Kerli

This article is about the musician. For her self-titled EP, see Kerli (EP).

Kerli
Kerli performing live during the Identity Festival on August 11th, 2012, in Houston, Texas.
Born	Kerli Kõiv (1987-02-07) 7 February 1987 Elva, Estonia
Residence	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Recording artist songwriter record producer
Website	kerlimusic.com
Musical career
Genres	Pop alternative rock gothic pop EDM
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Island Ultra Warner/Chappell Music Publishing

Kerli Kõiv ([ˈkerli ˈkɤ.iʋ]; born 7 February 1987), usually referred to mononymously as Kerli, is an Estonian recording artist and songwriter. Born in Elva, Estonia, Kerli entered multiple singing competitions before being signed to Island Records in 2006 by LA Reid. In 2007, she released her debut self-titled extended play and in 2008, released her debut studio album, Love Is Dead, the latter of which charted on the Billboard 200. The lead single from the album, "Walking on Air," charted in many countries and was also featured as the iTunes Store's Single of the Week where it was downloaded over 500,000 times, a record at that time. In the years following, Kerli was featured on Almost Alice with the song "Tea Party" and she began to abandon her alternative rock sound and started to adopt a more electronic and dance-influenced sound, as can be heard in her 2010 single "Army of Love".

Following the release of Love Is Dead, Kerli began production on a second studio album which became her second extended play Utopia, released in early 2013, where it became Kerli's second release to chart on the Billboard 200. Two promotional singles from the EP, "Army of Love" and "Zero Gravity", were released prior to the release of the album's first official single, "The Lucky Ones". All three songs entered the top ten of Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, two of them peaking at number one. Two songs which were co-written by Kerli for Utopia, "Skyscraper" and "I Feel Immortal", were later recorded by artists Demi Lovato and Tarja Turunen respectively. Kerli's version of "I Feel Immortal" was later released on Frankenweenie Unleashed!.

In 2013, Kerli performed twice on Dancing with the Stars; Vibe called the performances a "major milestone in the [electronic dance music] world."

In November 2013, Kerli left Island Records and signed a record deal with Ultra Music.

Currently, Kerli is recording new music and seeking help of fans to fund her newest musical venture.

Early life

Kerli was born in Tartu County, Estonia in the town of Elva on 7 February 1987. At this point, Elva's population was around 5,000. Her mother Piret Kõiv was a social worker and her father Toivo Kõiv was an auto mechanic. Her parents separated when she was 16. Kerli has stated that when she wrote "Supergirl"—a song about domestic violence written for Utopia—she "put [herself] in [her] mother's body and said things that [she] wished that [her mother] would've said to her dad when [she] was little". Her younger sister, Eliisa, is also a musician and competed in season three of Eesti otsib superstaari.

As a child, she studied ballroom dancing for eight years, practicing five days a week. She was first introduced to music by her kindergarten teacher when she told her mother that Kerli had "nice pitch" and that she was interested in taking her to various singing competitions. At 8 years old, Kerli gained interest in classical music and as there was an absence of music in her early life, she only possessed two cassettes, which were albums of Bonnie Tyler and Phil Collins. She began writing stories, mini books, and poems at the age of 10 to escape from her "abusive" household to an "imaginary world". Despite being discouraged, Kerli dropped out of school at the age of 16 to pursue her musical career.

Career

2002–05: Career beginnings

Kerli signing copies of her self-titled EP in Orem, Utah in May 2008

In 2002, Kerli competed in the singing competition Laulukarussell in the age group category 13–15 and on May 18, won with the song "Bridge over Troubled Water". Also in 2002, she falsified her age to enter the Baltic song contest Fizz Superstar, as the minimum age was fifteen. She ended up winning the contest, gaining a singing contract to Universal Republic Records by Rob Stevenson. She was later dropped as Stevenson's position at the label changed. Later, Estonian media began to use the term "Kerli Syndrome" as a synonym for "failure". Kerli has stated, however, that she feels no resentment towards her home country. In a 2008 interview she said the following:

No, I don't feel any resentment [towards Estonia]. For a while, because I left Estonia and Estonians didn't hear anything about me so all these Estonian young singers were like... I guess they're slowly turning around now and understanding that I really was doing something here.

Stevenson later signed Kerli to his label Stolen Transmission but the label went bankrupt. At the age of 16, Kerli moved to Stockholm where she competed in Melodifestivalen in 2003 but was eliminated in the second semifinals. In 2004, she was the runner-up in that year's Eurolaul – a televised competition that determines the song that will represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest – with her song "Beautiful Inside".

