Kinnie Starr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kinnie Starr
Starr performing in Ottawa, Ontario at Westfest 2008
Background information
Birth name	Alida Kinnie Starr
Born	1970 (age 54–55)
Origin	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Genres	Canadian hip hop, alternative rock
Occupations	Singer rapper
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Aporia Records (current), Mercury/Def Jam

Alida Kinnie Starr (born 1970) is a talented Canadian singer and rapper. She is known for her unique musical style. Kinnie Starr also works in other creative fields. She has made a big impact in music and film.

Early Life and Beginnings

Kinnie Starr was born in 1970. She grew up in Calgary, Canada. She attended Western Canada High School. Kinnie Starr has a diverse background. This includes French, German, Irish, and Mohawk heritage.

She can speak three languages. These are English, French, and Spanish. Starr studied Race and Gender Studies. She earned her degree from Queen's University.

After university, Starr moved to Vancouver. She formed her first band there in 1992. A story says her talent was discovered in New York City. A friend encouraged her to perform at an open-mic night. Her spoken-word poetry was very well received.

Music Career Highlights

Kinnie Starr released her first demo in 1995. It was called Learning 2 Cook. Her official debut album, Tidy, came out in 1996. This album blended different music styles. It had rock, punk, pop, and hip-hop. It also featured her special spoken-word poetry. On Tidy, she rapped in English, Spanish, and French.

In 1997, Starr signed with Island/Def Jam. This was a major record label. Many companies wanted to sign her. However, the company went through big changes. Starr felt her music was not getting enough attention. She asked to leave her contract. Her album Mending, recorded in 1998, was never released.

Starr performed on the Lilith Fair tour in 1997. This was a popular music festival. She also performed at Lee's Palace in Toronto in 2000.

Cirque du Soleil asked Starr to sing for them. In 2003, she joined their show Zumanity. She performed with them for two years. After releasing her album Sun Again in 2003, she moved to Las Vegas. But she returned to Canada the next year. She continued to perform and record music there.

Her album "Kiss It" was released in 2013. Fans could get it early at a festival. Her 2018 album, Feed the Fire, explores modern life. It talks about finding your true self. This is especially true in our digital world.

Musical Style and Collaborations

Kinnie Starr's music style is unique. It has been called "hip hop aggro groove". She often works with other Canadian musicians.

Some artists who have appeared on her albums include Swollen Members' Moka Only and Coco Love Alcorn. Former Dream Warrior Spek and Tegan Quin from Tegan and Sara have also worked with her. Famous singer Nelly Furtado has said Kinnie Starr influenced her music.

Music Videos

Kinnie Starr has released several music videos:

• "Ophelia" (Directed by Marsha Herle)
• "Month of Trickery" (Directed by Marsha Herle)
• "Nearer" (Directed by Marsha Herle)
• "Home is Everywhere" (Directed by Hannah C)
• "Go Go See It" (Directed by Hannah C)
• "High Heels" (Directed by Hannah C)

Film Work

Kinnie Starr's songs have been featured in TV shows and movies. Her music was used in the TV series The L Word. It was also in the movie Thirteen.

In 2001, Starr acted in a movie. It was called Down and Out with the Dolls. This film was about a fictional all-girl rock band. Kurt Voss directed the movie.

Starr also helped create a documentary. In 2016, she co-produced Play Your Gender. This film looks at why there are so few female music producers. Only about 5% of professional music producers are women. The film premiered in Australia. It won "Best Music / Art Documentary" in 2017.

In 2018, Starr composed music for a film. She wrote the score for Edge of the Knife. This movie is in the Haida language.

Advocacy and Recognition

Kinnie Starr is known for her activism. She often speaks out about important issues. For example, she has talked about protecting water. She did this at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in 2013.

In 2006, she became a mentor. She helped young indigenous musicians. This was part of the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association's program.

Starr appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show in 2006. Her song "Anything" became a No. 1 hit. It was the first song to reach No. 1 on CBC Radio 3's new countdown show, The R3-30.

Discography

Filmography

• 2001: Down and Out with the Dolls. Director: Kurt Voss.
• 2016: Play Your Gender (host, curator & co-producer). Director: Stephanie Clattenburg. Producer: Sahar Yousefi.

Awards and Achievements

Kinnie Starr has received several awards and honors.

In 2004, she was nominated for a Juno Award. This was for New Artist of the Year.

The Royal British Columbia Museum featured Starr in an exhibition in 2008. She was one of 150 cultural icons.

She produced an album for Digging Roots. The album was called We Are.... It won a Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year in 2010.

In 2011, Starr was honored. The ManifesTO festival recognized her. They called her a Pioneer in Canadian Hip Hop Culture.

See also

• Canadian hip hop
• First Nations music