newcomer international Nominated
Juno Awards Single of the Year "Hideaway" Nominated
Video of the Year Won
Breakthrough Artist of the Year Herself Won
Dance Recording of the Year Sound of a Woman Won
YouTube Music Awards 50 Greatest Artists and YouTube Performances Herself Won
MTVU Woodie Awards Cover Woodie Nominated
Co-Sign Woodie "Take Ü There": Jack Ü feat. Kiesza Nominated
Canadian Radio Music Awards Best New Group or Solo Artist: CHR "Hideaway" Won
Best New Group or Solo Artist: AC Nominated
Western Canadian Music Awards Electronic/Dance Recording of the Year[79] Won
International Dance Music Awards Best House/Garage/Deep House Track Won
Best Music Video Nominated
Best Rap/Hip-Hop/Trap Dance Track "Take Ü There": Jack Ü feat. Kiesza Nominated
Best Breakthrough Artist (Solo) Herself Nominated
Much Music Video Awards Video of the Year "Giant in My Heart" Nominated
Best EDM/Dance Nominated
Most Buzzworthy Canadian Sound of a Woman Nominated
2025 Electronic Dance Music Awards Dance/Electro Pop Song of the Year[80] "I Go Dance" Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kiesza

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Kiesza (born Kiesa Rae Ellestad, January 16, 1989) is a Canadian , dancer, and from , , best known for her breakthrough 2014 single "Hideaway," which topped charts in multiple countries including the and became a global dance hit. Her debut album, , released that year, earned her three in 2015: Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Dance Recording of the Year for "Hideaway," and Video of the Year for "Hideaway." Raised in a musical family, Kiesza trained in ballet and tap dancing from a young age, participated in beauty pageants, and at 17 joined the Royal Canadian Navy, where she underwent training as a code-breaker and before pursuing music full-time. She initially gained recognition as a songwriter for artists like and , and as a featured vocalist on tracks such as Jack Ü's "Take Ü There" with and . Collaborations with acts like , Pitbull, and producer further solidified her presence in electronic pop and dance music. In 2017, Kiesza suffered a after being struck by a in , leading to a two-year hiatus from music as she focused on recovery. She made a triumphant return in 2020 as an independent artist under her own label, Zebra Spirit Tribe, with the album Crave, which explored themes of resilience and received praise for its electro-pop sound. Building on this, she released the EP Dancing and Crying: Vol. 1 in 2024, followed by Dancing and Crying: Vol. 2 in July 2025, blending influences with introspective lyrics on love and vulnerability. In 2025, she performed at high-profile events like the opening alongside and announced the Dancing and Crying Tour across .

Early life and education

Upbringing and family background

Kiesa Rae Ellestad, known professionally as Kiesza, was born on January 16, 1989, in , , . She comes from a family with Norwegian heritage on her paternal side—her surname Ellestad traces back to her grandfather from Fagernes, —and Scottish roots on her maternal side, including descent from the Black Douglas clan. Her family has a history tied to seafaring and military service, with her father having served briefly in the armed forces and her grandfather piloting planes during and becoming the first to land in Trinidad at age 16; these influences shaped a resilient and adventurous family dynamic, though the family remained rooted in throughout her upbringing. Growing up in northeast , Kiesza was exposed to music from a young age through her mother's love of pop vocal , which later informed her artistic style. She began training in at age three and, during her teenage years, also pursued tap, , and , performing in local productions that honed her stage presence. As a child and teenager, she also participated in beauty pageants. Her initial musical exposure came through self-directed creativity, including attending drama school, briefly joining a local death metal band where she handled screamed vocals, and writing early songs such as a demo titled "Oops" for another artist, complete with an animated video featuring a friend's baby; these experiences involved local performances and songwriting in Calgary before she pursued formal education and military service.

Military service and initial musical pursuits

At the age of 17, in 2006, Kiesza enlisted in the Forces Naval Reserve, specifically training in the as a naval communicator and code-breaker, with additional sharp shooting skills that led to potential mentoring, alongside her brother. Her service, which included boot camp training where she excelled in marksmanship, instilled a strong sense of discipline and provided opportunities for extensive , broadening her through naval operations and experiences. Following her military tenure, Kiesza pursued formal music education, enrolling at in , where she studied keyboard, voice, and guitar, graduating in 2009. She subsequently earned a scholarship to in Boston, Massachusetts, which expanded her skills from folk influences toward broader genres like pop and electronic music. During and after her studies, Kiesza began songwriting and performing, drawing on personal experiences to craft introspective lyrics. Her early efforts culminated in the 2012 release of "Oops," a playful, disco-infused pop single she shared initially on , marking her first foray into professional recording.