While in Stockholm for two years, she worked with numerous producers and due to lack of money as the contracts she had gained previously were unsuccessful, she ate nothing but rice for three months when she lived in an abandoned house during winter and slept on a cot. At the age of 18, she moved to the United States where she continued to perform and write songs, ultimately getting an audition with L.A. Reid, who signed her to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2006.

2006–09: Love Is Dead

Kerli performing in 2008

In 2006, Kerli worked with producer, songwriter, and mixer David Maurice on an autobiographical set of songs, the first set of which were released on a self-titled EP in 2007. She finally released her debut album, titled Love Is Dead on July 8, 2008, following her debut single "Walking on Air" (which charted at number 75 on the European Hot 100.) and "Creepshow", a promotional single. "Creepshow" was featured in the TV series Fringe, The City, as well as in the video game Burnout Paradise. The music video for the song "Love Is Dead" was released on February 29, 2008 and the music video for "Walking on Air" premiered on MTV Overdrive on May 20, 2008. "Walking on Air" was downloaded 550,000 times when it was featured as iTunes' "Single of the Week", which was a record at the time. The song appeared twice on So You Think You Can Dance? as well in an advertisement for Fringe. Love Is Dead charted at number 126 on the Billboard 200 for the week of July 26.

Later in 2008, she was selected to perform a song titled "When Nobody Loves You" for the video game 007: Quantum of Solace, as well as the song "Bulletproof" on the official soundtrack of Punisher: War Zone.

In 2009, Kerli performed at the Estonian music festival Õllesummer in Tallinn. On September 10, 2009 Island Def Jam announced Kerli's iPhone application and the first song, Saima was released the following month. Kerli re-released her song "The Creationist"as a duet with the Italian songwriter Cesare Cremonini.

Kerli received an European Border Breakers Award for the success of the album Love Is Dead in Estonia.

2010–present: Utopia, label change, and songwriting for other artists

On March 2, 2010, Almost Alice, a compilation album featuring music inspired by Disney's Alice in Wonderland was released. It contains two songs performed by Kerli, "Tea Party" and "Strange", the latter being a collaboration with Tokio Hotel. A remix album of "Tea Party" was released on June 15, 2010. She covered the song "Nature Boy" for a promo for the tenth season of Smallville.

Kerli performing in 2011

On December 19, 2010, Kerli performed a song in Estonian titled "Sa kuldseks jää" ("Stay Golden") at her Grandparents' art show in Estonia. Kerli stated that she wished to officially release the song in Estonia to gain local airplay.

After the release of Love Is Dead, Kerli began working on her second studio album, which later became her third major release and second EP titled Utopia. She has stated that she's developing a "new musical style called Bubble Goth" and that the Love Is Dead album was "really moody and dark and introverted, so this album is actually more fun, but it still has that twistedness" and that she's "trying to develop a whole new sound-scape that [she doesn't think she's] heard before". She has also said that it is "a very strong album" about "overcoming the darkness in [her]..overcoming blaming the world for what's wrong...taking responsibility, being inspired and inspiring others." "Army of Love" was released for free via download on Kerli's official website. It was then released as a single for purchase on April 12, 2011. The song was considered for promotion to become the album's lead single. The music video for "Army of Love" was filmed over several days in Estonia during early November. The video "sets the undertone of [her] entire new album". The music video officially premiered on December 22, 2010. "Army of Love" peaked at number 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart for the week of 7 May 2011.

A song titled "Skyscraper" was written by Toby Gad, Lindy Robbins, and Kerli for Utopia however the song did not make it to her album and instead Kerli gave it to be recorded by American musician Demi Lovato for her album Unbroken. Kerli was very pleased by Lovato's recording and responded by saying "I really think that artists are story tellers and are here to deliver a message and there's no better person that I can think of right now than her to deliver that very story. So although I did write this song for my album, it's really her song. She nails it, she owns it. I am just the Santa's little helper here." Gad, Robbins, and Kerli also penned a song titled "I Feel Immortal" for Kerli that also did not make it to her album. The song was eventually recorded by Finnish musician Tarja for her album What Lies Beneath. A version of the track titled "Immortal" recorded by Kerli appears on Frankenweenie Unleashed!, an album consisting of tracks from and inspired by the Tim Burton film Frankenweenie.

