Killian Wells
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Killian Wells (born November 13, 1988) is a
pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...
singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur from
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. Wells owns the record label Inferno Records, is the founder and head perfumer of Xyrena (a celebrity-branded perfume company), the CEO of Social Currency Ventures (an invite-only influencer affinity platform, management company, and branding agency), and the inventor of XUVO (a blacklight-reactive cocktail mixer). In 2018 Wells started a YouTube channel covering a variety of topics and vlogs.


Career

At age 17, Wells began co-producing his own material and formed the production team Sir Killian and Christof, a musical partnership. His first single to receive significant attention was " V.I.P.", released as a digital EP on July 21, 2009 on iTunes and
Amazon MP3 Amazon Music (previously Amazon MP3) is a music streaming platform and digital music store operated by Amazon. As of January 2020, the service had 55 million subscribers. It was the first music store to sell music without digital rights manage ...
through Wells' own indie label Inferno Records. "V.I.P." has received airplay on Top 40 stations and was added to
US Airways US Airways was a major airline in the United States. It was originally founded in History of aviation in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh as a mail delivery airline called All American Aviation, which soon became a commercial passenger airline. In 1953, it ...
in-flight entertainment Hit List channel in November 2009. Wells co-wrote and co-produced the album version of "V.I.P." The digital EP also features remixes by LorD and Master (who also remixed
Dangerous Muse Dangerous Muse is an American electronic rock project founded by vocalist Mike Furey and keyboardist, vocalist Tom Napack. History Dangerous Muse formed when Mike Furey and Tom Napack met as students at Fordham University, New York City. Furey ...
), Purple Moon Banana (
RuPaul RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960) is an American drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor. He produces, hosts, and judges the reality competition series ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' and has received List of awards ...
), and Wells under the moniker "Knightwriter". The digital EP was replaced on May 25, 2010 by a new single mix of "V.I.P.", re-released to coincide with the debut of an accompanying music video by director Karl Giant which featured a cameo by Wells' friend
Laverne Cox Laverne Cox (born May 29, 1972) is an American actress and LGBTQ advocate. She rose to prominence with her role as Sophia Burset on the Netflix series '' Orange Is the New Black'', becoming the first transgender person to be nominated for a ...
of ''
Orange Is the New Black ''Orange Is the New Black'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''OITNB'') is an American comedy-drama television series created by Jenji Kohan for Netflix. The series is based on Piper Kerman's memoir '' Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Pr ...
'' fame. In Summer 2011 Wells' song "(If Only Life Could Be Like) Hollywood" was featured in Hollister and
Claire's Claire's (formerly known as Claire's Boutiques, Claire's Boutique and Claire's Accessories) is an American retailer of accessories, jewelry, and toys primarily aimed towards tween and teen girls, and young women. It was founded in 1961 and i ...
stores nationwide. Wells' co-wrote the song with Mark Calderon from
Color Me Badd Color Me Badd is an American R&B group that was formed in 1985 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, by lead singer Bryan Abrams (born November 16, 1969), tenor Mark Calderon (born September 27, 1970), second tenor Sam Watters (born July 23, 1970) and b ...
. In 2011 Wells released "Psycho" along with a music video directed by Bec Stupak and co-starring
Playboy Playmate A Playmate is a female Model (person), model featured in the centerfold/gatefold of ''Playboy'' magazine as Playmate of the Month (PMOTM). The PMOTM's pictorial includes nude photographs and a centerfold poster, along with a pictorial biograph ...
