Somewhere between nineties American pop and eighties European disco, rises the undeniable voice of Kim Petras. Nodding to influences as diverse as Britney Spears, Baltimora, and the “Brat Pack,” the “side bun” sporting German-born and Los Angeles-based songstress powers up a new pop paradigm, sharing intimate lovelorn storylines over explosive production.
“Pop was always my biggest obsession,” she affirms. “I spend so much time looking for new music online. As a kid, music videos were my escape from the little town I was living in, because nothing happened there. I want to provide that kind of escapism. It’s unapologetically pop.”
By the age of twenty, she started making regular trips across the world to Los Angeles in order to write with top producers such as The Stereotypes. In 2015, she found herself penning music in mom’s basement while waiting for another visa. Stricken by heartache, the songs reflected raw emotion that spoke to producer Aaron Joseph. Working with Aaron, Dr. Luke, and other top-notch producers and writers, her sound came to life.
Kim’s 2017 debut single “I Don’t Want It At All” unlocks her world. The track has quickly amassed more than 4 million Spotify streams and went to #1 on the Spotify Global Viral 50 Chart just four days after release. Kim’s brand of escapism remains rooted in a boundless capacity for empathy. Knowing herself from the age of two, Kim notably began transitioning with female hormone therapy following her twelfth birthday before receiving gender reassignment surgery at the age of 16 and making worldwide headlines. Her bravery quietly and subconsciously punctuates the music.