HAYLEY
KIYOKO PREMIERES SELF-DIRECTED COMPANION VISUAL FOR NEWEST SINGLE
"WHAT I NEED" (FEAT. KEHLANI)
EPIC VIDEO STARRING BOTH ARTISTS LAUNCHES ON THE EVE OF PRIDE
MONTH
NATIONWIDE HEADLINE TOUR CONTINUES THROUGH JUNE, ENDING WITH
TWO SOLD-OUT
IRVING PLAZA SHOWS JUNE 16 & 18
KIYOKO TO PERFORM ON LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS ON JUNE
19
This
spring, Atlantic recording artist Hayley Kiyoko tapped
R&B powerhouse Kehlani for "What I Need," the
only collaboration on her critically-acclaimed debut album Expectations.
On the eve of Pride Month, the rising pop star debuts the epic,
self-directed companion video starring both artists.
Hayley
Kiyoko - "What I Need" (feat. Kehlani) [Official Video]
Back
in December, Hayley and Kehlani drove up to beautiful Ojai,
CA to film what would become the song's gorgeous visual. In
typical Hayley fashion, the video is yet another beautifully
shot narrative, complete with her signature color palette, and
like many of her previously self-directed music videos, takes
form in the shape of a short film. It centers around two young
women, one of whom, portrayed by Kehlani, is clearly struggling
to connect with her aunt and finds an escape through her relationship
with her childhood best friend, played by Hayley. In the end,
it's a love story that illuminates the importance of having
someone close to you, who cares for you in times of need without
judgment and supports you no matter what.
Kiyoko
will kick off the second leg of her nationwide EXPECTATIONS
TOUR, which has been selling out every date and racking up rave
live reviews. After her headline tour concludes, Kiyoko will
embark on her first-ever arena tour as a special guest on Panic!
At The Disco's upcoming "Pray For The Wicked Tour," getting
underway July 11th at Minneapolis, MN's Target Center and continuing
through mid-August. Tickets for all "Pray For The Wicked Tour"
dates go on sale to the general public today at 12 pm (local).For
complete details and availability, see attached itinerary and
visit www.hayleykiyokoofficial.com.
On June 19th, Hayley will return to late night TV for a special
performance on NBC's The Late Show with Seth Meyers,
airing at 12:35/11:35c on NBC. This follows her applauded late-night
debut in April on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she
won over the audience performing her single "Curious"
and fan-favorite "Let
It Be."
Hayley has been taking #20GAYTEEN by storm with her debut album
EXPECTATIONS, which has propelled her into one of the
most celebrated new artists in the pop landscape. According
to Rolling Stone, "her latest singles - 'Curious' and
'What I Need' (featuring Kehlani) - have placed her at the forefront
of an apologetically queer pop movement, and she turned 2018
into "#20GayTeen" with the release of her long-awaited debut
LP." Billboard goes on to say, "the record solidifies
Kiyoko as one of the few modern artists who is able to unapologetically
capture the queer female experience through pop music," while
GQ writes "Not only is Kiyoko one of the only openly
queer pop stars signed to a major label, she's a major pop force
to be reckoned with all labels aside." Perhaps Teen Vogue
sums it up best, declaring EXPECTATIONS "an unapologetically
queer pop masterpiece for 20gay-teen."
"What I Need" is Kiyoko's newest single following "Curious,"
which heralded the official launch of EXPECTATIONS in
January. Watch the video for "Curious," which has gone on to
amass nearly 11 million views HERE.
Upon release, "Curious" was immediately placed upon The New
York Times' "The Playlist" and TIME Magazine's "5
Songs You Need to Listen to this Week," with Idolator declaring
it "One Of The First Great Pop Songs Of 2018," and The FADER
praising the companion visual as "a beautifully shot commentary
on the dynamics of queer love and the complicated laws of same-sex
attraction."