Music career

Career beginnings (2008–2013)

Following her time at , where she honed her songwriting skills and graduated in 2011, Kiesza relocated to in 2010 to immerse herself in the city's dynamic music environment. There, she shifted from her earlier folk influences toward electronic and pop experimentation, drawing on Berklee's training as a launchpad for broader exploration. In New York, Kiesza established herself as a songwriter for established artists, penning tracks for , , , and , which helped her build industry connections through sessions and collaborations. This period marked her transition into professional music-making, as she navigated the competitive scene by focusing on vocal-driven pop compositions infused with elements. Kiesza's early independent releases began to emerge in 2012, starting with her debut single "Oops," a disco-infused pop track co-produced with Rami Samir Afuni that playfully addressed themes of impulsive romance. The song represented her initial foray into self-directed electronic pop production, recorded amid her efforts to perform in New York clubs and underground venues to gain exposure. These experiences allowed her to refine her sound, blending soulful vocals with upbeat rhythms while fostering relationships in the electronic music community.

Breakthrough with Sound of a Woman (2014–2015)

Kiesza's breakthrough came with the release of her debut single "Hideaway" in April 2014, a track she co-wrote and co-produced with Rami Afuni during a spontaneous 90-minute session in New York. The song's accompanying , directed by Kiesza and Afuni, was shot in a single continuous take on a street, capturing her dancing through traffic and interacting with passersby, which contributed to its viral appeal. "Hideaway" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the fastest-selling debut single by a female artist that year with over 136,000 copies sold in its first week, and earned certifications including 2× Platinum in the UK (BPI) and Gold in the US (RIAA) as of 2025. Following the success of "Hideaway," Kiesza signed with through Afuni's Lokal Legend imprint, which facilitated her major-label debut. Her first studio album, , was released on October 21, 2014, in the United States and November 17 in the , featuring a mix of , R&B, and electronic influences largely co-produced by Kiesza and Afuni, with contributions from artists like Joey Bada$$ on the track "Bad Thing." The album peaked at number 40 on the , showcasing Kiesza's and thematic explorations of love and vulnerability. The album spawned follow-up singles, including "Giant in My Heart," a reimagined cover of Ace of Base's "," which peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK Dance Chart upon its August 2014 release. Other tracks like "No Enemiesz" featuring highlighted the album's collaborative production style, blending beats with contemporary pop elements. To promote Sound of a Woman, Kiesza embarked on international tours across and in late 2014 and early 2015, including high-profile festival appearances such as her set at in June 2014 on the John Peel Stage, where she performed "Hideaway" to a receptive crowd. These live shows solidified her reputation as a dynamic performer, emphasizing her background in and military-honed discipline.

Dearly Beloved and collaborations (2016–2017)

Following the breakthrough success of her debut album , Kiesza pursued several high-profile collaborations that expanded her presence in the electronic and pop landscapes. In September 2016, the official for "Last Night in the City," her guest vocal feature on Duran Duran's 2015 album , premiered, directed by Nick Egan and the Snorri Brothers, capturing a celebratory live performance with the band. The track blended with elements, highlighting Kiesza's versatile vocal delivery alongside . In 2017, Kiesza continued her collaborative momentum with appearances on established artists' projects. She provided vocals for "We Are Strong" on Pitbull's tenth studio album , released on March 17 via , where her soaring chorus complemented the track's motivational electronic-rap fusion. Later that year, in , she teamed up with Dutch producer for "Don't Want You Back," a house-infused pop single that emphasized emotional introspection over dancefloor energy. These partnerships, along with her earlier contribution to Jack Ü's 2014 hit "Take Ü There" (Skrillex and Diplo's collaborative project), underscored how her rising profile from opened doors to major electronic and pop figures. Kiesza marked her solo return on January 6, 2017, with the single "Dearly Beloved," released through and produced by , known for his work with and . The song, accompanied by a minimalist video showcasing her dance background in an empty warehouse setting, leaned into new wave and influences within an electronic framework, signaling an from her prior house-oriented sound. During this period, she began developing her sophomore album alongside Price, incorporating deeper electronic textures and R&B sensibilities to explore more personal and introspective themes, though the project remained unfinished at the time. Concurrently, Kiesza initiated a creative partnership with producer Chris Malinchak in 2017, forming the collaborative alias Malinkiesza, which yielded soulful tracks blending her vocals with his deep, groove-oriented production. This venture produced outputs like the holiday single "I Only Love You at " in 2018, emphasizing warm, R&B-tinged . She also began work on "Phantom of the Dancefloor" in 2017, experimenting with gothic and operatic elements and later featuring Philippe Sly on the title track, which was released as a single in 2018.

Hiatus, recovery, and Crave (2017–2020)

In July 2017, Kiesza was involved in a car accident in that resulted in a (TBI), forcing an immediate halt to her music career. The injury caused severe symptoms including excruciating headaches, loss of balance, nausea, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound, confining her to a darkened room for six months. She collapsed after a performance in shortly after the accident, leading to canceled shows and an inability to engage in creative activities like songwriting or dancing, which exacerbated brain swelling from stress. Kiesza's rehabilitation process spanned several years, beginning with isolation in Los Angeles for family support and incorporating therapies such as neurofeedback, meditation, and dietary changes eliminating alcohol, caffeine, and grains to leverage brain plasticity. It took approximately 1.5 years for noticeable progress, during which she focused on self-protection strategies to manage fear, stress, and mood swings. Mentally, she grappled with profound isolation, the abandonment by some industry friends who failed to reach out, and grief over the loss of her best friend and producer earlier that year, leading to a reevaluation of her priorities and an intense journey toward . became her primary emotional outlet, as traditional mechanisms were inaccessible, and she described her former self-identity as a as having "died." During the hiatus, Kiesza's releases were minimal, emphasizing personal healing over professional output; she returned tentatively in 2019 with the single "Sweet Love," followed by tracks like "When Boys Cry" in early that previewed her evolving sound. Her second studio , Crave, was delayed but released on August 14, , through her independent label Zebra Spirit Tribe, marking a rebirth amid ongoing recovery. The explores themes of resilience and , channeling the trauma of her into positive, upbeat that motivates listeners, with standout tracks like "All of the Feelings" addressing emotional processing post-TBI and "Run Renegade" embodying defiant joy.

