Biography
Kaile Goh gives pop an edge. On her forthcoming LAVA/ Universal Republic Records debut, the 15-year-old songstress infuses attitude into each and every tune she writes and sings. First single “Gold” teems with a raw, real energy as Kaile carries the chorus with style, spirit, and sincerity. Her voice rolls from arena-ready hooks into pulsating, propulsive verses that could bring any crowd to its feet.
About her enigmatic sound, she comments, "It's pop rock. I dig melodies that stick in your head, but I also love rock music. I wanted to mix both of them together, and that's how these songs came about. The music is really energetic and catchy, but it still has a degree of danger."
Born in Singapore, Kaile spent her first five years there before moving to Los Angeles. In L.A., she began modeling for Ford Modeling as a kid becoming a go-to face for Disney, Target, Kodak, Mattel, Sony, and others due to her innate, natural beauty and inimitable presence. With the money she made from modeling, she bought a Gibson Hummingbird guitar, which she still constructs all of her songs on.
The songs started pouring out of her at ten-years-old though. Kaile could barely fret the Hummingbird, but her mom would take her to local open mic nights where she would perform originals to stunned audiences of regulars. "Singing is something I never got bored of," declares Kaile. "It's what I was meant to do."
In 2010, she landed a meeting with LAVA president Jason Flom. After playing three songs acoustically for Jason at The Beverly Hills Hotel, he signed her on the spot. Before she knew it, she was in New Jersey with producer David Bendeth [Paramore, Breaking Benjamin] recording her first album. Drawing from influences as diverse as classic rock—The Rolling Stones and The Beatles—and Taking Back Sunday, she and Bendeth crafted a fresh and fiery sound. About working with Bendeth, she elaborates, "I wouldn't have thought about things David suggested. It was incredible to watch him work. He preserved what I was doing but helped me reach the next level."
Her first single "Gold" declares her formal arrival on the scene. With a remarkable refrain and kinetic guitar melodies, the song's an anthemic declaration of self. "The song is about being different, not being afraid to do your own thing, and not following what everyone else does all the time," she reveals. "It's really a preview of what's to come on the rest of the album."
The rest of the record covers a myriad of feelings and styles. "Last Goodbye," a song she penned at 12, exudes a grasp on love and rock 'n' roll many artists three times her age can't muster, while the album's finale, "One Thing I've Learned," sees her baring her soul over a lilting acoustic guitar and standup bass.
Kaile truly shines on stage though. With an unbridled attitude and emotionally charged delivery, every performance turns heads and wins new lifelong fans. She was born to be on the road, and she's already dazzled listeners everywhere with her raucous and riveting show alongside singer-songwriter Anna Nalick and on Warped Tour 2010. She goes on, "When the songs are played live, there's definitely even more of a rock feel. I'm playing guitar half the time, and there's so much more emotion and attitude during the shows."
Ultimately, her honesty ties everything together. "I think that we're missing someone who's just honest," concludes Kaile. "There are a million girls who say they write their own songs and sing, but they're really just standing up there looking pretty. I mean everything I say in my music. My heart is in this album, and it's a piece of me." There's heart, attitude and a whole lot of unforgettable music in there.