Kirby Lauryen Dockery, also known by the stage names Kirby (stylized as KIRBY) and Kirby Lauryen, is an American singer and songwriter. She has written pop songs such as "FourFiveSeconds" performed by Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney. She is an independent artist and released her first album, Sis, in 2020.[3]

Kirby Lauryen
Birth nameKirby Lauryen Dockery
BornMemphis, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresR&B,[1] neo soul[2]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2012–present
LabelsRoc Nation
Websitewww.rocnation.com/music/kirby-lauryen/ Edit this at Wikidata

Life and career

edit

Dockery was born October 24[when?] in Memphis, Tennessee and raised in Southaven, Mississippi.[4][5] She studied music at Stax Music Academy,[6] and enrolled at Berklee College of Music after high school but left in 2012 to pursue music full-time. She was influenced by Kanye West's The College Dropout.[5][7]

She began a YouTube challenge where she posted videos of herself singing a new original song for 275 days.[6] She was contacted by Joy Brown of Roc Nation on day 302 of the challenge and signed to the label.[6][8]

She has worked with artists such as Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Brandy, and Timbaland.[9][10] Kirby co-wrote the track "FourFiveSeconds", which went through several rounds of edits as directed by Kanye West.[3] She also wrote the song "Die with You" performed by Beyoncé and "Break Your Heart Right Back" by Ariana Grande.[3]

She released her first album, Sis, in February 2020.[3] Robyn Mowatt of Okayplayer referred to it as "a mashup of refreshing deep cuts."[5] Two singles from the album were featured on the soundtrack for the fourth season of Insecure.[8]

In June 2020, Kirby posted a viral TikTok video about the racist origins of the pancake brand Aunt Jemima, and amid other online critiques taking place, the brand announced that they would retire the racist imagery.[1]

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit
  • Sis. He Wasn't the One (2021)

Extended plays

edit
  • Sis. (2020)
  • I Told You I Would (2022)

Soundtrack albums

edit

Singles

edit
Title Year Album
"Loved by You" 2016 Non-album single
"Vain" 2017
"Kool Aid" 2019 Sis.
"Don't Leave Your Girl"
"We Don't Funk" 2020
"Velvet (Remix)"
(featuring Lucky Daye) (from Insecure)
Non-album single

