Canadian born but London and New York based singer-songwriter Kiesa Rae Ellestad has managed to create quite a buzz for herself with her global smash Hideaway in the recent months. Riding the current 90’s house revival craze she has elegantly been able to create a sound that’s as much radio friendly as it is dance floor ready.

While many had already dubbed her as another “one hit wonder” perhaps thinking that Hideaway was simply too good to be followed up by anything even close in comparison she came out swinging for the fences with her next single, Giant In My Heart. Although, ‘Giant’ is characterized by Kiesza‘s big and soulful vocals, a deep house groove, a killer bass line and a sound reminiscent of 90’s house music, essentially a formula quite similar to its predecessor, it clearly isn’t a repeat of the chart topping debut single. While Hideaway channeled more of a happy and positive energy, in ‘Giant’ we hear heartbreak, pain, disappointment, and longing; as both exemplified lyrically and by the raw emotion in Kiesza’s voice.

To drive this point even further, her remake of Haddaway’s 90’s dance classic What Is Love? is only more evidence of her ability to channel raw emotion in a superb manner. While Haddaway’s huge hit has become the epitome of eurodance cheese (in large part due to SNL’s classic skit and subsequent film starring none other than Will Ferrell), Kiesza’s version proves that she simply has the ability to pump heart and soul into pretty much anything. If Haddaway’s version was made for the clubs then Kiesza’s is dying to be played at yet another tragic ending of a season finale of Grey’s Anatomy.

Happy or sad, joyous or tragic, at this point, I am ready for anything that Kiesza throws my way. She has already proven that she can do just about anything, and thus far, I have only heard three songs (but she had me at hello)! Perhaps, all will be revealed once her debut album drops hopefully, sometime this year, but then again, I doubt it will be anything but further confirmation of the aforementioned praise.

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