Feature Article

Kim J was just a normal teenager when a breath taking performance flipped her life around – the rich and famous life, however recently she has been having issues with the music industry. Melody’s very own Geeta Gohil caught up with the young star to discuss about her entry to the musical world and what created this tense between the rising star and the competitive industry.

We have exclusive interview with the young breakthrough artist- Kim J. Spilling beans on her crazy and unexpected entry to the world of music which lead her to the biggest stage of musical history – The Grammy Awards Stage, where musical legends like Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Rihanna have all performed to their best. Kim J is the first British young singer to be awarded with a Grammy award for the best breakthrough artist of 2013. She broke the record by being the first young British singer to be awarded with a Grammy. Impressive! Despite being at a young age of 17, Kim J has achieved so much since day 1, she worked her butt off which at the end it all paid off by bagging herself with a shiny, golden Grammy award.

Kim J is her stage name and is more recognisable compared to her real name Kimberly Jane Ford. Kimberly was only 9 years old when she started to have a passion to sing and perform. Joining the school choir in primary school got her loving to perform.

You must be wondering on how she got famous? Well it all started when her friends uploaded a cheeky video of Kim J singing. The star reveals that if her friends didn’t do this funny but worthy prank on her then she wouldn’t have been sitting with us for her first ever exclusive interview. ‘My friends are to be credited the most, without them I would’ve have been here’ the star confessed ‘My friends cheekily recorded me belting out in my room to ‘Halo’, uploaded it on YouTube and the next day I get a call from Amber, my best friend who told me that my video hit over 3 million views, and that Beyoncé herself tweeted the video, I like had a panic attack as firstly they put a video of me without my permission and secondly BEYONCE TWEETED ABOUT ME, my mind was blank and all the possible things that could happen when you receive good news’ Being discovered by her idol, Queen of R&B… Beyoncé. Kim J shares her thoughts that she never expected Beyoncé to be surfing the YouTube. That’s a right shocker for us too.

Kim was followed by an invite to UK’s biggest R&B and Urban Radio station – Kiss FM. She became a controversial topic within 2 days… Beat that Miley Cyrus! Little did she know that the visit to the Kiss FM studios would be a one in a million chance for her life to do a roly-poly. The one and only Queen B met Kim J in person and offered a recording contract to Jay –Z’s Record label where stars like Rita Ora, Calvin Harris and Alexis Jordan. Now that’s called destiny.

Not only does Queen B influence Kim J, but top notch artists like Rihanna, Alicia Keys, and the mother of all R&B artists Whitney Houston were also Kim J’s influence. Their tough journey into stardom had become Kim’s one strong influence on how they came to the top of the world.

Kim J took this chance as she knew performing was her passion and she wanted to share her musical talent of singing with the world. She had already had a soaring fan club starting on twitter with over 1.5 million followers on twitter, 1 million likes on Facebook and what not. She is living the dream… or shall we say best of both worlds. Kim is mainly known here in the UK as she released her first single ‘Paradize’ 2 weeks ago which immediately hit No.1 in the UK charts, selling over 410,000 copies on the first day, topping the record made by Drake with his single ‘Hold on, We’re going home’. After reaching number 1, Kim J told us how she celebrated for her debut single to be No.1 in her home country UK. ‘I ate food… lots and lots of food, I also performed at a restaurant in London where I was having my celebration meal with my family, friends and crew’.
Melody’s journalist Geeta Gohil also got told by the young star that she is soon going to tour around UK and get a chance to meet her fans and thank them for all their support.