Songwriting credits

edit

  indicates a credited vocal/featured artist contribution

Title Year Artist(s) Album Credits Written with
"J'irai te chercher" 2014 Amel Bent Instinct Co-writer Amel Bent, Simon Cohen, Aymeric Mazaudier, and Kore
"The Game" Kelly Rowland Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful Game Jake Troth, and Sia Furler
"Let It Be Me" Jennifer Lopez A.K.A. Harmony Samuels and Jennifer Lopez
"She" Keyshia Cole Point of No Return Keyshia Cole, Sean Fenton, Dijon McFarlane, and Priese Board
"Hustle Harder"
(featuring Snoh Aalegra and Dreezy)
Common Nobody's Smiling Lonnie Lynn, Ernest Wilson, Snoh Nowrozi, Seandrea Sledge, Alexander Izquierdo, and Leon Michels
"Break Your Heart Right Back"
(featuring Childish Gambino)
Ariana Grande My Everything Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, Donald Glover, Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers, Steven Jordan, Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs, and Mason Betha
"Only One"
(featuring Paul McCartney)
Kanye West Non-album single Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Mike Dean, and Noah Goldstein
"Crazy" 2015 Kat Dahlia My Garden Glass John
"FourFiveSeconds" Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney Non-album single Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Mike Dean, Tyrone Griffin, Jr., David Longstreth, Robyn Fenty, Dallas Austin, Elon Rutberg, and Noah Goldstein
"Die with You" Beyoncé Non-album single Beyoncé
"If I Have To" Avery Wilson Non-album single Avery Wilson, Rodney Jerkins, and Sean Garrett
"The Otherside" Elijah Blake Shadows & Diamonds Sean Fenton and Carlo Montagnese
"Rockabye" Sean Fenton, Christopher Crowhurst, and Anthony Charles Williams II
"Aquaria"
(featuring Deradoorian)
Boots Aquaria Jordan Asher and Angel Deradoorian
"Over Getting Over" Fleur East Love, Sax and Flashbacks Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, and Trevor "Trevorious" Brown
"Never Say When" Fleur East, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, and Warren "Oak" Felder
"Love Just Ain't Enough"
(featuring Timbaland)
Monica Code Red Monica Brown, Nick Brongers, Jocelyn Donald, Timothy Mosley, and Jonathan Solone-Myvett
"Call My Name" Monica Brown, Jocelyn Donald, Daniel Jones, Jamal Jones, Timothy Mosley, and Jonathan Solone-Myvett
"All Men Lie"
(featuring Timbaland)
Monica Brown, Nick Brongers, and Timothy Mosley
"Beggin & Pleadin" 2016 Brandy Non-album single Ronald Colson, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, John Lee Hooker, Steve Mostyn, and Brandy Norwood
"Wolves" Kanye West The Life of Pablo Kanye West, Sia Furler, Victor Mensah, Magnus August Høiberg, Alan Stanley Soucy Brinsmead, Noah Goldstein, Elon Rutberg, Cydel Young, Ryan McDermott, Mike Dean, Caroline Shaw, and Pat Reynolds
"Nothing Even Matters"
(featuring KIRBY)
Kevin Ross Non-album single Co-writer/Featured artist Kevin Ross
"Will You Fight" 2017 La'Porsha Renae Already All Ready Co-writer La'Porsha Renae, Edgar "Johnny Velvet" Etienne, and Harmony Samuels
"Tell Me You Love Me" Demi Lovato Tell Me You Love Me Ajay Bhattacharyya and John Hill
"Twice" 2018 Christina Aguilera Liberation Writer/Producer None
"Accelerate"
(featuring Ty Dolla Sign and 2 Chainz)
Co-writer Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Che Pope, Ernest Brown, Carlton Davis Mays, Jr., Bibi Bourelly, Ilsey Juber, Tayla Parx, Tyrone Griffin, Jr., Tauheed Epps, and Ronald Brown
"Thank You"
(featuring KIRBY)
Black Thought Streams of Thought, Vol. 1 Co-writer/Featured artist Tariq Trotter and Patrick Douthit
"Don't Walk Away" 2020 John Legend Bigger Love Co-writer John Stephens, Stephen McGregor, and Mikyala Simpson

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Savage, Niara (June 18, 2020). "How Social Media Users Forced Quaker to Retire Its Racist Aunt Jemima Brand". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Profile, okayplayer.com. Accessed April 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "KIRBY Wants Her Music to Taste Like Mac and Cheese". Interview Magazine. February 4, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  4. ^ G. G. M. Staff (September 18, 2017). "ASCAP'S 9th Annual "Women Behind The Music" Honors Singer-Songwriter Kirby Lauryen, Pulse Music Group VP Of A&R Ashley Calhoun And Epic Records' Senior Director Of A&R Ericka Coulter". Guitar Girl Magazine. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Mowatt, Robyn (February 5, 2020). "Tennessee-Bred Singer KIRBY Unveils Funk-Filled Debut Album, 'Sis.'". Okayplayer. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Kirby Lauryen Gives Back to STAX Music Academy". localmemphis.com. September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "Alumna Kirby Lauryen Cowrites Kayne West, Paul McCartney's 'Only One' | Berklee College of Music". berklee.edu. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Bhanot, Ankita (July 28, 2020). "Feature: KIRBY Makes Soul Music to Heal Herself". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  9. ^ Vasishta, Jeff (June 23, 2020). "In Quarantine, Pop Music's Quiet Topliners Are Gaining More Power". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  10. ^ "Jennifer Lopez Previews New Album During Intimate Malibu Lunch | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. April 25, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
edit