In March 2013, the official track list as well as the artwork for Utopia was released. The track listing includes "Can't Control the Kids", "Chemical". "Here and Now", "Love Me or Leave Me", "The Lucky Ones", "Sugar", and "Zero Gravity", which was digitally released on March 20, 2012. The music video began production on January 25 and premiered on March 21. It is directed by Canadian director Alon Isocianu. Kerli stated that neither "Zero Gravity" nor "Army of Love" were official singles and that they are only buzz singles. In May 2012, Kerli wrote on Facebook the album was finished and mastered, and in September confirmed that a single from the album titled "The Lucky Ones" would be released on October 29, 2012. It was written by Kerli, Svante Halldin, and Jakob Hazell. A press release by Warner Music Group stated the album would be released in spring 2013. The music video for the song is directed by Ethan Chancer, and was released on December 5. The EP was released digitally on March 19 and physically on May 13 (Only in the Baltic States and Finland).

In October 2012, Kerli participated in ASCAP's week-long songwriting retreat at the Château Marouatte in Dordogne before joining Warner/Chappell Music. Kerli also collaborated with Australian trance musician tyDi on the tracks "Glow in the Dark" and "Something About You", as well as with Cash Cash on a track titled "Here and Now". Kerli is currently working on her third studio album and has stated that she would like it to be "a little more punk rock" and "a little more raw" than her previous work.

In November 2013, Kerli parted ways with Island Records and joined Ultra Music. Kerli collaborated with Seven Lions in two songs for his EP ′′Worlds Apart′′, with the title song being released as a single by Ultra Records at June 3, 2014. An accompanying music video for the song was released by August 16. Kerli teamed up with Benny Benassi in July 21; for a re-edit of Kaleidoscope , a song originally recorded for her shelved second album Utopia. By the end of September Kerli worked again with Australian DJ tyDi in a song called Perfect Crush for Tyson's album Redefined.

In 2014, Kerli co-wrote the song See Through by Pentatonix with Joonas Angeria and Thomas Kirjonen for their third extended play, PTX, Vol. III.

In 2015, Hilary Duff re-recorded a Kerli demo called Runnin' produced by KDrew for her album Breathe In. Breathe Out. being finally re-named as Confetti with brand new lyrics and melody, sampling at the same time Heaven Is a Place On Earth and featuring additional production by Matthew Koma. On October 27 Kerli revealed that the music video for her new single was shot in Estonia. On 5 November, it was revealed that Kerli composed a song for Eesti Laul 2016, Estonia's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. Kerli first single from her new album is set to be released on 29, January.

Artistry

Style and influences

In an interview, Kerli recalled buying The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill (which she called "one of [her] favourite records of all time") at a metro station in Russia. She asked them to "give [her] something else really good", "something that people buy". She was given Greatest Hits by Björk, who she was unfamiliar with at the time. She now cites Björk as a major influence and her favourite musician. Kerli cites Bonnie Tyler and Phil Collins as influences as well as they recorded the only two albums she possessed prior to this.

Among her other influences are Anouk, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Massive Attack, Kidneythieves, Pendulum, the Cocteau Twins, A Perfect Circle, Deftones, Incubus, Apparat, and Imogen Heap.

Artists like [Imogen Heap] are the biggest inspiration for me because when Imogen wins a Grammy for engineering, that to me is the real shit. Somebody else writing your record and the whole 'pop stardom fame' stuff, I can't really connect to that at all. I'm rooting for Imogen. I'm rooting for Björk. I'm rooting for those chicks. And I'm trying to make that essence and inspiration [in my music] and make it a little more pop.

— Kerli,

Kerli also attributes her beliefs in angels and fairies to be an influence in her music, and said the song "Xtal" by Aphex Twin was her "favourite piece of music of all time". She has also spoken of influence from Sigur Rós and has cited them as her favourite band.

After the release of Love Is Dead, Kerli was labelled as "goth" and a disagreeing critic said she was more along the lines of "bubblegum goth." Kerli stated "that's exactly what I am" and that she was "going to take this concept and roll with it" and she created the derivative "BubbleGoth." Described by Kerli, BubbleGoth is "putting together light and dark, opposites, and things that you don't really necessarily think go together." Kerli cites the Spice Girls as being a major influence on BubbleGoth, which she stated is "like a gothic spice girl".

Kerli is fond of wearing various unique and colourful hairstyles, often inspired by cyberpunk and goth fashion.

The difference in musical style and composition in Love Is Dead compared to Kerli's second album's material is significant. Love Is Dead being alternative rock and the new material being along the lines of synthpop. Kerli describes herself as being very depressed during the production of Love Is Dead and that she felt "scattered" and describes the transition to the new sound as an attempt to "make it really radio friendly without losing what people already love about [her]." In response to criticism concerning her sound compared to her older sound, Kerli said she was "not the same person anymore", stating "Maybe I will be [on] my third album. Maybe I'll be totally depressed and write another really dark album. I have no idea where I'm going to go. All I know is that I'm just always going to try to grow and do my best. And whatever comes out of me is just going to be a reflection of who I am at that moment."

