Bio : KIRBY

Memphis born and Mississippi raised, KIRBY’s upbringing was steeped in the rich musical traditions of the South. Growing up surrounded by the sounds of gospel, blues, and R&B, she developed her voice singing in a small church on top of a hill in Eudora, Mississippi. “Everyone who sang in the choir was related to me. My Grandma, cousins, and aunts… I remember the first time I led a song with my sister on piano and I was moved to tears. I was too young to know what was happening, but I knew God had given me a gift.” It was in these formative years that KIRBY began to develop her signature style, combining her powerful range, soulful melodies, candid storytelling, and an emotional depth & vulnerability that has connected with listeners around the world. With a career spanning songwriting, recording, performing, and collaborating with some of the biggest names in music, KIRBY continues to rise as one of the most soulful voices of the South. 

KIRBY’s songwriting talents are widely touted within the music community, having contributed to some of the most iconic songs of this century. Her pen has helped shape the musical landscapes of global superstars, and her collaborative work is a testament to her versatility and range. Notable highlights of her songwriting career include co-writing "FourFiveSeconds"—the collaboration between Rihanna, Kanye West, & Paul McCartney, “Only One" by Kanye West & Paul McCartney, “Tell Me You Love Me" by Demi Lovato, "Die With You" by Beyoncé, "Break Your Heart Right Back" by Ariana Grande and many more. KIRBY’s songwriting style is defined by its authenticity. “At this point of my life, if I ain’t lived it or I don’t want to live it, I won’t write it. I think it helps me stay grounded and tell the most authentic stories. In a world where AI can write a soul song in thirty seconds, we have a responsibility to put our real raw emotions, details, and stories in the music” she shared. “If I’m singing about something personal, I want the listener to feel like they’re hearing my real thoughts, my real feelings.” Her ability to write songs that speak to universal emotions—love, heartbreak, triumph and tragedy—has allowed her to stand out as a one-of-a-kind collaborator in music.

While KIRBY’s songwriting credits are extensive, her own artistry is where she truly shines. Her breakthrough came with her debut EP “Sis.”, a seven track EP produced by Homer Steinweiss and The Menahan Street Band of Amy Winehouse's famous album “Back To Black”. With this project, KIRBY introduced her own take on modern soul and her commitment to creating “soul music for the future” in a time where many no longer ascribe to genre. The EP was met with critical acclaim and became a defining moment in her career, drawing attention not only for its unique sound but for her fearless exploration of self-love, womanhood, and vulnerability. Appearances on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, COLORS Berlin, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert allowed KIRBY to further showcase her music and artistry. Her live performances are a masterclass in vocal delivery and emotional connection. KIRBY’s powerful stage presence, combined with her signature raw & raspy falsetto has garnered her a dedicated following, with fans and critics alike praising her ability to bring lyrics to life. In her own words, “You can go anywhere on a Sunday morning and find a great singer in Mississippi, so I try to take that humility with me. My last name comes from the plantation that is the birthplace of the blues. I like to think that singing soul music & the blues isn’t something I chose, but a call that I have answered. When I sing, I hope those who came before me would be proud; that they would hear themselves in the dialect, the cadence, the tears, and the joy. I don't sing for me, I sing for those who sang on the land they worked and tilled for, but never owned. I sing for the Mississippians before me who gave us America’s music.”

Among her most beloved tracks is her very first single "Loved By You”, a beautiful introspective ballad that explores the desire for acceptance and love, while also questioning the price of being truly seen.  In stark contrast, her most popular track is another standalone single entitled “Black Leaves," a spiritual southern hymn originally written as the theme song for ABC’s limited series Women Of The Movement. The track’s lyrics, which delve into the unjust killings of black men in the South and the women who nurtured and mourned them, were written to help shine a light on Mamie Till Mobley, who devoted her life to seeking justice for her son Emmett Till following his brutal killing in the Jim Crow South. These two tracks not only highlight KIRBY's vocal versatility, but also her capacity to blend her southern heritage with personal reflection and powerful storytelling. Together boasting over 150 million combined streams, their tremendous commercial appeal exemplifies her ability to successfully navigate a wide range of emotional and cultural landscapes in her music. “Soul music doesn’t have a color. I’ve had people say ‘I know this song isn’t for me, but it touched me’, and I always say ‘no no, if it touched you then it’s for YOU.’ Music has always been a tool for racial integration and awakening. And soul music specifically, especially the Stax soul that I grew up on, is rooted in unity.” 

In 2023, KIRBY took on the groundbreaking role of Ni’jah, the fictional pop star featured in the Amazon Prime Video series Swarm—a show created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers. As the voice of Ni’jah, KIRBY contributed to both the original music and the series' soundtrack, elevating the show’s exploration of celebrity culture, fandom, and identity. The music, a blend of high-energy pop and reflective ballads, became a critical part of the show’s identity and storytelling. KIRBY’s role as Ni’jah allowed her to explore a different side of her artistry, bringing her talents to both the screen and the recording studio. The success of Swarm further solidified KIRBY’s reputation as an vocalist who can seamlessly transition between genres, from the raw energy of pop music to the emotional depth of her own artistic direction.

As KIRBY continues to break barriers, one thing is clear: she’s an artist whose journey is destined to inspire, move, and transform. “I think what’s different about the music this time is that it has a clear mission. In the past I’ve dabbled into different genres because I wanted to make people dance or because I love the sound of jazz. In this season in my life, the music is unapologetically Southern, unapologetically Mississippi, and undoubtedly rooted in the Mississippi Blues.”

“When I go to the Dockery Plantation and stand on the land that my ancestors picked cotton on, sang on, danced on, and cried on… How can I not feel a responsibility to tell their story? To try and own my masters because those who started the blues indeed had a master.  I’ve chosen hymns over hits, stories over samples, and truth over trends. If any of the latter happen to accompany this album, Lord knows I would be grateful; but the mission now is much bigger than me. My voice is just a leaf on a long-standing Magnolia tree in Mississippi, with roots that span into the 1800s. And as a leaf on the branch of my ancestry tree, I am determined to sing, sing, and sing again.”