Independent releases and return (2021–2023)

Following the release of her album Crave in 2020, which marked her return after a period of recovery from a , Kiesza transitioned fully into independent artistry, self-managing her career and handling aspects of production to maintain creative control. Having parted ways with in 2018 amid challenges in the industry, she embraced a DIY ethos that allowed her to experiment freely without major label constraints. This shift enabled a more personal approach to music-making, where she often began with raw voice memos or acoustic ideas before building tracks in her home setup. In early 2021, Kiesza collaborated with electronic producer on the EP Bridged By A Lightwave, released via , featuring the title track co-written during a moment of while she was en route to an airport. The project blended her emotive vocals with atmospheric , serving as a bridge from the introspective tones of Crave to her evolving independent sound. Later that year, a deluxe edition of Crave was issued, incorporating remixes and additional tracks that highlighted her growing emphasis on vulnerability in songwriting, drawing from her recovery experiences. Kiesza's independent output continued with select features and singles in 2022 and 2023, including her contribution to Lights' album PEP on the track "Money in the Bag," a high-energy pop-rock collaboration that showcased her versatile vocal delivery. She also released standalone singles like "One More Time" in 2022 via Nytrix, exploring themes of longing and resilience, and "Tree" in 2023 with Chris Malinchak as MalinKi, which delved into emotional growth. These releases exemplified her selective approach, prioritizing quality collaborations and self-directed projects over prolific output. Additionally, she lent vocals to "Egyptian Sun" with producer Francis Mercier in 2023, infusing the track with uplifting, sun-soaked vibes reflective of her post-recovery optimism. Performances resumed gradually amid the , starting with virtual appearances and small-scale live shows in 2021 to rebuild her stage presence safely. She debuted new material, including tracks from Bridged By A Lightwave, at intimate venues like the Starlight Theatre in , on July 3, 2021, where she performed hits like "Hideaway" alongside fresh songs such as "All of the Feelings." Later that year, she appeared at festivals including Together Again in , , on September 5, 2021, delivering sets that mixed high-energy dance anthems with more vulnerable, acoustic-leaning numbers. These outings marked a cautious return, focusing on connection with fans in controlled environments. Throughout this period, Kiesza's lyrics increasingly explored themes of vulnerability, influenced by her brain injury recovery and the emotional toll of industry pressures. Songs like those on Bridged By A Lightwave and subsequent singles conveyed raw , encouraging emotional —such as in her earlier 2020 track "When Boys Cry," which urged men to embrace tears as a form of release, a motif that carried into her 2021–2023 work. This artistic evolution positioned her music as a therapeutic outlet, blending with folk-infused honesty to process personal healing.

Dancing and Crying series (2024–present)

In May 2024, Kiesza released Dancing and Crying: Vol. 1, a six-track EP marking the beginning of a planned series of releases that blend , electro-pop, and elements, showcasing her evolution in through pulsating rhythms and personal storytelling. The EP, self-produced in collaboration with producers like Sugar Jesus, received critical acclaim for its raw honesty and innovative fusion of genres, with reviewers praising tracks such as "Dancing and Crying" and "I Go Dance" for revitalizing her signature sound while exploring themes of self-discovery and late-night . Her recovery from a 2017 had enabled this renewed creative energy, allowing her to channel personal into vibrant, . The series continued with Dancing and Crying: Vol. 2 on July 25, 2025, another six-track EP that delves deeper into themes of joy and through dark, emotional vibes and intimate explorations of sensuality and celebration. Lead singles like "Stays " and "Runway" (featuring NBA player ) highlight the EP's production style, emphasizing spontaneous collaborations and underground dance influences that create an immersive, late-night atmosphere. Critics noted the volume's seductive pop-driven sound as a natural progression, balancing euphoric highs with vulnerable lows to evoke emotional release on the dancefloor. Operating independently and self-releasing the EPs, Kiesza announced her 2025 Dancing and Crying Tour, featuring North American dates starting in July, including performances in , , on July 1 and , , on August 5, to promote the series' live energy. Looking ahead, she has teased Volumes 3 and 4 of the project, with potential for a fifth, framing the series as evolving "seasons" of music, alongside hints at broader creative ventures like a possible musical .

