Keiyaa

Last updated

KeiyaA
Born
Chakeiya Camille Richmond

(1992-07-28) July 28, 1992 (age 33)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres Neo soul [1]
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • alto sax
Years active2015–present
Labels

Chakeiya Camille Richmond (born 28 July 1992), [2] known professionally as Keiyaa (stylized as KeiyaA), is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a record producer. She independently released her debut album Forever, Ya Girl in 2020. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Chakeiya Camille Richmond was born and raised in Chicago on the city's south side. [4] Her family lived in multiple south side neighborhoods, including Cottage Grove and Englewood. [5] She tested into Chicago Public Schools' magnet program and graduated from Kenwood Academy. [5] During childhood she sang in the Chicago Children's Choir until switching to the alto saxophone in seventh grade. [3] [6] She cited soul artists including Chaka Khan, Patrice Rushen, jazz musicians like John Coltrane and Miles Davis and R&B groups such as SWV as early musical influences. [6] She also finds inspiration in goth and post-punk/alternative rock artists like Nirvana and Siouxsie and the Banshees. [6]

Richmond attended University of Illinois at Chicago and Columbia College to study jazz and play alto sax before leaving due to disillusionment with the program's hierarchical nature, as well difficulty balancing school with working full-time. [7] Shortly after she decided to pursue music professionally. [7] [8]

Career

While still playing and performing on alto sax, she collaborated with Chicago musicians including Noname and Vic Mensa. [9] She decided to switch her focus to solo work producing and singing R&B and electronic music. [6] Performing under the name Keiya, she released her debut EP, Work, in February 2015. [10] It was described as "emotional, sleepy, and yet strikingly optimistic" by These Days magazine. [11] Shortly after its release she moved to New York. [12] She added an additional "A" to her name (KeiyaA) in order to differentiate herself from other performers on streaming sites. [3]

KeiyaA's debut album Forever, Ya Girl was released in March 2020 and self-produced under her personal label Forever Recordings. [13] It was reviewed by Olivia Ovendon for KEXP as featuring "powerful mantra-esque lyrics, and woozy, heady, immersive beats in captivating fashion." [14] Esquire described the sound as "downcast grime and smooth R&B." [13] Pitchfork writer Clare Lobenfeld rated the album an 8.2/10 and praised its "resolute realness that can only happen outside the major label gaze." [15] Forever, Ya Girl was named to Pitchfork, Rolling Stone , and The Guardian 's "Best Albums of 2020" lists. [16] [17] [18]

She performed an NPR Tiny Desk concert at her home on February 11, 2021. [2]

Her second album, Hooke's Law, was released on October 31, 2025. [19] It received universal acclaim from critics. [20]

Personal life

As of August 2025, Keiyaa resides in Brooklyn. [21]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum details
Forever, Ya Girl
Hooke's Law
  • Released: October 31, 2025
  • Label: XL
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

TitleAlbum details
Work

References

  1. ↑ "Neo-Soul 2020: 23 Contemporary Artists Pushing the Sound Forward". Okayplayer .
  2. 1 2 Madden, Sidney (February 11, 2021). "KeiyaA: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert". NPR.org. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Gaillot, Ann-Derrick (January 26, 2021). "Cover story: KeiyaA – The artist is here for her things". Crack Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  4. ↑ Blacksher, Devine (December 11, 2020). "The R&B Singer Who Makes Her Own Beats". The Cut. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Xie, Teresa (February 10, 2021). "KeiyaA levels up even with live music shut down". Chicago Reader. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Download the debut EP by jazz saxophonist turned R&B singer Keiya". Fact Magazine. February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Jagota, Vrinda (July 28, 2020). "KeiyaA's Divine Soul". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ Nostro, Lauren. "Premiere: KEIYA Shares the Video for "Work"". Complex. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ "5 great albums from 2020 you may have missed". brooklynvegan.com. July 21, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  10. ↑ Cliff, Aimee (July 15, 2015). "KEIYA Is Unapologetically "Fly"". The Fader. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Keiya • "Simple" & "Rite 1"". These Days. May 8, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  12. ↑ DJBooth (April 30, 2020). "Chicago R&B Singer KeiyaA Has Come for Her Things: Interview". Medium. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Ovenden, Olivia (December 11, 2020). "The 50 Best Albums of 2020". Esquire. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  14. ↑ "New Music Reviews (7/13)". www.kexp.org. July 13, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  15. ↑ Lobenfeld, Clare (April 22, 2020). "KeiyaA: Forever, Ya Girl". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  16. ↑ Pierre, Alphonse (December 8, 2020). "The 50 Best Albums of 2020". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  17. ↑ "The best albums of 2020 so far". the Guardian. May 11, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  18. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan; Blake, Emily; Browne, David; Dolan, Jon; Ehrlich, Brenna; Firriolo, Andrew; Grow, Kory; Hissong, Samantha; Hudak, Joseph; Ihaza, Jeff; Kreps, Daniel; Shteamer, Hank; Vozick-Levinson, Simon (December 21, 2020). "18 Great Albums You Might Have Missed in 2020". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  19. ↑ Corcoran, Nina (September 17, 2025). "KeiyaA Announces New Album Hooke's Law, Shares Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  20. ↑ "hooke's law by keiyaA". Metacritic . Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  21. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (August 20, 2025). "KeiyaA Returns With Video for New Song "Stupid Prizes"". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
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