.Flay was born Kristine Meredith Flaherty in Wilmette, Illinois, on June 30, 1985. She attended nearby New Trier High School. When she was seven, her parents divorced and her mother remarried soon after, bringing in a stepbrother and a stepsister. When she was 14 years old, her biological father—a guitarist who loved all musical genres—died of undisclosed causes related to his alcoholism; many of her songs include references to him. Flaherty's stepfather helped raise her and later adopted her. She has described herself as a tomboy during childhood, preferring baggier clothing and rejecting "all things girly". In 2003, she enrolled at Stanford University, pursuing a double major in psychology and sociology. According to Flaherty, many people she met during her time at Stanford influenced her musical style.
K.Flay began her music career in 2003, believing that most hip-hop hits on the radio were "simplistic, misogynistic and formulaic". After bragging to a friend that she could write similar songs, she wrote "Blingity Blang Blang", which she described as a "low-budget rap parody that contained far too many obscenities". After writing and performing the song, Flaherty realized that she enjoyed writing and recording music. She continued to experiment with music by writing songs and performing and recording them on her computer. She released a mixtape called Suburban Rap Queen in 2005, which she produced on her laptop, and began performing.
In 2010, K.Flay released her self-titled EP, and in 2011 self-released the mixtape I Stopped Caring in '96, which she later remarked was a career turning point. K.Flay signed with RCA Records in 2012, releasing two EPs: Eyes Shut in 2012, with songs produced by Liam Howlett from the British band The Prodigy, and What If It Is in 2013. She parted ways with RCA Records in 2013 because of differences of opinion. Upon leaving RCA Records, she left behind more than 60 songs she had written while signed under RCA Records, but no longer owned the rights to. K.Flay has described her time with RCA Records as similar to "an ill-advised marriage".
In late April 2014, K.Flay announced the release of her album Life as a Dog, by offering fans the ability to pre-order via PledgeMusic, reaching 196 percent of her initial goal. She wanted the project to be "DIY [and] self-motivated". It was recorded and produced in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with the final mix produced at San Francisco's Different Fur.
Life as a Dog was released independently on June 10, 2014. The album reached No. 14 on the Billboard Rap Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. K.Flay toured extensively once the album was released, including headlining a tour and joining tours with AWOLNATION, Third Eye Blind, and Dashboard Confessional in 2014. In 2014 and 2015 she toured Germany, France, and other European countries. K.Flay also performed on the Warped Tour in 2014, saying that it "was almost like an exercise in becoming a better performer".
In 2015, K.Flay collaborated with Louis the Child on their song "It's Strange". The single was praised by Taylor Swift, who added "It's Strange" as one of her "Songs That Will Make Life Awesome" list and was featured on the FIFA 16 soundtrack. The song peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. On March 25, 2016, K.Flay released her single "FML". Later that year, K.Flay announced she had signed to Interscope Records as the first artist signed to Dan Reynolds' Night Street Records imprint. Her EP Crush Me was released 10 days later on August 19. The EP's song "Blood in the Cut" appeared on the soundtrack for XXX: Return of Xander Cage, Netflix's original series BoJack Horseman (season 4, episode 6), and in a 2017 NFL promo commercial drive.
K.Flay's album Every Where Is Some Where was released on April 7, 2017. The album's first single, "High Enough", was released in March 2017. She was the opening act for the North American and European legs of Imagine Dragons' Evolve Tour. In September 2017, Flay released the book Crush Me, a compilation of notes received from fans. At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, "Blood in the Cut" received a nomination for Best Rock Song, and Every Where Is Some Where was nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
On March 1, 2019, K.Flay announced that she was working on her third studio album and released a lyric video for its first single, "Bad Vibes". On March 19, the official music video for "Bad Vibes" was released.[35] On April 29, K.Flay revealed that the new album would be titled Solutions and announced the Solutions Tour. The album was released on July 12, 2019.