Other ventures

Modeling and DJing

Kiesza entered the industry in 2014, shortly after the release of her debut single "Hideaway," when she became the face of Fendi's color-block eyewear campaign, marking her first major endorsement with a luxury . That same year, she announced plans to launch her own clothing line, SteamPop, which she described as an affordable fusion of various styles aimed at blending with high elements, slated for a year-end debut. In 2015, Kiesza deepened her involvement in fashion through a collaboration with New York-based sportswear label Bad Bunch NYC, serving as guest creative designer for a 51-piece capsule collection that incorporated her personal aesthetic of bold, urban-inspired designs. She continued with high-profile partnerships, including serving as the face of jewelry campaigns for Maison Birks and a beauty collaboration with M.A.C Cosmetics in 2017, where she co-created limited-edition products reflecting her vibrant, performance-ready style. Her modeling work has also featured in editorial spreads, such as a dynamic, dance-infused photoshoot for TWELV magazine in 2017, highlighting her ability to merge movement and couture. Following her musical breakthrough, Kiesza expanded into DJing around 2015, performing sets at clubs in New York and London that drew on her electronic music roots and incorporated live vocals for an immersive experience. Her DJ performances often integrated seamlessly with her singing and dancing, creating hybrid live shows that energized audiences at venues blending house and pop elements.

Acting and multimedia projects

Kiesza has expanded her creative output into acting and directing, primarily through music videos and short films that blend narrative storytelling with her musical performances. She co-directed and starred in the one-take music video for her breakthrough single "Hideaway" in 2014, collaborating with Ljuba Castot and Rami Samir Afuni to choreograph a continuous street dance sequence that captured urban energy and propelled the track to over 500 million YouTube views. This project marked her early foray into visual directing, emphasizing her hands-on approach to multimedia. She has since appeared as the lead in numerous self-produced music videos, including "Giant in My Heart" (2014), where she portrayed a heartbroken figure in a surreal, dreamlike setting, and "Sound of a Woman" (2015), which featured bold, empowering visuals aligned with her album's themes. In 2020, during the lockdown, Kiesza starred in the "Storm," a collaborative project directed by Rocky Romano and Miranda Winters that transformed her single into a global visual narrative supporting frontline workers. The film utilized over 100 drone pilots worldwide to create sweeping aerial shots of empty landscapes, with Kiesza performing amid Toronto's deserted shores, raising funds for pandemic relief through donations. More recently, she took on acting roles in independent shorts, including "The Woman at the Vending Machine" (2023), where she played Maggie in a introspective drama exploring isolation, and "Shellshock" (2023), where she played the role of Lisa the Secretary in a narrative piece highlighting everyday tensions in professional settings. Kiesza announced in that she was developing a full musical production, drawing from her songwriting and performance background to create an original stage work. In interviews, she described the project as a "full blown musical production" integrating her eclectic influences, though details on its narrative or score remained under wraps at the time. Her television guest roles have often intertwined acting with discussions of her artistry and personal recovery. On , Kiesza performed a medley of "Hideaway" and "" in 2015 during the host's birthday week, showcasing her live dance-infused energy to a national audience. She returned in 2022 for an in-depth interview, opening up about her from a 2017 car accident and performing "," while also debuting as the vocalist for the NFT-based band MilkyWay Pirates in a historic multimedia segment. Earlier, she appeared on in 2014, delivering a high-energy rendition of "Hideaway" that adapted the video's for the studio stage. Kiesza has frequently guested on to delve into her creative process and challenges as an artist. In a 2024 episode of CBC's Q with Tom Power, she reflected on the viral success of "Hideaway," her transition from to music, and the impact of her brain injury on her artistry, emphasizing resilience and reinvention. Other appearances, such as on the 128 Podcast in 2020 and America's Dance 30 in 2024, allowed her to discuss songwriting techniques, collaborations, and the evolution of her sound, often tying back to her multimedia explorations like video direction.

Personal life

Health challenges and recovery

In July 2017, Kiesza was involved in a car accident in while riding in an , when a collided with the side of the vehicle, causing her to curl into a ball and strike her head. The impact resulted in a (TBI), initially misdiagnosed as a , with immediate symptoms including ringing in the ears, balance issues, confusion, nausea, dizziness, excruciating headaches, and a burning sensation in her hands. Over the following days and months, these escalated to severe and reading difficulties—limiting her to just one or two chapters per day—emotional instability, intense fatigue, disrupted sleep patterns (such as sleeping up to 18 hours yet remaining exhausted). From 2018 through 2020, Kiesza underwent extensive medical treatments to manage her TBI, including , sessions, and brain plasticity exercises such as daily reading to rebuild neural pathways. She also adopted lifestyle changes like eliminating alcohol, , and grains from her diet to reduce and support healing, while remaining largely housebound or bedbound during the most debilitating periods. These interventions addressed the swelling triggered by stress or overexertion, though recovery was nonlinear and spanned several years. Long-term effects of the injury included ongoing balance problems, chronic fatigue, and vulnerability to "brain crashes" from overstimulation, which continue to impact her daily life. In response, Kiesza has become a vocal for brain injury awareness, sharing her experiences through interviews and affiliations with organizations like Brain Injury and the World Brain Mapping Foundation to promote , support for youth, and hope for survivors worldwide. Key personal milestones in her recovery included noticeable improvements after about 1.5 years, culminating in 2019 when she regained the cognitive and physical capacity to perform and write , marking a turning point in rebuilding her abilities. This influenced the introspective themes of and resilience in her 2020 album Crave.