of the Year
Hope Dworaczyk Hope Dworaczyk Smith ( ; born November 21, 1984) is an American entrepreneur, model, and reality television personality. She is the founder and CEO of MUTHA, a skincare company, and was the host of ''Inside Fashion''. Smith was ''Playboy'' magazi ...
as Wells' love interest. In 2012 Wells' released "It's Like That" (feat. Nixon) with a 1950s stylized video featuring an appearance by popular
YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
star
Glozell GloZell Lynette Green (born July 30, 1972), better known mononymously as GloZell, is an American YouTube personality. GloZell established her YouTube channel in 2008, with video interviews, comedy about her life and song parodies. By 2015, the ...
. The video featured a handful of product placements from brands including Big Red, Bosco, Kit-Cat, Brooklyn Industries,
Bed Head Bed Head is a line of haircare and nail products created by Toni & Guy and distributed by Toni & Guy, TIGI Linea, which has been producing the line since its inception. The cosmetics line was first produced in 2003. A line produced by the company ...
, and
Instagram Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
shortly before it was purchased by
Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
. Wells' "STRFKR", also released in 2012, co-starred gay porn actor
Brent Everett Brent Everett (born February 10, 1984, in Saskatchewan, Canada) is a Canadian gay pornographic film actor and director. Career Everett has been a gay pornography performer since 2003, debuting together with his first boyfriend, fellow porn ...
and film actor and writer Michael Serrato. The music video was directed by Wells. Everett said he chose to be in the music video as he liked Wells' work and couldn't pass up a chance to work with him. The "STRFKR" video features some of the first adult product placements set to a mainstream song including Astroglide, ONE Condoms, and Manhunt.net. "STRFKR" became the opening title theme for
Charlie David Charles David Lubiniecki (born August 9, 1980) is a Canadian actor, writer, director and producer, best known for the male lead in the LGBT horror series '' Dante's Cove''. He has also worked as a TV host on a number of shows like ''F.Y.E!'', '' ...
's 2013 documentary ''I'm A Porn Star'',; the opening sequence also features clips from the "STRFKR" music video. In 2013, Wells released "Remix My Love" featuring
Kristinia DeBarge Kristinia Jamie DeBarge (; born March 8, 1990) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She first appeared on national television in 2003 as a contestant on the ''American Idol'' spin-off, ''American Juniors''. In 2009, DeBarge signed a co ...
. The accompanying music video featured product placements from
Pop Rocks Pop Rocks, also known as popping candy, is a type of candy owned by Zeta Espacial S.A. Pop Rocks ingredients include sugar, lactose (milk sugar), and flavoring. It differs from typical hard candy in that pressurized carbon dioxide gas bubbles ...
, Shasta, Members Only, Numark, and South Beach Smoke. In the video both Killian and Kristinia are shown wearing authentic clothes and hairstyles from the 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000, and present day. On September 18, 2015, Wells released the song "Flatline" which samples the 1980s hit "
(I Just) Died in Your Arms "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" is the debut single by the English pop rock band Cutting Crew, released on 25 July 1986 as a single from their debut studio album, ''Broadcast''. The song was written by frontman Nick Van Eede, produced by Terry Br ...
" by
Cutting Crew Cutting Crew is an English rock band formed in London in 1985. They are best known for their debut studio album ''Broadcast'' (1986) and their UK Top 40 hit singles, "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" and " I've Been in Love Before". History 1985†...
. The song was Wells' first release mastered for iTunes. A 1980s-inspired lyric video for the song was also released on
Vevo Vevo LLC ( , an abbreviation for "Video Evolution", stylized in all caps until 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational video hosting service, best known for providing music videos to YouTube. The service is also available ...


