Music Industry News

Aotearoa Producer Kieran Giddens has collaborated with international artist Fred Again.. on his latest album. The 22 year old Wellington based music producer has contributed original production on Fred’s latest USB002 Album, a ten week roll-out that coincided with ten shows in ten different cities. In week nine of the run, Kieran’s intricate sounds were heard when Fred released ‘solo’ featuring British-Angolan rapper Blanco, marking Kieran’s first major production placement. Fred discovered Kieran on Instagram, requesting sounds that became central to the track’s sonic identity. The song pairs upbeat, emotionally charged production with Blanco’s bittersweet lyricism, leaving its emotional tone open to interpretation. The song has amassed over 5 million streams on Spotify alone after the first few weeks, topping the current popular songs on Blanco’s seasoned discography. In an Instagram post announcing the release, Fred again.. described the song as something he is “really incredibly proud of,” with Blanco adding, “For me, solo is about the kind of loneliness you might carry even when you’re surrounded by people.” These two comments reflect the emotional core of the record.

Kieran’s career launched internationally after being signed under management by Grammy winning and Multi Platinum producers YoungKio and Steven Javier. He has built a foundation for his career through selling sound kits and being asked to contribute demos for major-label projects. Kieran is also continuing to work remotely on providing music for TV shows such as Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Ladies of London and The Valley. Kieran’s work spans multiple genres including hyperpop, UK garage and house, with a focus on adaptability across different formats and briefs. Following the release with Fred, Kieran will focus on rolling out further collaborations and commercial projects for artists overseas, as well as continuing to nurture creativity with his musical peers here in Aotearoa.

Listen to ‘solo’ here.

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