33 in Los Foxes Angeles. photographed FEBRUARY 15, 2014 | WWW.BILLBOARD.BIZ | 2014 15, FEBRUARY

Mia’s moment wasn’t an isolated one, however. By age 11, the Guam-born singer was already already was singer 11, age the Guam-born By however. one, an isolated moment wasn’t Mia’s What happened next is the stuf pop star dreams are made of. Kim Kardashian posted a Keek posted a Keek Kim Kardashian of. made happened are What is the stuf pop next star dreams Mia is at work recording and writing her debut EP, a mix of uptempo and stripped-down songs EP, her debut and writing recording work is at Mia “We were in the middle of eating, and it was really, really nerve-racking,” says the 17-year-old, says nerve-racking,” really of really, middle eating, and it was in the were “We “When I moved out to L.A., my dad wanted me to document my life, so I started life, journals, L.A., document writing “When out to me to my wanted I moved dad my performing professionally at the weddings of Japanese tourists on the island. In 2010, Mia and her Mia In 2010, on the island. tourists of Japanese the weddings performing at professionally is chomping at the bit to go into the studio into go with her.” the bit to at is chomping who counts Kylie Jenner as a close friend and Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion and Celine Whitney Houston Carey, and Mariah friend as a close Jenner Kylie counts who that she describes as “a rhythmic pop sound,” with a heavy dose of frst-person teenage perspective. dose of teenage frst-person with a heavy pop sound,” rhythmic describes as “a she that —Jill Menze —Jill thing.” the same through all going know we’re to teenagers want self. Adding to the pressure cooker? When the request comes from Kanye West while seated at the at seated while West Kanye from comes When the request cooker? the pressure to Adding self. most like home.” most like mother left her father and siblings behind to pursue her career in Los Angeles. That was where where was That in Los Angeles. pursue her career behind to and siblings her father mother left video of the impromptu performance, which highlighted Mia’s impressive vocal range and went range vocal impressive Mia’s highlighted of performance, which video the impromptu on to garner 1.2 million views. In no time, Mia was felding label requests, eventually signing with signing eventually requests, label felding was Mia In no time, 1.2 million views. garner on to eventually, Interscope president of urban records Joie Manda, who was, in a word, wowed. “She has wowed. in a word, was, who Manda, Joie of records urban Interscope president eventually, It’s not every day that you’re asked to sing “Hold On, We’re Going Home” in front of Drake him- of in front Drake Going Home” On, We’re “Hold sing to asked you’re that day not every It’s Kardashians’ dinner table. Kardashians’ Mia met manager Neima Khaila, who signed her to management company 88th Commission, company and, management her to signed Khaila, who Neima manager met Mia as infuences. “I was so nervous I changed the melody of up liking it.” the song, ended as infuences. so I changed “I was nervous but Drake Interscope in December. “I’m a person that goes of vibes,” she says. “Interscope was what felt felt what “Interscope was says. she of a person goes vibes,” that “I’m Interscope in December. an incredible voice, her style is amazing, and she’s a beautiful young girl,” Manda says. “Everyone “Everyone says. Manda girl,” a beautiful young is amazing, her style and she’s voice, an incredible and I like to write [songs] from them,” she says. “I need to relate to what I’m singing about, singing and I I’m what to relate to “I need says. she them,” from [songs] write to and I like PIA MIA PIA Viral video star connectionViral typical is not your with Kardashian teen sensation WorldMags.netWorldMags.net WorldMags.net . But the record, which is which the record, . But

Foxes, who’s as enthusiastic and cheeky in conversation conversation in and cheeky as enthusiastic who’s Foxes, Foxes, however, wants to take her time getting there. there. her time getting take to wants however, Foxes, Two tracks, “Youth” and “Let Go for Tonight,” have have Tonight,” and “Let Go for “Youth” tracks, Two “We’re trying to fll out her story more,” RCA head of head RCA more,” fll out her story trying to “We’re been released in the United Kingdom. Foxes’ U.S. label, label, U.S. Foxes’ Kingdom. in the United been released be touring “a shitload,” she says, including U.K. dates in dates U.K. including says, she shitload,” be “a touring ing into her debut album, Glorious her debut ing into but with the record as good as it is there’s a tremendous a tremendous as good as it is there’s but with the record priority is helping fans get to know Foxes beyond “Clarity.” beyond Foxes know to get fans is helping priority pop/rock marketing Aaron Borns says. “She’s a pop artist “She’s Borns says. Aaron marketing pop/rock then a U.S. run later in the year. In the meantime, RCA’s RCA’s In the meantime, in the year. run later then a U.S. with a little bit of mystery. We want her to be her to want one of the We bit ofwith a little mystery. rows of seats to jump on her collaborator Zedd. so “I was collaborator of jump on her to seats rows the mouth,” gum in my I had chewing not expecting it that want to seed it a bit frst.” —Emily Zemler seed to want it a bit frst.” more than a year ago, to thank for much of much the hype thank for to lead- ago, than a year more slated for a May release, reveals an entirely new side of new side the an entirely reveals release, a May for slated singer, who has also guested on tracks by Fall Out Boy and Out by Fall has also who guested on tracks singer, says. “‘Clarity’ is an EDM track. My music has dance ele- has dance music My track. is an EDM “‘Clarity’ says. ments but it’s a lot more organic. It’s kind of a big diary.” like It’s organic. more a lot ments but it’s takes a left turn new forces in mainstream pop. It’s a lofty goal, obviously, obviously, a lofty goal, pop. It’s in mainstream new forces on Zedd’s “Clarity,” a dance-pop number she recorded a dance-pop number recorded she “Clarity,” on Zedd’s ready for a while,” she says. “But I want to push ‘Youth,’ push ‘Youth,’ to want I “But says. she a while,” for ready When “Clarity” was announced as best dance recording recording as best dance announced was When “Clarity” at the Grammy Awards, Louisa Roseby goes Allen, who Awards, the Grammy at Foxes, threw her purse into the air and climbed over two over climbed the air and her purse into threw Foxes, British singer says. “It was hilarious.” was “It says. singer British as she is enigmatically sultry in her music, has her feature has her feature sultry in her music, is enigmatically as she Rudimental. “‘Clarity’ defnitely put me on the map, and defnitely Rudimental. “‘Clarity’ I’m very grateful, but it’s more Zedd’s baby than mine,” she than mine,” baby Zedd’s more it’s but grateful, very I’m RCA, is pushing the former on pop radio. Foxes will also Foxes RCA, on pop the former is pushing radio. February and March, an Australian tour with Bastille and with Bastille tour an Australian and March, February amount of potential.”

and then another single, rather than just put it all out there. just than put it all out there. rather and then another single, but I me, for big goal fulfllsPutting a pretty out an album FOXES

After winning a Grammy with Zedd, British singer winning a Grammy After “The album was fnished a couple of months ago. It’s been It’s of a couple months ago. fnished “The was album S CVAR. HEATHER BY MAKEUP AND HAIR ANGELES-WESTWOOD. LOS W. OF COURTESY LOCATION FOXES: