Filipina R&B Artist Kiana V Gets Candid in “Heartbeat on Me”
Kiana V by Andrei Suleik
Ever since the release of her Dazed EP in 2021, Filipina R&B artist Kiana V has been riding the waves of excitement into worldwide stardom. Bringing her unique, silky, and rhythmic sound from Manila to all over the world, the artist’s latest track, “Heartbeat on Me,” explores the intimacy between two lovers and all the overwhelming, intense, and euphoric feelings that come along with finding your other half.
Energetic, flirtatious, and captivating, “Heartbeat on Me” not only showcases Kiana V’s ability to wrap her voice around lighthearted music but also explores the artist’s deeper interpretations of love and connection through its honest lyricism. “It’s a song about when you feel like you can really dive in and fall in love with someone,” Kiana explains, “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.”
Described as a “sunkissed delight that calls back to her native Philippines,” the “Heartbeat on Me” music video is one you’ll wish you could jump into. Filled with vibrant colors, a sense of community, loved and laced with the urgency of dancing your happiness out of your body, Kiana V echos the lightness and hypnotic, creative nature of artists like Aaliyah, Tinashe, and Rihanna through pop, R&B flair.
To give a behind-the-scenes look at her songwriting process, her inspirations, and what it’s like to promote her music away from her home country, Kiana V spoke with Amplify Her Voice about what it was like creating “Heartbeat on Me.”
Do you remember the first time you fell in love with singing? What in your life influenced you to become an artist? Was becoming an artist a dream you’ve had since you were a child?
I’ve loved to sing for as long as I can remember. I grew up singing with my cousins and listening to different genres thanks to my parents, grandparents and brothers. There’s no way I could have ever imagined that I’d end up pursuing a career in singing and song-writing as I had my heart set on another creative field back in college. But my love for this form of art continued to grow naturally as my surroundings changed and so now here we are.
Looking back on your 2021 EP Dazed, what do you think was the most valuable lesson you learned from making that collection of songs?
It pays to listen to yourself and what you need in the moment, and the way you navigate through that matters as well. How Do I perfectly encapsulates what I felt was lacking in me throughout the pre-production period of that project and through that whole process I think I’ve learned how to manage my emotions and expectations for myself in a healthier manner.
“Heartbeat on Me” is a song about not falling too fast for someone until you know they’re all in for you too. Why is it important for you to feel that the energy or love your partner gives back is equal to yours? What made you want to write about this phenomenon for this song?
Honestly, last year was a pivotal year for me. I learned so much about myself, both good and bad, that when we got in the studio for this song I made it a point to just have fun. I think that energy of just letting go of control and living in the present translated itself into the lyrics of this song. I was inspired by that thrill of enjoying the start of something new, knowing there are risks, but also being open enough to just focus on the joy stirring right in front of me.
This new single has a very “pop” energy, but also your signature R&B flair. I know from your EP that you love making R&B music. What about the genre is special to you?
Growing up in the 90s, I listened to a lot of r&b. I’ve always admired the vulnerable lyricism and overall wordplay that was so different for every artist, as well as the sparkling production and insane vocal range and control of artists like Aaliyah, Brandy & Erykah Badu.
Has there ever been a time in your music career where you felt judged or at a disadvantage because of the fact that you are a woman artist, or even when marketing yourself as an artist to the US, an international artist - and if so, how do you push through any of those discriminations to keep making music?
Yes, definitely. Having started my career in the Philippines, I felt like there used to be a limited set of categories laid out for women like myself. It was as if I had to be either conservative and demure or extremely sensual and daring - kind of like it wasn’t possible for there to be a healthy medium. And no matter which path you chose, the pressure to remain put together and skinny and perfect weighed heavier on the women than on the men… as it does with the rest of the world. It made me wonder, where are the quirky girls? The ones that don’t conform? Gladly, that aspect of our industry is shifting and I now see so many distinct personalities thriving.
I think the way I push myself past all that is to make sure I’m being honest with myself. Am I happy? Yes? Then keep going. Am I confused? I should ask for help. Not happy? Do something about it.
Is there anything you love about the music space or industry in the Philippines that you wish you could bring with you as you travel the world as an artist?
Manila, where I grew up, is quite a small city, so everyone knows everyone. There are certainly pros and cons to that, but I do love that the people I’ve gotten to know in the industry continue to stay great friends. It means so much that we continue to encourage and support each other through every endeavor. I try to carry that sense of community and camaraderie with me everywhere I go.
What is your writing process like when writing original music?
I usually write on my own and sing it out to a recorder as I go. If I’m happy with it, I send it over to a producer or I let it sink in a bit. I find that my worst writer’s block stemmed from me trying to create something for everyone to like, which is just impossible. I know that because I don’t even like every single thing my favorite artists create. These days I journal and write whatever the hell I want for at least an hour a day and then I try to decode my own mess, pick apart what I’ve written and choose what lines stick out to me the most. It helps me understand what it is I’m really feeling at that time, what’s driving and inspiring me, and it leaves me feeling much more prepared when I get in the studio with a producer. The process shifts depending on who I’m working with of course but that daily routine of putting pen to paper is an amazing exercise.
Who are some women artists that inspire you to be the artist that you are today?
Wow there are so many! Brandy, Aaliyah, Nina Simone, Julie London, Joni Mitchell, Adele, FKA Twigs, Rihanna, Jhene Aiko, Amy Winehouse, Jojo, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Billie EiIlish… omg I don’t know how to stop. There are so many powerful, unapologetically honest women artists that I look up to!!
What has been one of the toughest challenges of becoming an artist, and can you share with our audience of aspiring young female musicians how you overcame it? Any advice you’d give to them?
My biggest struggle so far has been the limitations and pressure I apply on myself. I get so lost in the comparison game and end up focusing on people-pleasing rather than prioritizing authenticity… that sht suppresses my creativity. Only advice I can give is to check in on yourself often and remind yourself why you do what you do. Be open to learning new ways and trying out new things, set healthy boundaries, and put in hard work.
What do you hope your listeners take away from listening to any Kiana V song?
I hope my music inspires people to just keep going and appreciating life.
“Heartbeat On Me” is available for streaming now on all music platforms.