In December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, K.Flay released a three-track EP called Don't Judge a Song by Its Cover which saw her covering "Break Stuff" by Limp Bizkit, "Self Esteem" by The Offspring, and "Brain Stew" by Green Day.
In April 2021, K.Flay announced that a five-track EP called Inside Voices would be released on June 11. The first song from the EP, "Four Letter Words", was released with a music video on April 23. The second song, "TGIF" featuring Tom Morello on guitar, was released with an animated visual on May 21.
In early 2021, K.Flay began live streaming on Twitch; she uses the platform to interact with fans, host live interviews with other musicians, and create and mix original songs in real-time. She also performed at the 2021 Grey Cup halftime show with Arkells and The Lumineers.'' On November 19, 2021, K.Flay released a second five-track EP entitled Outside Voices. The EP's first single, "Nothing Can Kill Us", was released on October 15, 2021; its accompanying music video was released on November 4. A second single, "Weirdo", was released on November 17, two days before the release of the EP. On February 4, 2022, K.Flay's fourth studio album Inside Voices / Outside Voices, was released. The album combines the Inside Voices and Outside Voices EPs along with two additional tracks, "The Muck", and "Good To Drive"
K.Flay has cited a wide range of musicians such as Royal Blood, Missy Elliott, Garbage, Lauryn Hill, Tame Impala, Jeremih, Metric, M.I.A., OutKast, Liz Phair, Cat Power, and Shlohmo as influences. Her work has covered genres including hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, indie, and pop-rock. She has described her sound as "genre-defying" and draws from lo-fi pop and hip-hop with a strong indie component in her sound.
Bad Vibes
K.Flay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dead on arrival typed out plainly
You only like bad news
Sleep in your coffin like a baby
Beautiful trees outside
Sky is a bright blue, you see storm clouds
Storm clouds
You're an ex prom queen slipping stones in your Doc's
In a circle of people with fun that's illegal
You act like a cop, you're the sequel that sucks
Doors always have their locks
Like, why even try when we're already fucked?
Got your hands on a laptop, face in the mud, just stop
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Bad nights with you
Yeah, I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
Rollin' a cigarette
When you know that smoking causes cancer
Say that it's just depressing
When basic girls sing "Tiny Dancer"
Sip all your drinks on ice, no surprise
Your backyard's filled with stray cats
And that's sad
You think it's cooler to have dark thoughts
Never eat ice cream, only take white drugs
In a circle of people without any reason to love
You're a god, I've been screaming a lot
How is the earth so hot?
Like, why even try when it's already fucked?
Got your hands on a laptop, face in the mud, just stop
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Bad nights with you
Yeah, I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
You can't drag me down, you can't drag me down
You can't drag me down, you can't drag me down
'Cause I feel good
Yeah, I'm real good
Said I feel good
Damn, I feel good
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Bad nights with you
Yeah, I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Bad nights with you
Yeah, I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
In this song, K.Flay seems to be addressing someone who exudes negative energy and bad vibes. The opening lyrics describe this person's new tattoo that reads "Dead on arrival," revealing their fondness for pessimism and bad news. They also sleep in a coffin, a symbol of death and finality. Despite the beauty of the trees and blue sky outside, this person always perceives things negatively and only sees storm clouds.
The second verse suggests that this person is trying to be cool by being sad and dark. They are an "ex prom queen" who feels powerful by being in control of others, acting like a cop and locking doors. K.Flay suggests that this person is hanging out with people who only engage in illegal activities and have no genuine love for each other. They are selfish and only concerned with their own pleasure, without regard for the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got a new tattoo
You have recently gotten a new tattoo on your body.
Dead on arrival typed out plainly
The tattoo is of the phrase 'dead on arrival' that is quite visible and clear to read.
You only like bad news
You are only drawn towards negative and depressing news.
Sleep in your coffin like a baby
You sleep in a manner that represents peaceful acceptance of death, like a baby in a coffin.
Beautiful trees outside
The surrounding scenery outside your window consists of beautiful trees.
Sky is a bright blue, you see storm clouds
Although the sky is clear blue, you still focus on the storm clouds that are present.
