KingQueen is a LA based pop-rock band. The band was formed by Swedish lead singer Ina aka Sabrina Petrini and has been seen on multiple platforms such as MTV, VH1, OutAt TV, Revry TV and American Music Awards. In the end of 2020 KQ released a music video for their single “Roller Coaster” which earned a nomination for ‘Rock song of the year’ at the 2021 Hollywood In Media Awards, ‘Best Music Video’ at the Munich Music Video Awards and won the ‘Best Band’ award at the International Music Video Underground awards in Paris. In the beginning of 2021 KingQueen signed with Curtain Call Records and released their single “Live It Up”. The song had it’s radio debut on 95.5 KLOS Heidi and Frank Show. The music video came out in June and was nominated for ‘Best Music Video Of The Year’ at the QueerX Festival, Ojo Movil Fest & Noble International Film Festival And Awards!! In 2021 KQ also got endorsed by Eargasm and Xvive Audio.
KingQueen recently joined the roster of ‘LA Rock Collective’. The first event was held at Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood and was covered on Spectrum News. KQ is going on a West Coast tour June – August promoting their self-titled EP KingQueen which is being released April 29th 2022
What is your upbringing?
Didn’t really have much and I managed to do everything out of nothing which has probably helped me become the person I am today and never giving up on my goals and dreams.
How did you discover music?
MTV!!! When I saw Thriller by Michael Jackson – that was it! I wanted to be a performer.
How did you start to write music?
I was writing songs long before I knew that I did, it was all just thoughts. Any time something made me upset or made me feel anything I would write it down almost like a diary, but it was structured as songs and poetry. And I would always come up with melodies and sing stuff that was my own while riding my bike. But it was without a purpose it just made me feel good. Years later I realized I was a writer and that I could perform and record my own songs
.How did you get your first piano, and do you still have it?
My first piano, I was about 8 and my mom had worked really hard to get it for me. And she also made sure I could go take lessons but I hated my teacher. He was this big mean guy that would just yell at me any time I made a mistake so I started skipping class without my mom knowing until one day she randomly saw me playing with friends instead of being in my lesson. She was so disappointed and I quit and she got rid of the piano. It wasn’t until I became a teenager that I started playing music again, this time on my own and no lessons. That’s when I got a Yamaha Tyros. And since then I never stopped.
What is your piano of choice now? Year, make and model?
I own a couple of keyboards and I am actually signed with Roland as an artist, so I have a couple of keytars too. I can’t really choose my favorite one, but I will say my Yamaha I purchased when I moved to LA because that’s the one, I use when I write songs. This is bad but I don’t know the model and I went to check but the piano is covered in stickers haha.\
How did you get your stage name KingQueen?
When I first moved to LA I used to perform on drag queen nights. And I would sing my original music. And my drag queen friends always called each other “Queen” and I said: I don’t feel like a queen but also not a king and one of my drag queen friends said, “nah you’re kingqueen!” and since then I started using it as a stage name and it’s now our band name.
Describe your music.
Edgy, melodic, rebellious and blunt.
What was your first performance at like?
My first performance ever was a terrible experience!!!! I don’t know where my confidence came from where I had decided to perform at a talent show at school when I was bullied. I performed a song by Cher and my class was just booing and I cried so much after the performance and there were 2 more shows left to do that day and I stuck it out and did it anyways and I think that moment was a moment where my entire life could have gone in a different direction. I could have just said “it’s too hard and no one likes me”… but I said “screw them, I’m gonna get out of here one day.”… and I did.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
I’ve been with BMI for a while now. So far so good.
You got your record deal while still going to the Musician Institute in Hollywood, while earning your degree. How did you manage your time?What makes a good songwriter?
The school gave me a break so I could record an album with the label and then when I came back to LA I was in college while flying out to different cities and performing around the US. I was honestly never tired; I loved every single moment and I loved studying. Music is a beautiful universe, and I didn’t want to quit my studies. There is always so much more about it!
I think a good song writer is honestly anyone! It totally depends on what mood you’re in. When I’m driving my car I want to blast Guns N’ Roses and when I’m working out I want to listen to Madonna. Are her song writers better or worse than GNR? I don’t think you can compare music. If it feels good it is good.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
‘My first original song that I actually remember and recorded is in Swedish but the title says “In another life”. It’s about my uncle who committed suicide. And it was the first original song I ever performed live.
What is the process of writing your music?
Most of the times it comes to me when I’m driving, about to go to bed, cooking… just randomly. The words and melodies come together and if I’m not home I record it on my voice memo on my iPhone and then when I get home I go straight to the piano and start playing around with it. Then I go on my laptop and open up Logic and start creating a track to send over to the band so we’re all prepared to work on it during our rehearsal and from there it also starts getting produced, mixed and yeah mastered and then released on platforms so you can all stream it.
You won 2021 Best Band Award at the Music Video Underground Award for your song “Roller Coaster”. Which was also nominated for best music video at Munich Music Award. Are you ready for a Grammy yet?
I used to be obsessed with the Grammys and awards! And it was when I stopped obsessing that I actually started winning some haha so maybe soon?
