From Miss Universe Wannabe To Writing For Kylie & Rihanna

She’s been a ballerina, synchronised swimmer, sailor, naval reservist, beauty pageant contestant, music theatre performer, death metal band member and songwriter-for-hire. “I overlap a lot,” Kiesza aka Kiesa Ellestad quips. “I just don’t sleep, practically. I’m a bit of a workaholic.”

While media types invariably quiz the self-proclaimed “oddball” on how she trained to be an elite army sniper, perhaps more random is her competing for the Miss Universe Canada title. “It was the pushing of my grandmother, actually – ‘cause my grandmother was Miss Canada, Miss Army, Miss Navy and Miss Airforce at one time!” she laughs. “She wanted me to follow in her footsteps. My mom was like, ‘Just do it, just for fun.’” Ellestad placed as runner-up in Miss Calgary – and tried for Miss Universe. “I ate all the desserts…”

“You have to be brave to really go out to that world – it’s a tough world.”

Ellestad taught herself guitar – and studied music at a regional college. In 2008 she self-released an album, now describing it as “this mixtape of country, folk, orchestral – a little funky.” Ellestad then scored a scholarship to attend Boston’s Berklee College of Music. She eventually transplanted to New York, partnering with producer (and Lokal Legend label boss) Rami Samir Afuni. Ellestad aired the novelty (read: cheesy) dance-pop Oops. However, her aspiration was to write for other acts. Kylie Minogue took a “very abstract and out-there” song for Kiss Me Once. “It didn’t end up on the album, but it drew attention to me as a writer for the first time,” Ellestad says. Yet, on coming up with Hideaway in an impromptu session with Afuni, Ellestad resolved to keep it for herself. She was surprised at how her voice suited deep house. Crucially, she committed to the idea of being an artist. “You have to be brave to really go out to that world – it’s a tough world.” Ellestad shot Hideaway’s one-take video on Brooklyn’s backstreets with taut choreography – channelling young Madonna. The record blasted to #1 in the UK.

Last October Ellestad presented the streamlined Sound Of A Woman, an LP reminiscent of Ultra Naté or Róisín Murphy. “I think I was able to show people that I’m an artist and not just a voice on a dance track.”

Ellestad continues to moonlight as a composer, “There’s a song that Rihanna did record – I mean, I don’t know if it’s actually gonna be on her album – but she interpreted it her own way, a way that I’d never, ever expected it to sound.”

For Future Music Festival ‘15, Ellestad is performing with a turntablist, drummer and two dancers. “It’s got a lot of dancing in it. I tend to sing and dance at the same time a lot, so it’s pretty energetic… I definitely will be doing a lot of the high-energy songs, on the dance songs, and probably mix in a few of the ballads from the album.”