Philanthropy and advocacy

Following her recovery from a traumatic brain injury in 2017, Kiesza has actively supported organizations focused on brain health and mental well-being, drawing from her personal experiences to raise awareness. In 2025, she collaborated with the World Brain Mapping Foundation, receiving the Beacon of Courage and Dedication award and serving as a global advocate for neurotrauma research and youth mental health initiatives, including public speaking and performances to highlight recovery stories and the need for accessible neurotechnology. She has also shared her journey with Brain Injury Canada, contributing to their storytelling efforts that promote resilience and support for survivors. These efforts underscore her commitment to destigmatizing brain injuries and fostering mental health resources for young people. As a prominent ally to the 2SLGBTQI+ community, Kiesza has used her platform for advocacy through performances, statements, and public endorsements. She headlined Pride Toronto's Opening Night in 2025, emphasizing unity and proactive support for queer youth and seniors amid rising challenges. In interviews and , she has expressed deep appreciation for , sharing messages of love and confidence for LGBTQ+ fans while critiquing non-supportive attitudes within broader communities. Her long-standing includes personal anecdotes, such as her close bonds with queer friends, and performances at events like Chicago's Market Days, where she promotes inclusivity in music spaces. Kiesza has also engaged in supporting within the music industry, advocating for better treatment and opportunities through public discussions and . In , she launched a video campaign urging donations to aid front-line workers during the , motivated by her own industry experiences. She has spoken candidly about gender inequities, offering advice to emerging female artists on navigating challenges like exploitation and underrepresentation, as highlighted in interviews on . Additionally, in 2022, she released NFTs via the MetaMoves collection, with all proceeds directed to 3D-printed prosthetic limbs for survivors, tying into broader efforts in creative fields. These actions reflect her push for equity and support systems for .

Artistry

Musical style and influences

Kiesza's musical style is primarily rooted in and electronic music, often fusing elements of , R&B, and alternative pop to create energetic, movement-oriented tracks. Her breakthrough single "Hideaway" (2014) exemplifies this through its euphoric pop-infused sound, characterized by propulsive beats around 120-124 BPM and soulful vocals that emphasize full-body expression over faster EDM tempos. A distinctive aspect of her aesthetic is the one-take video approach, as seen in the "Hideaway" clip, which captures continuous through streets in a single unbroken shot, blending raw urban energy with intricate sequences to mirror the song's dynamic flow. Her influences draw heavily from 1980s and 1990s pop and dance traditions, shaped by her mother's passion for and , which instilled an early appreciation for big-voiced divas and nostalgic house grooves. Key inspirations include 's emotive songwriting, and Barbra Streisand's powerful vocal delivery, and Lauryn Hill's soulful R&B, as well as 1990s vocal house acts that prioritize space for expressive singing over dense production. Additional familial ties, such as her Norwegian father's affinity for , contribute to her melodic pop sensibilities, while later nods to Prince appear in guitar-driven funk elements on tracks like the title song from her 2020 album Crave. Kiesza possesses a light vocal range spanning approximately three octaves (E3 to F♯6), enabling piercing high notes and soaring melodies that add operatic flair to her electronic backings. In live performances, she incorporates improvisational elements through dynamic vocal runs and physical movement, drawing from her theater and training to create immersive, high-energy shows that extend her studio style. Throughout her career, Kiesza's sound has evolved from folk-influenced songwriting in her early years to the upbeat, ecstatic house-pop of her 2014 debut , and further into more introspective electro-pop and R&B fusions in the . Post-2017 accident recovery, albums like Crave (2020) shift toward tactile synth-driven tracks with -inspired frenetic energy, sugary choruses, and emotional depth exploring love and upheaval, while her 2024–present Dancing and Crying series returns to healing-oriented with / influences but greater personal vulnerability. This progression reflects a blend of commercial accessibility and artistic reinvention, prioritizing conceptual themes of resilience over rigid genre boundaries.

Production and songwriting approach

Kiesza has maintained a hands-on approach to music production throughout her , often developing ideas in home studio environments using voice memos to capture initial concepts. She typically begins the creative process by playing instruments to establish chord progressions, melodies, and before refining them in a professional studio setting. This method allows her to maintain control over the core elements of her tracks while incorporating electronic production techniques during development. Her songwriting process draws heavily from personal experiences, treating it as a form of journaling to process emotions and observations from her life. Kiesza frequently co-writes with producers, such as Rami Samir Afuni, adapting her style to collaborators through extended discussions that build creative synergy before composing—sometimes spending days in conversation without producing music. This collaborative dynamic emphasizes emotional connection and has been central to projects like her debut album . Kiesza places significant emphasis on live in her work, playing , guitar, , , and to lay foundational layers that are then blended with electronic elements for a hybrid . She starts compositions on these acoustic tools to infuse organic textures, which are later integrated with digital production to create her signature dance-oriented tracks. This blend highlights her background and allows for a balance between raw emotional expression and polished electronic arrangements. Following her 2017 , Kiesza's songwriting evolved in the toward greater vulnerability, unlocking deeper internal themes that strengthened her lyrical output during recovery. She shifted to more introspective and community-oriented writing, collaborating with producers like Sugar Jesus from her music circle to explore personal healing and relational dynamics. This period marked a "rebirth" in her approach, prioritizing emotional authenticity over commercial pressures while using songwriting as a therapeutic tool to navigate relapses and foster resilience.