Tell me about your latest “Live It Up”?
The music part of the song was written in 15 mins. We just jammed and it was a done song. Then I spent a few days writing the lyrics and to quote our bass player Nipun “No sad song!”… I took his demand seriously and wrote some feel good – let’s have fun – type of lyrics and melodies and hopefully it’s making people happy. I think we all need this kind of music right now, especially after the lockdown and how dark the world has been.
What is your favorite track on your album?
On my album I released with Universal it’s definetly “U make me (lol)” because that’s the one that got me signed. That one was written by me for a different artist and when they heard me on the track they decided to sign me.
On the EP or album we have coming out this fall it’s “Remember Me”.. It’s a anthem for the messes and it has a very cool vintage vibe to it.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Honestly I’m SO HAPPY not to be printing professionally made CD’s to sell because that costs so much money and I’m very very grateful for the streaming platforms because it’s so accessible. I mean I can be in an Uber and show my music to the driver and gain a potential fan. So easy! Love it.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag. Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
So my music students tend to forget to call it sharp… and they will say something like “F hashtag”… I correct them right away and we have a good laugh about it.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Vinyl for the sound but digital for the win.. like I said before, It’s assessable and it really helps us artists to get our music out there.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
“Valerie” by Amy Winehouse… it’s always been a very special song to me that I have performed many times. It was the first cover I recorded, videoed and posted on my Instagram last year, and in the video, you can see my cat Neymar sitting on my lap while I was singing. He was my soulmate, he was part of everything I wrote and recorded and we spent so much time together… and sadly he passed away March 2021 and I sang the song for him while saying good bye. It’s our song forever now.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think a lot of things are changing but the one thing everyone has been wanting to do the most is to go watch a live show. So I think somehow it will actually have more people come and appreciate live entertainment and get off their phones and couches.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I turned one of my rooms into a recording studio. Recorded a soccer anthem for a professional team in Sweden. Finished up and released the music video and song “Roller Coaster”. Filmed 3 seasons of my own talk show “The Rebel Buzz” that runs on OutAt TV every Thursday 7pm pst. Signed a record deal with Curtain Call Records. Created and designed and sold tons of new merch. Released our latest single “Live It Up” and shot a music video for it and now working on our upcoming EP… I’ve been busy!
At the beginning of the year, you were interviewed on AMBuffalo. Have you ever been to Buffalo NY?
No never and I would LOVE to! I want to visit every single place in America. I love this country so much and love how different it is everywhere I go.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
I became vegan.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
No I took this time to work on music… this time given to me was the best thing ever.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
I think all of these things are really stupid! The internet should be a easy tool to reach more people. And why should there be a difference between performing a cover during a live show in person from doing it on FB?
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
This time at home has made people really open to online shopping so I think you can still sell your merchandise online. But make sure it’s interesting!! Make sure you have cool mask designs and other things not just t-shirts.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Yes it’s still a thing and as artists we have to say NO! Remember that they need us more than we need them. You can have a concert in your drive way and in all honesty people will love your stuff either way.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
That sounds cool. Never tried it, maybe I should?
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
I sure hope so. The thing is – where there’s music there are tourists. Having music venues is very valuable and beneficial. Whoever’s in power needs to see the bigger picture and stop tearing our venues down. Even before Covid.. all these spots in LA are turning in to hotels… what’s the point having a bunch of hotels with no entertainment? … It’s dumb.
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artist. The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days. This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. RELIEF RESOURCES. Have you applied for it yet?
I have not because I felt very fortunate having my students and other work I was able to do during Covid. If you can manage it’s important someone else gets that money who just can’t survive. That’s just how I roll. It’s been rough but I’m fine.
In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Film? Talk show host.. which I already am.. I don’t know I just do art and it’s just been with me for so long now, my whole life is art.
What is your happy place?
The stage. Always… it’s the one place everything stands still and moves at the same time. It’s beautiful.
Alot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Another factor is mortality.
If I really needed the money, why not.. Your art will always be your art. So yeah why not. It’s still mine.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.The figure, announced by Spotify’s co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.Therefore it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
I did not know they deleted songs? I need to do my research on that. But I will say the need to start paying us more!!! I made about $250 on a song that had over 50k streams… come on now that doesn’t even cover the studio time.Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more? I don’t have TikTok… Danny Wimmer Presents just announced their 2021 Festival Calendar: Which includes the following live shows:
DWP Partners With Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival For July 23-25 Event In Mansfield, OH
Louder Than Life Set For September 23-26 With Newly Added Thursday Night Celebration In Louisville, KY
Welcome To Rockville Expands To 4 Days And Shifts From Spring To November 11-14 In Daytona Beach, FL
Aftershock Set For October 7-10 In Sacramento, CA, Almost Sold Out
Would you be willing to play these shows and what precautions would you like to have in place?
Oh yeah I’d play any show. I don’t know.. I think everyone needs to respect each other and help slow down the spread regardless of vaccines being out there. I’d personally wear a mask when off the stage… but I can’t tell other people what to do.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Get Loud!!!
