KIANA V continues to create massive waves in the US as she performs for the prestigious SXSW (South By Southwest) music festival in Austin, Texas on March 16 as the Philippines’ representative alongside Haru Nemuri from Japan, and HAEPAARY and Y2K92 from South Korea. The festival is set to take place from March 14-20 in Austin, Texas, and will feature more than 240 artists at the first in-person edition of the festival to be held in two years.
The award-winning singer-songwriter opened the first quarter of 2022 with the release of her latest single titled “Heartbeat On Me,” which was accompanied by a vibrant music video that was directed by filmmaker Gab Valenciano.
“Heartbeat On Me,” with its infectious synths and gently tapping drums, showcases Kiana’s instantly striking voice. It’s a sun-kissed delight that that pays homage to her native Philippines. With the immediacy of Tinashe and the knack for undeniable melody of Aaliyah, Kiana is a true powerhouse who possesses a quiet intensity that strikes bone deep.
A delectable confection of R&B and pop, the track pulls forward with its flirty sound and deftly punchy vocals. It’s a display of both patience and a rush towards pleasure, never overdoing its pace, and sways seamlessly between emotive verses and an addictive call-and-response chorus.
“‘Heartbeat On Me’ is a song about when you feel like you can really dive in and fall in love with someone, but you want to make sure the feeling is mutual first. You want to know that they’ll be there for you the way you are for them,” says Kiana.
Exploring the delicacy of a relationship at its peak, she sings of waking up right next to your person, taking in their breath, their pulse; telling a story of two people who are so in sync that they are one, yet she still can’t help but wonder if her lover is equally devoted. It speaks to that nagging fear in the back of our minds whenever we risk sharing every aspect of ourselves with someone else. “Will your actions meet the honey you speak?” she ponders to herself.
“Heartbeat On Me” follows the release of Kiana’s 5-track EP Dazed, which earned praise from Spin, NME, Hypebae, Office Magazine, Paper Magazine, and more.
Music has always been a permeating force in Kiana’s life. Her father, Gary Valenciano, is one of the Philippines’ most prolific musicians with an inspiring career spanning four decades. She’s done her country proud, having received in the Philippines the 33rd Awit Awards People’s Choice Award and various nominations for Awit Awards‘ Best Performance by a Female Artist, MYX Awards Mellow Video of the Year, Wish FM 107.5 Awards R&B Song of the Year and R&B Performance of the Year. She won the Best Performance by a New Recording Artist in 2015. Kiana was also awarded the McMillan Woods Global Award for Most Promising Female Recording Artist of the Year in Malaysia in 2019.
Kiana was featured on Spotify’s NYC Times Square billboard in 2021 and will take fans behind the scenes with her travels to see the billboard and across the country on a MYX original series documenting her musical journey, titled “The Crossover.” The TV show will air globally on linear TV, myx.globaldigital, and on @myxglobal social media platforms.
With over 20+ million Spotify streams to date and Grammy.com calling her a Filipino artist to watch, Kiana is poised to bring her R&B/Pop sound to the rest of the world.