At just 19-years-old, Kristinia’s emotions run deep. She’s learning and growing while she experiences life, love and relationships along with her young fans. Kristinia knows that she doesn’t have all the answers but on her captivating first album, her fans will absolutely relate to her as they join her ride of self-discovery.
Kristinia’s biggest break came when she was 14-years-old and she started working with legendary producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. He knew that she had what it would take to make it and worked with her on all the songs heard on her album. About Kristinia, Babyface notes, “First off, she’s a DeBarge, and when you are a DeBarge, one has to stop and listen. When I saw her at a very young age, I know she wasn’t ready yet but she had “it”. I’ve been watching her evolve and one day, I knew: she was ready. And she keeps getting better and better.”
Babyface got Kristinia a meeting with LA Reid at Island/Def Jam records and two days before her 19th birthday, she signed her record deal. “Things started moving very fast after that,” Kristinia recalls. “When Babyface and I played LA the completed album, he liked every single song . . . that’s unheard of!”
Kristinia grew up listening to strong female vocalists like Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys and the Supremes but she credits rock artists like Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and even Queen of the Stone Age as some of her influences. “They inspire me to take risks,” she says. But at least for the first album Kristinia will be sticking to more of a pop style. “I want my fans to grow up with me as a person, an artist and a woman.”
Kristinia has a personal connection to each of the songs on her album. They either tell a story about her life or delve into an emotion she’s experienced. Kristinia, whose currently enjoying the single life, wants “Goodbye” to be an anthem for girls to put on when they’re sad or discouraged about an unfulfilling relationship. She hopes the song will give them the courage to move on. “I want girls to listen to it and feel that they’re beautiful, smart and a catch, and know they will be okay,” she says.
Kristinia hopes that her fans will relate to her lyrics. “I want to show people they’re not alone. I’m still trying to figure it out and I want my fans to know I’m just like them,” she explains. “I hurt, I get scared, I get nervous and I’m not always at my best – but I try my best. I’m not perfect. I make mistakes and that’s okay.”
Catch her video for “Sabotage” on MYX!