Other work

In December 2008 Wells became part of photographer Adam Bouska's
NOH8 Campaign The NOH8 Campaign (NOH8 meaning "No Hate") is a charitable organization whose mission is to promote LGBTQ marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest. The campaign was created as photographic ...
in response to
California Proposition 8 (2008) Proposition 8, known informally as Prop 8, was a California ballot proposition and a constitutional amendment, state constitutional amendment intended to ban same-sex marriage. It passed in the California state elections, November 2008, Novemb ...
making him one of the first pop artists to join the campaign. Wells was selected as one of 30 acts to perform in the music showcase ''Pure Pop 2009'' at
Webster Hall Webster Hall is a nightclub and concert venue located at 125 East 11th Street, between Third and Fourth avenues, near Astor Place, in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City. It is one of New York City's most historically significant ...
. The performance on November 14, 2009 was Wells' first live show. Jack Chambers (2008 season winner of ''
So You Think You Can Dance Australia ''So You Think You Can Dance Australia'' is an Australian version of the American reality dance competition ''So You Think You Can Dance''. The show is hosted by Carrie Bickmore, with judges Paula Abdul, Shannon Holtzapffel, Jason Gilkison and ...
'') appeared as one of Wells' dancers. In 2014 it was revealed that Wells wrote, produced, and starred (anonymously in a 'mouse head') in a commercial spot for Beamz which caused
Deadmau5 Joel Thomas Zimmerman (born January 5, 1981), known professionally as deadmau5 (pronounced "dead-mouse"), is a Canadian electronic music producer and disc jockey, DJ. His musical style mostly includes progressive house and electro house music, ...
to hint at possible legal action. Wells produced the commercial (and coined the slogan "So Easy Even a Mouse Can Play It") as a result of a feud between Deadmau5 and
Flo Rida Tramar Lacel Dillard (born September 16, 1979), known professionally as Flo Rida ( ), is an American rapper and singer. His 2007 debut and breakout single "Low (Flo Rida song), Low" was number one for 10 weeks in the United States and broke the ...
(a spokesperson for Beamz). EDM artists including
Zedd Anton Zaslavski (; born 2 September 1989), known professionally as Zedd (), is a German record producer and DJ. His stage name, Zedd, was derived from ''zed'', the Z#Name and pronunciation, English pronunciation, barring American English, for ...
,
Wolfgang Gartner Joseph Thomas Youngman (born March 17, 1982), better known by his stage name Wolfgang Gartner, is an Americans, American DJ and music producer. Much of his music prior to 2010 was released through his own record label, Kindergarten, but he signe ...
,
Steve Angello Steven Patrik Josefsson Fragogiannis (; born 22 November 1982), known professionally as Steve Angello, is a Greek–Swedish DJ, record producer, remixer and record label owner. He is a member of Swedish House Mafia, together with Axwell and Seba ...
and Dirty South all commented about the spot on Twitter. In an article regarding
deadmau5 Joel Thomas Zimmerman (born January 5, 1981), known professionally as deadmau5 (pronounced "dead-mouse"), is a Canadian electronic music producer and disc jockey, DJ. His musical style mostly includes progressive house and electro house music, ...
's trademark dispute with
Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
, ''Complex'' Magazine quoted Killian as saying "The spot didn't imply an endorsement and the character could've easily been Mickey Mouse, Mighty Mouse, or Chuck E. Cheese. The front of the Deadmau5 head is unique, but to claim IP of a generic mouse silhouette is really grasping for straws."


Personal life

From 2012 to 2013 it was rumored that Wells was dating adult film actor Tommy Defendi after the two made multiple public appearances together. In 2013 Wells also photographed Defendi for the TLA Gay holiday catalog cover. In 2016 Wells revealed to ''The New York Post'' that in 2010 he'd been the target of a scammer posing as the nephew of Diane von Furstenberg and agent of Mariah Carey. “Once I started digging and spoke with some prominent entertainment attorneys, I found he was a fake,” Wells said of the incident.


Other works

Wells art directed and photographed adult performers Tommy Defendi and Andy Taylor for the 2013 TLA Gay holiday catalog cover.


Discography


Extended plays


Singles

*2010: " V.I.P." *2011: "Psycho" *2012: "It's Like That" (feat. Nixon) *2012: "STRFKR" *2013: "Remix My Love" (feat.
Kristinia DeBarge Kristinia Jamie DeBarge (; born March 8, 1990) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She first appeared on national television in 2003 as a contestant on the ''American Idol'' spin-off, ''American Juniors''. In 2009, DeBarge signed a co ...
)
*2015: "Flatline" *2017: "Blue Dream"


Awards


Art & Olfaction Awards

* 2016 (3rd Annual): Finalist - Perfumer of Xyrena's Dark Ride in the Best Independent Fragrance Category


Taste Awards

* 2018 (9th Annual): Winner (Special Achievement Honoree) - Hollywood Tastemakers Award * 2018 (9th Annual): Finalist - Ferrara Flame Award for Best Branded Content for Killian Wells "Blue Dream" Music Video (Presented by Xyrena) * 2016 (7th Annual): Winner - Director of Viewers Choice Best Mini Film or Documentary "Flazéda by Pearl" for Xyrena * 2016 (7th Annual): Finalist - Director of Best Fashion Film "Flazéda by Pearl" for Xyrena * 2016 (7th Annual): Finalist - Ferrara Flame Award for Best Branded Video Promotion or Campaign "Flazéda by Pearl" for Xyrena


OUTMusic Awards

* 2010: Nominated - OUTStanding Dance Song (" V.I.P.") * 2010: Nominated - NEXT Generation Talent Search Contest - OUTStanding Original Song ("V.I.P.")


Independent Music Awards

* 2008 (7th Annual): Nominated - Best Website Design for an Indie Label (Inferno Records)


References


External links


Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, Killian American male singer-songwriters Record producers from New York (state) Living people Singers from New York City Place of birth missing (living people) American male pop singers 21st-century American singer-songwriters 1988 births 21st-century American male singers Singer-songwriters from New York (state)