‘I have already started my planning dates for my tour in the UK, I’m super excited to travel and meet everyone who has given me extreme support throughout my hectic journey. I am also deciding who will be my opening act.’ Kim loves to perform whether its singing or it’s just presenting a failed magic trick, she likes to see the smiles she brings to the audience’s face, and indeed she is doing it again. By her own fan base ‘Kimmies’ who have put a smile on her face and treating her like the Queen. Kim J reveals about her fans being the best in the world. ‘My fans are so supportive’ ‘Kimmies’ are cool and not dramatic. I’m glad they like my music and appreciate my talent’. Now that’s pure bond between the upcoming star and the fan base. Back to her Grammys Performance where she won the hearts of the world, Kim J was one nervous pea. ‘I’m glad it’s over’. Kim J had many sleepless nights before the actual performance, now every music artist would know how she would feel as they must’ve felt the same… well maybe some do. The young star revealed that she was so nervous and scared. She added on ‘I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of millions who were watching live!’ Kim J responded that she never performed in front of a large crowd of 150,000 people while the rest of the world in millions watched her performance live on TV. Not that, but her tribute performance to Whitney Houston got her over 4 million hits on YouTube in just under 48 hours. Can you smell that sweet success of hers?
                              Check out her outstanding performance on MelodyMagazine.co.uk/Kim J

Little did she know that after this performance her mad journey to the music industry will go even crazier and unbelievable/ Her managers and producers were chasing after her to get into the American charts as quickly as possible. Kim J told us ‘The Music industry is not what you expect it to be.’ Kim J exposed the truth of her music was all made last minute and she never got a chance to record her own songs. The tension between her and the industry began from her. ‘I wish I could bring out my own personality then the music industries personality’. Her debut album is just around the corner, Fans have been waiting impatiently however Kim J has started to give out small clues on each track on her album. ‘My album is different; it has a mixture of R&B and Soul. I’ve been told that my voice is perfect for that combination. I’ve have quite an experience recording this album and I’m just hoping my fans and everyone appreciates the hard work I put in even though I didn’t get a chance to express my thoughts and feelings through the songs written by me’. There are 4 tracks which have a catchy beat to it and there are 2 ballads in which one is with the only and one Mr Sexy Back – Justin Timberlake. ‘Recording with Justin Timberlake is like winning the lottery’.
Kim J stated that she got too excited about recording her album that she already started writing her own songs and to be ready to record. ‘I’m hoping that once everything is solved out, I can release an EP with all my songs and pure talent I’m willing to share with my fans’. Throughout the struggle of young Kim J’s career, Beyonce has helped in mentoring Kim J, as at a young age she has received  a lot of pressure from critics to perform well on the charts, but when Queen B is there, we’re all fine right?

Back to the happy note, Kim J not only talks about her exciting life in LA, but goes back to how she misses her family and friends back home, the good old normal life without anyone having to boss you around and no one following you around. Kim J’s  mum used to encourage her daughter to pursue a career in music, she knew that her daughter would have the potential to get to the top and now look, I think Mama J’s words came out right.

The word of music is all about taking risks, if I don’t take any risks or sacrifices then you will know that you will not succeed. Anyways everything happens for a reason, in this case for me I had to leave my family and friends to go to America and make them proud. You wouldn’t think that behind this innocent face is a prankster. Kim J cheekily tells us that she went to every single dressing room at the night of the Grammy’s and played knock down ginger. ‘I came in for rehearsals for the Grammy Awards, and I couldn’t focus, I was too busy being a troublemaker, my assistant kept tracking me down and make me practice until everything was perfect, when I knew she was coming I used to hide’

To impress everyone, means that you need to put an effort on. But was it all worth it for Kim J after her tension with the industry? After having paparazzi’s follow around you, breaking world records, meeting famous people may be in everyone’s bucket list but for Kim J is was all a dream. She always dreamt about being a star however due to the lack of her confidence she always denied the fact that wanted to be a singer. Being with cheeky friends you never know where tomorrow can take you. Kim J states that ‘even though this life this really good, I’d rather go back to my old normal life’. Kim J is one lovely girl, at a young age she has achieved so much that no other teenage girl has done. We are so proud of her and hoping her best for the future. Ritz Hotel is one fancy place to interview a breakthrough artist like Kim J. Tweet me @MelodyMag to get behind the scenes of this exclusive interview. Kim J will be online on our twitter page on the 30th November 2013, she will be answering your questions. If you guys have any questions for Kim J, drop her tweet on @MelodyMag. In the meantime check out her current music video to ‘Paradize’ on our website. Buy Kim J’s debut album which hits the stores and available to download on 25th November 2013, featuring her latest top hit single ‘Paradize’