While you might not know the name Kira Isabella, chances are you will have heard her and, throughout the next couple weeks, see her on CMT’s “Gift of Giving” television special playing alongside modern country heavyweights like George Canyon, Johnny Reid, Sugarland, Gord Bamford as well as Great Big Sea and Chantel Kreviazuk.
“I’m running out of adjectives to describe just how cool all of this us,” enthused the effervescent, recently turned 18-year-old, pop/ country singer.
Her first single, “Love Me Like That” can be heard on modern country radio sandwiched in between the likes of Gretchen Wilson, of whom she bears a striking resemblance to and Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Lee Ann Womack and Leann Rimes, who she sounds similar to. Her next single “Real Good Radio,” will hit the airwaves in the next week.
She was in Lethbridge, Monday, Dec. 5 to play an in store performance at Lammles Western Wear in the Centre Village Mall for a decent crowd of Christmas shoppers. A publicity tour of Lammles stores means she got to see the Rocky Mountains for the first time in her life.
But she has been to Alberta, having performed at the CCMA Awrds in Edmonton.
The Ottawa born Isabella describes herself as just a normal kid at heart who likes hanging out with friends and going to movies, but music is her passion.
“ My parents tell me I’ve been singing ever since I could talk,” she said, adding she enjoys all types of music.
“ Music is my life. Since I was 11, I’ve been singing anywhere people want to hear me — at fairs, weddings, singing competitions. I’d look up singing competitions in the Ottawa area online and my parents would drive me there, no questions asked. I’ve been blessed to have such amazing and supportive parents,” she said.
“I listen to a lot of music. I’d sing at weddings and learn different songs for the bride. In Ottawa I’m known as the girl who sings everything,” said Isabella, who hasn’t performed her own city for a few months.
While she is born and raised in Ottawa her parents have Alberta roots, living in Calgary for a while and in Cold Lake, where her dad was stationed as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Music runs in her family, her dad is an excellent guitarist who taught her everything she knows about it and her mom is a singer too.
“My mom’s family is all singers and my dad’s family is all musicians. He’s an excellent guitar player, so I was going to be either one,” she laughed.
One of the many highlights of her brief career is being involved with the Gift of Giving Special and following CD.
“We recorded our songs three or four times and chose the best one. It’s definitely been one of my dreams come true. It was definitely an honour to be on stage with them,” she said.
Her song ‘ I Want a Country Boy For Christmas,” is on the CD alongside numerous other country stars.
“Last year, I was sitting next to the Christmas tree with my mom and she asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I said a boyfriend and started writing down the things I liked about country stars like Keith Urban’s eyes and strong like Tim McGraw. So I wrote a rough outline of it and sent it to Jason Phelps (who also co-wrote Love Me Like That with her), and we sent it back back and forth a couple times,” she explained admitting “Love Me Like That” came together similarly.
The CD is available at record stores as well as Wal Mart and Lammles Western Wear stores. All proceeds from the CD sales are donated to food banks across the country.
“I’ve always written songs and poetry, ” she said adding melodies aren’t her strongest suit, which is where is helps to have a writer like Phelps on board.
“We make a very good team,” she said.
She met Atlanta based songwriter Jason Phelps through her manager.
“This guy is an awesome talent. He was going to be my guitar player originally,” she said adding she met him officially while in Nashville.
The next step is to record her debut CD.
“I have four or five songs, that I thing are really good, but I’m still working on it,” she said.
She is in the process of forming a band to tour with in the Spring and Summer. She also plans to go back to Nashville to do some writing.
“When I sing country music I just feel it. Anything I write just comes out country,” she said.
