Killian Wells

Killian Wells

Promotional photo from Wells' 2010 release "V.I.P."
Born (1988-11-13) November 13, 1988[1]
Other names Sir Killian[2]
Occupation
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Record Producer
  • Entrepreneur
  • Inventor
  • Perfumer
  • Photographer
  • Director
Years active 2007–present[3]
Website killianwells.com

Musical career

Origin New York City, New York, United States
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
Labels
Associated acts

Killian Wells is a pop singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur[4] from New York City.[5]

Wells owns the record label Inferno Records, is the inventor of XUVO (a cocktail mixer),[6] and is the founder and head perfumer of Xyrena (a celebrity-branded perfume company).[7]

Music career

At age 17, Wells began co-producing his own material and formed the production team Sir Killian and Christof, a musical partnership. His first single to receive significant attention was "V.I.P.", released as a digital EP on July 21, 2009 on iTunes and Amazon MP3 [8] through Wells' own indie label Inferno Records.[9] "V.I.P." has received airplay on Top 40 stations [10] and was added to US Airways in-flight entertainment Hit List channel in November 2009.[11] Wells co-wrote and co-produced the album version of "V.I.P." The digital EP also features remixes by LorD and Master (who also remixed Dangerous Muse),[12] Purple Moon Banana (RuPaul), and Wells under the moniker "Knightwriter".

The digital EP was replaced on May 25, 2010 by a new single mix of "V.I.P.", re-released to coincide with the debut of an accompanying music video by director Karl Giant[13] which featured a cameo by Wells' friend Laverne Cox[14] of Orange Is The New Black fame.

In Summer 2011 Wells' song "(If Only Life Could Be Like) Hollywood" was featured in Hollister and Claire's stores nationwide.[15] Wells' co-wrote the song with Mark Calderon from Color Me Badd.[16]

In 2011 Wells released "Psycho" along with a music video directed by Bec Stupak and co-starring Playboy Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk as Wells' love interest.[17]

In 2012 Wells' released "It's Like That (feat. Nixon)" with a 1950's stylized video featuring an appearance by popular YouTube star Glozell.[18] The video featured a handful of product placements from brands including Big Red, Bosco, Kit-Cat, Brooklyn Industries, Bed Head, and Instagram shortly before it was purchased by Facebook.[19]

Wells' "STRFKR", also released in 2012, co-starred gay porn actor Brent Everett and film actor and writer Michael Serrato. The music video was directed by Wells. Everett said he chose to be in the music video as he liked Wells' work and couldn't pass up a chance to work with him. The "STRFKR" video features some of the first adult product placements set to a mainstream song including Astroglide, ONE Condoms, and Manhunt.net.[20] "STRFKR" became the opening title theme for Charlie David's 2013 documentary I'm A Porn Star,;[21] the opening sequence also features clips from the "STRFKR" music video.

In 2013, Wells released "Remix My Love" featuring Kristinia DeBarge. The accompanying music video featured product placements from Pop Rocks, Shasta, Members Only, Numark, and South Beach Smoke.[22] In the video both Killian and Kristinia are shown wearing authentic clothes and hairstyles from the 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000, and present day.

On September 18, 2015, Wells released the song "Flatline" which samples the 1980s hit "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" by Cutting Crew.[23] The song was Wells' first release mastered for iTunes.[24] An 1980s-inspired lyric video for the song was also released on Vevo[25]

In popular culture

In December 2008 Wells became part of photographer Adam Bouska's NOH8 Campaign[26] in response to California Proposition 8 (2008)[27] making him one of the first pop artists to join the campaign.[28]

Wells was selected [29] as one of 30 acts to perform in the music showcase Pure Pop 2009 [30] at Webster Hall. The performance on November 14, 2009 was Wells' first live show.[31] Jack Chambers (2008 season winner of So You Think You Can Dance Australia) appeared as one of Wells' dancers.[32]

In 2014 it was revealed that Wells wrote, produced, and starred (anonymously in a 'mouse head') in a commercial spot for Beamz which caused Deadmau5 to hint at possible legal action. Wells produced the commercial (and coined the slogan "So Easy Even a Mouse Can Play It") as a result of a feud between Deadmau5 and Flo Rida (a spokesperson for Beamz). EDM artists including Zedd, Wolfgang Gartner, Steve Angello and Dirty South all commented about the spot on Twitter.[33] In an article regarding deadmau5's trademark dispute with Disney, Complex Magazine quoted Killian as saying "The spot didn't imply an endorsement and the character could've easily been Mickey Mouse, Mighty Mouse, or Chuck E. Cheese. The front of the Deadmau5 head is unique, but to claim IP of a generic mouse silhouette is really grasping for straws."[34]

Other works

Wells art directed and photographed adult performers Tommy Defendi and Andy Taylor for the 2013 TLA Gay holiday catalog cover.[35]

Discography

Extended plays

Year Album
2009 V.I.P.