Discography

Studio albums

Kiesza's self-titled debut studio album was independently released in 2008. Comprising 9 tracks with influences from pop rock, folk rock, and soft rock, it was self-produced and distributed in limited fashion without major chart success or widespread recognition. The tracklist is as follows:
  1. "Stuck To You"
  2. "Bent on You"
  3. "Who's To Blame" (featuring Gilles Parenteau)
  4. "Simple Truth"
  5. "Time"
  6. "What Do I Do"
  7. "Any Love"
  8. "Dancing in the Rain"
  9. "Kiesza"
Her major label debut studio album, Sound of a Woman, was released on October 21, 2014, by Island Records and 4th & B'way Records. The album features 11 tracks blending house, pop, and electronic elements, drawing from Kiesza's experiences in New York City's underground music scene. It includes collaborations with artists like Mick Jenkins and Joey Bada$$, and production from Rami Afuni. The record peaked at number 40 on the UK Albums Chart and number 1 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Commercially, lead single "Hideaway" achieved platinum certification in the UK for sales exceeding 600,000 units, while "Giant in My Heart" reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Critically, Sound of a Woman received mixed to positive reviews, praised for its energetic dance tracks but critiqued for occasional formulaic elements. Pitchfork gave it a 6.8 out of 10, highlighting the album's capable songwriting but lack of a distinct artistic voice. The tracklist is as follows:
  1. "Hideaway"
  2. "No Enemiesz" (featuring Dragonette)
  3. "Losin' My Mind" (featuring Mick Jenkins)
  4. "So Deep"
  5. "Vietnam"
  6. "Bad Thing" (featuring Joey Bada$$)
  7. "What Is Love"
  8. "Giant in My Heart"
  9. "Sound of a Woman"
  10. "Piano"
  11. "Over Myself"
Kiesza's second major studio album, Crave, was independently released on August 14, 2020, via her own label Zebra Spirit Tribe. Comprising 9 tracks, the album explores themes of emotional healing, vulnerability, and recovery from personal hardships, including a 2017 car accident in that left her with . Produced with collaborators like Alex Nadon and Tomas Barfod, it incorporates , , and introspective ballads. Crave debuted at number 81 on the UK Album Downloads Chart but did not achieve significant mainstream chart success due to its independent distribution. No major certifications were issued for the album itself, though singles like "All of the Feelings" gained traction on dance radio. Reception for Crave was generally favorable, with critics commending its raw emotional depth and return to form after a hiatus. awarded 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a "solid comeback" full of promising pop anthems. scored it 7.0 out of 10, appreciating its focus on overstimulation and addictive hooks amid personal turmoil. The standard tracklist includes:
  1. "Run Renegade"
  2. "All of the Feelings"
  3. "Crave"
  4. "Can't Be Saved"
  5. "Love Me with Your Lie"
  6. "When Boys Cry"
  7. ""
  8. ""
  9. "Slow It Down"
As of November 2025, Kiesza has not released any additional full-length studio albums beyond Crave. Her recent output, including the 2024 and 2025 Dancing and Crying EPs, focuses on shorter formats emphasizing house music exploration.

Extended plays and singles

Kiesza's extended plays and singles have marked key phases in her career, from breakthrough hits that blended house and pop to collaborative projects and recent independent releases exploring emotional dance narratives. Her early singles achieved significant commercial success, while later EPs under her own label, Zebra Spirit Tribe, reflect a more introspective evolution post-hiatus. The breakthrough single "Hideaway," released on April 11, 2014, via Lokal Legend and , featured a acclaimed one-take shot in and became a global hit, topping the UK Singles Chart for one week and reaching number one in . Its success, driven by organic viral spread rather than major promotion, established Kiesza as a rising voice in electronic pop. Following this, "Take Ü There," a collaboration with production duo Jack Ü (Skrillex and ), was released on February 24, 2015, through , , and ; the track peaked at number 43 on the UK Singles Chart and highlighted Kiesza's vocal versatility in EDM contexts. After a two-year hiatus due to a car accident, Kiesza returned with "Phantom of the Dancefloor" on August 10, 2018, via Reverse Psycho Logic, featuring opera singer Philippe Sly and fusing , pop, and orchestral elements as a statement of resilience. The single received praise for its dramatic production but did not chart highly. In 2019, "Sweet Love," released on June 20 via her independent label Zebra Spirit Tribe, served as a tender comeback track emphasizing vulnerability, though it focused more on artistic recovery than commercial metrics. Kiesza's collaborative EP Malinkiesza with producer Chris Malinchak, released in 2017 as a self-released project, delved into grooves across tracks like "Mother" and "Weird Kid," showcasing experimental partnerships outside major labels. Building on this episodic approach, her 2024 EP Dancing and Crying Vol. 1, released May 24 via Zebra Spirit Tribe, bridged folk influences with through songs like "I Go Dance," earning acclaim for its raw emotional depth without entering major charts.
Extended PlayRelease DateLabelNotes
Malinkiesza (with Chris Malinchak)2017Self-releasedCollaboration exploring ; included singles "Mother" (2018) and "3 Hos" (December 7, 2018).
Dancing and Crying Vol. 1May 24, 2024Zebra Spirit TribeSix tracks including "Dancing and Crying" and "Heaven Ain't Calling"; praised for fusing Americana roots with electronic beats.
Dancing and Crying Vol. 2July 25, 2025Zebra Spirit TribeFollow-up with tracks like "Stays In Bed" and "Runway"; continued thematic exploration of joy and sorrow in .
In 2025, Kiesza issued several non-album singles tied to the Dancing and Crying series, including "So Erotic" and "Stays In Bed" (both via Zebra Spirit Tribe), which extended the EP's narrative of personal through upbeat yet tracks, alongside a remixed version of "I Go Dance." These releases, while not charting prominently, underscored her shift to artist-led output and live performance integration.