Public image

One of Kerli's logos which features "Moon Marks"

Kerli performing at the 2012 Nashville Pride Festival on June 16, 2012.

Kerli frequently wears three dots called "moon marks" that represent integrity, love and unity, three things that are also followed by Moon Children: an elaborated fan community/street team established by Kerli in 2006 for people who "feel too much and find it hard to exist in this world, so that they wouldn't think they're crazy." It originally began as a "gathering for Indigo kids" but developed into a "movement of Integrity, Love and Unity" which is "trying to be the best you can be, taking responsibility for your reality and living with your eyes open. It's not some religious preachy thing, rather being a passenger in this dimension, trying to make the most of your experience and striving for perfection while understanding it's okay not to be perfect."

In regards to LGBT rights, she has stated that she wishes "the world would already be in a place where everyone is equally able to marry, adopt and live their life without having to explain themselves" and that it is "not a matter of political views, it's a matter of human rights. All humans need to have equal rights, straight or gay. As long as one likes to go to church and believe in God and that makes them a better, nicer person, that's great. Once hatred and superiority comes to play, I'm against religion." She's stated that in Estonia, "there really is no gay scene" but that "it's starting to emerge, and [she's] trying to support it as much as [she] can." In June 2011 and 2012, Kerli performed at pride festivals in Boston, Detroit, Nashville, and San Francisco. She is also a participant in the NOH8 Campaign.

In 2011, Kerli was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Estonian Women.

Personal life

"Agnus Dei" on Kerli's arm

At the age of 15, Kerli asked her mother for a tattoo that states "music" in Chinese ("音乐"). Dubious, her mother told her that if she read "every book ... in town" on China and did a report on it, she would allow her to get the tattoo. Kerli did as requested and her mother took her to get the tattoo the day before her 16th birthday. She has two tattoos on her forearm: one of a butterfly which symbolises "living everyday like it was her last" and that she would never "leave a person that she loves without them knowing how much she loves them" and the other tattoo states in Latin "Amicus Humani Generis" which Kerli translates "a friend of the human race." On her left forearm, again Latin, reads "Agnus Dei." On her right foot, she has the letter "E," an initial of someone who "broke her heart."

While not belonging to any religion, nor labelling herself as such, Kerli believes in reincarnation as well as other forms of life after death, fairies (which she has cited as a large element of her life), angels and demons, although once defining them as "reflections" of one's "inner light" and "inner darkness" respectively. However, besides thanking her guardian angels in the liner notes for Love Is Dead, she has also stated she feel angels are beings, as well as using "angel cards."

She has said that she has bipolar disorder and attempted suicide when she was 17 as a result of her troubled upbringing, stating now that her upbringing has "made her stronger and now she can be here for other kids who are like her" and that she's happy to be alive, describing life as a "beautiful and rare gift". During a live video chat with fans on October 7, 2011, Kerli recalled when she was 17 and would ask her local doctor to sedate her with medication because it "hurt her so much to be awake" due to her depression. She also recalled an instance when she was home alone when she was 17 where she covered the windows with dark towels to block out the sunlight and began cutting herself and slitting her arms with rusty scissors stating that she "wanted to die" and "couldn't feel any physical pain at all because she was just hurting so much inside".

She currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Discography

Main article: Kerli discography

Studio albums

• Love Is Dead (2008)

EPs

• Kerli (2007)
• Utopia (2013)

Awards and nominations

Year	Recipient/Nominated work	Award	Result
2008	Herself	MTV Europe Music Award for Best Baltic Act	Nominated
	"Walking on Air"	MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video (never officially nominated)	Nominated
2009		Raadio 2 Hit of the Year	Won
		Estonian Music Award for Music Video of the Year	Won
	Herself	Estonian Music Award for Pop Artist of the Year	Won
		Estonian Music Award for Female Artist of the Year	Won
	Love Is Dead	Estonian Music Award for Album of the Year	Nominated
2010		European Border Breakers Award	Won
	"Army of Love"	Raadio 2 Hit of the Year	Nominated
2011		Estonian Music Award for Music Video of the Year	Won
2013	"Zero Gravity"	Estonian Music Award for Music Video of the Year	Won
2014	Utopia	Estonian Music Award for Best Female Album	Nominated
		Estonian Music Award for Best Pop Album	Nominated

External links

• Official website
• Kerli at the Internet Movie Database
• Kerli at AllMusic