Singles

Awards

OUTMusic Awards

Independent Music Awards

References

  1. ↑ "VIP FAQ - Killian Wells". VIP FAQ. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Inferno Records - Killian Wells". Inferno Records. Inferno Records. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p1147687
  4. ↑ Tardio, Andres. "Here's The Story Behind The New Aaliyah Fragrance: We Spoke With the Fragrance Maker". MTV News. Viacom International Inc. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  5. ↑ http://zxlcreative.blogs.com/electroqueer/2009/11/attention-new-yorkers-make-sure-you-check-out-killian-wells-live-tonight.html Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  6. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xuvo-announces-the-worlds-first-blacklight-reactive-cocktail-mixer-270036781.html
  7. ↑ Khan, Ra'ed. "Aaliyah's Family to Release Fragrance in Tribute of the R&B Star". MTV UK. Viacom International Inc. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  8. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GKRHGW Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  9. ↑ http://www.infernorecords.net
  10. ↑ http://www.eye97.com/eye97_radio/playlists.php Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  11. ↑ U.S. Airways Magazine, "Audio Entertainment, Hit List", November 2009, Page 120
  12. ↑ http://www.lordandmaster.co.uk/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10:two-lord-and-master-remixes-of-vip-on-itunes-now&catid=2:latest-news&Itemid=3 Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  13. ↑ Night Timez Magazine, "Killian is VIP", May 2010, Page B-29
  14. ↑ "Killian Wells and Laverne Cox on Twitter". Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "A&F Playlists - Hollister Co. May (Week 2) Playlist". A&F Playlists. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Roll Call: Songwriter-Producer Career Defining Moments (Pg 3)". Music Industry Quarterly. MIQ. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Killian Wells - Psycho". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Killian Wells - It's Like That (feat. Nixon)". VEVO. VEVO. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Killian Wells Explores Falling In Love & Tells It Like It Is In New Single "It’s Like That"". Gay Calgary Magazine. Gay Calgary. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  20. ↑ HIM magazine: Killian Wells vs The STRFKR - Out artist track disses those who bed to go ahead
  21. ↑ "I'm A Porn Star - IMDB". IMDB. IMDB, Inc. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Remix My Love - Killian Wells - Vevo". VEVO. VEVO. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Listen to "Flatline" by Killian Wells". EQ Music. EQ Music Ltd. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "Killian Wells - Flatine - Single". Apple iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  25. ↑ "Flatline (Lyric Video) - Killian Wells - Vevo". VEVO. VEVO LLC. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  26. ↑ http://www.bouska.net/?blog_id=239 Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  27. ↑ http://www.bouska.net/noh8/gallery.htm Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  28. ↑ http://myfizzypop.blogspot.com/2009/07/snap-crackle-fizzy-pop-weekly-catch-up_26.html Retrieved 2009-11-18
  29. ↑ http://www.purepop2009.com/panelists.php Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  30. ↑ http://www.purepop2009.com/finalists.php Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  31. ↑ http://zxlcreative.blogs.com/electroqueer/2009/11/attention-new-yorkers-make-sure-you-check-out-killian-wells-live-tonight.html Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  32. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_FRwbgH4mM Retrieved on 2009-11-18
  33. ↑ "Killian Wells Was The 'Man In The Mouse Mask" Upsetting Deadmau5". Empty Lighthouse Magazine. The Eighth, LLC. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  34. ↑ "Disney is Disputing deadmau5's Trademark Filing in the U.S.". Complex. Complex Media, Inc. Retrieved 1 October 2015. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  35. ↑ "TLA Video Tweet". Twitter. TLA Video / TLA Gay. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  36. ↑ http://www.sdgln.com/entertainment/2010/11/10/2010-outmusic-awards-nominees-announced Retrieved on 2010-11-22
  37. ↑ http://www.independentmusicawards.com/IMAFinalist/Default.aspx?maincat=8&yr=2008&scat=27 Retrieved on 2009-11-19

External links

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