Tours and live performances

Early tours and festival appearances

Kiesza's breakthrough single "Hideaway," released in 2014, propelled her into the spotlight and directly fueled her early live performances, including the Sound of a Woman Tour launched to promote her debut album of the same name, issued in October 2014. The tour encompassed numerous dates across and , marking her transition from club residencies to larger venues amid rising popularity. In , she played key shows in late 2014, including Electric in on November 18, The Ritz in on November 27, in on November 11, and La Gaité Lyrique in on November 8. North American stops featured performances at venues like in New York on December 31 and The Roxy in West Hollywood on August 26, often drawing crowds eager for her high-energy sets. Her festival appearances further amplified her profile during this period. At , Kiesza performed on the Sonic Stage on June 28, delivering a set that included "Hideaway" to an enthusiastic audience and solidifying her reputation for dynamic live energy. The following year, she debuted at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 10, 2015, taking the Mojave Tent stage in a vibrant Wonder Woman-inspired outfit and performing tracks like "The Love," which highlighted her blend of dance and vocals amid the event's massive crowds. Adapting her material for live settings presented notable challenges, particularly with "Hideaway," whose one-take music video demanded intricate choreography that Kiesza had to replicate onstage while singing live. The rapid ascent of the track left her with limited prepared material—"I only really had one song"—forcing quick rethinking of performances to avoid becoming a "gimmick," as she navigated breath control and physical exertion during extended dance routines. These adaptations tested her endurance, especially as festival slots and tour dates intensified in 2014 and 2015, but they underscored her commitment to authentic, immersive shows.

Headlining tours and residencies

Following her recovery from a sustained in a car accident, Kiesza returned to live performances in 2019 with a series of headlining shows to promote her single "Sweet Love." These early post-recovery engagements, which marked her re-entry into touring after a two-year hiatus, were limited in scope to accommodate ongoing health management, often featuring shorter sets of just a few songs to mitigate symptoms like fatigue and balance issues. Notable appearances included headlining slots at Petit Campus in on July 5 and The Drake Hotel in on July 6. The release of her sophomore album Crave on August 14, 2020, was met with constrained promotional efforts due to the global , which halted large-scale live events. Kiesza's activities shifted to virtual formats, including a collaborative project titled "" that incorporated footage from over 100 filmmakers across 27 countries to support frontline workers, rather than traditional in-person tours. Any planned physical promotional shows were postponed or canceled, reflecting the broader industry's shutdown. Between 2022 and 2024, Kiesza focused on intimate club performances and DJ sets as she rebuilt her stage presence independently through her label, Zebra Spirit Tribe. These engagements emphasized a hybrid approach blending live vocals with DJ elements, allowing flexibility amid her considerations. Key examples included west coast club dates announced for fall 2024 and a headlining DJ-supported show at Swan Dive in on October 17, 2024, with opener , which highlighted her roots in a setting. In 2025, Kiesza opened the on January 1 alongside , performing a medley of hits in . She launched her most extensive headlining endeavor to date with the Dancing and Crying Tour, a North American run promoting Dancing and Crying: Volume 2, released on July 25. The tour featured intimate venues to foster close audience connection, starting with a Canada Day performance in , on July 1, followed by dates at Crafthouse Stage & Grill in (August 5), Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights (August 6), El Club in (August 7), Bottom Lounge in (August 8), X-Ray Arcade in (August 10), Club SAW in (August 19), Bar Le Ritz PDB in (August 20), and Maxwell's Concerts & Events in Waterloo (August 22). The itinerary extended into September with additional headlining and support slots, such as at El Rey Theatre in on September 27. Setlists centered on new material like "Dancing and Crying," "," and "Stays in Bed," interspersed with classics such as "Hideaway" and "Phantom of the Dance Floor," delivering nonstop hybrid live-DJ energy across approximately 90-minute shows. By this point, health adaptations had evolved, with Kiesza incorporating full choreography while prioritizing recovery protocols like vocal rest between dates.

Awards and nominations

Juno Awards

Kiesza achieved significant recognition at the , Canada's leading music honors, particularly in following the breakout success of her debut single "Hideaway" and album . She secured three wins that year, highlighting her rapid rise in the Canadian music scene. These victories underscored her contributions to dance and , cementing her status as an emerging talent. Her 2015 triumphs included Breakthrough Artist of the Year, awarded for her overall impact as a new performer; Dance Recording of the Year for , recognizing the album's innovative electronic production; and Video of the Year for the "Hideaway" , praised for its creative one-take and . She was also nominated for Single of the Year ("Hideaway") and Album of the Year (), bringing her total to four nods that year. In her Breakthrough Artist acceptance speech, Kiesza emphasized gratitude to her fans and the LGBTQ+ community, crediting them for amplifying her globally and using the platform to advocate for inclusivity. These Juno wins played a pivotal role in elevating Kiesza's profile within , bridging her international acclaim—such as "Hideaway" topping charts in the UK—with domestic validation and inspiring other Canadian artists in electronic genres. In subsequent years, she received technical nominations related to her 2020 album Crave, including Recording Engineer of the Year for the track "All of the Feelings" in 2021, reflecting ongoing industry acknowledgment of her collaborative work. No further artist-specific wins or major category nominations have been recorded through 2025.
YearCategoryWorkResultSource
2015Breakthrough Artist of the YearKieszaWonCBC News
2015Dance Recording of the YearSound of a WomanWonBillboard
2015Video of the Year"Hideaway"WonBillboard
2015Single of the Year"Hideaway"NominatedComplex
2015Album of the YearNominatedComplex
2021Recording Engineer of the Year"All of the Feelings" (Crave)NominatedCBC Music

Other accolades

Kiesza received several international nominations in 2014 for her breakthrough single "Hideaway," highlighting her rapid rise in the global music scene. At the , she earned a for Best Choreography in recognition of the innovative one-take video directed by herself alongside Ljuba Castot and Rami Afuni. Similarly, the track was nominated for Best Video at the , where Kiesza also contended in Best New Act, Best Push Act, and Best Canadian Act categories, marking her as a standout emerging artist. In the same year, "Hideaway" garnered further acclaim for its visual storytelling, securing a nomination for Best Pop Video – International at the 2014 UK Music Video Awards. Across the Atlantic, the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year at the 2014 BBC Music Awards, underscoring its widespread appeal and cultural impact. The following year, Kiesza's contributions extended to collaborative work and covers, earning her two nominations at the 2015 mtvU Woodie Awards: Cover Woodie for her rendition of Hozier's "Take Me to Church" and Co-Sign Woodie for her feature on Jack Ü's "Take Ü There." She was also nominated for Female Artist Rock/Pop International and International Newcomer at the 2015 ECHO Awards in Germany, celebrating her debut album Sound of a Woman. Additionally, "Take Ü There" received a nod for Best Rap/Hip-Hop/Trap Dance Track at the 2015 International Dance Music Awards, reflecting her influence in electronic and dance genres. In Canada, she won Best New Group or Solo Artist: CHR at the 2015 Canadian Radio Music Awards for her radio success with "Hideaway," and was nominated for World Recording of the Year at the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards. Kiesza was recognized in the 2015 YouTube Music Awards as one of 50 artists honored for the greatest YouTube performances and artists, based on metrics like views and engagement, affirming her strong online presence driven by "Hideaway," which amassed tens of millions of views.
YearAwardCategoryResultWork
2014MTV Video Music AwardsBest ChoreographyNominated"Hideaway"
2014MTV Europe Music AwardsBest VideoNominated"Hideaway"
2014MTV Europe Music AwardsBest New ActNominatedHerself
2014MTV Europe Music AwardsBest Push ActNominatedHerself
2014MTV Europe Music AwardsBest Canadian ActNominatedHerself
2014UK Music Video AwardsBest Pop Video – InternationalNominated"Hideaway"
2014BBC Music AwardsSong of the YearNominated"Hideaway"
2015mtvU Woodie AwardsCover WoodieNominated"Take Me to Church" (cover)
2015mtvU Woodie AwardsCo-Sign WoodieNominated"Take Ü There" (Jack Ü feat. Kiesza)
2015ECHO AwardsFemale Artist Rock/Pop InternationalNominatedSound of a Woman
2015ECHO AwardsInternational NewcomerNominatedHerself
2015International Dance Music AwardsBest Rap/Hip-Hop/Trap Dance TrackNominated"Take Ü There" (Jack Ü feat. Kiesza)
2015Canadian Radio Music AwardsBest New Group or Solo Artist: CHRWonHerself
2015Western Canadian Music AwardsWorld Recording of the YearNominated"Hideaway"
2015YouTube Music Awards50 Greatest Artists and YouTube PerformancesHonoredHerself

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  82. https://ericaonfashion.com/commercial/2015/kiesza-x-birks-rock-n-pearl-collection/
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  90. https://www.papermag.com/kiesza-sweet-love-comeback
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  118. https://www.billboard.com/pro/calvin-harris-sets-dance-chart-records/
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