Storm clouds
You dwell on negative outcomes and events waiting for a storm to hit.
You think it's hot to be sad, but it's not
You may find it attractive to be sad, but it is not a healthy or desirable trait to have.
You're an ex prom queen slipping stones in your Doc's
You were once a popular prom queen who now wears Doc Marten boots and still lives in the past by clinging onto memories that weigh you down.
In a circle of people with fun that's illegal
You surround yourself with people that indulge in activities that are not legally allowed, and you find it engaging.
You act like a cop, you're the sequel that sucks
You behave like a law enforcement officer, but in reality, you lack authority and don't live up to expectations.
Doors always have their locks
You have trust issues and are always wary of those around you, so you keep the doors locked.
Like, why even try when we're already fucked?
You feel like you cannot win, so you don't bother trying at all.
Got your hands on a laptop, face in the mud, just stop
You are using technology and social media to distract yourself from reality, which isn't healthy. You need to stop this habit.
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Being around you makes me feel uneasy and brings me negative experiences and situations.
Bad nights with you
Spending time with you often leads to an unpleasant and depressing experience.
Yeah, I get bad energy
Your presence often causes negative energy and emotions around me.
Sick pleasure from you
Despite the discomfort, sadness, and negativity you bring, there is something addictive and pleasing about it.
Rollin' a cigarette
You are engaged in smoking by rolling your own cigarettes.
When you know that smoking causes cancer
You are aware of the risks associated with smoking, including the high possibility of developing cancer.
Say that it's just depressing
Despite the health risks involved with smoking, you try to justify it as something that is just depressing.
When basic girls sing 'Tiny Dancer'
You find fault with others who like mainstream music and disregard their taste as mediocre.
Sip all your drinks on ice, no surprise
Sipping drinks on ice is a frequent habit of yours and does not come as a surprise.
Your backyard's filled with stray cats
Your backyard is home to many feral cats that have not been adopted.
And that's sad
You acknowledge the sadness of the situation and use it to fit your negative perspective.
You think it's cooler to have dark thoughts
Having negative and depressing thoughts seems more attractive and desirable to you.
Never eat ice cream, only take white drugs
You indulge in drugs and refuse to enjoy simple pleasures like eating ice cream.
In a circle of people without any reason to love
Your friends and acquaintances don't have an essential reason to care about each other, which portrays a meaningless and bleak social life.
You're a god, I've been screaming a lot
You consider yourself superior and might even try to impose your beliefs on others, leading to disagreements and arguments.
How is the earth so hot?
You dwell on negative outcomes and events, wondering how everything could go wrong.
Like, why even try when it's already fucked?
You have given up on your hopes and ambitions because you think that everything is beyond repair.
You can't drag me down, you can't drag me down
You cannot bring me down with your negativity and pessimism.
'Cause I feel good
I am happy and positive despite your efforts to bring me down.
Yeah, I'm real good
I am genuinely satisfied and content in life.
Said I feel good
I am ecstatic and fulfilled with my life's situational and personal circumstances.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kristine Meredith Flaherty, Thomas James Schleiter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bhi Essetten
I have not listened to all the much of her earlier stuff, I mostly just fell in love with "Every Where is Some Where." This to me seems similar in that it combines rap with strong use of melody and harmony, and really rich production.
The soundscape is really thick, but is strongly centered around the beat, giving you a point to focus on, and strengthening the power of her really clever use of rhyme and rhythm in her lyrics, but then behind that she uses harmony to induce emotions without you noticing so much. There is a lot of powerful dissonance in this song, that really makes you feel something, and accentuates the importance of some lyrics.
She uses a sound that is somewhere between a siren and a radar beep as the core melodic focus of the song, while her voice and the other instruments harmonize. but the sound she uses doesn't fit into traditional melodic or harmonic concepts, so it offers a really unique sound to this track. She finds ways to make it sound really good, but it is also really odd feeling, and it creates a lot of the spine-tingling dissonance I love about this song.
She also does that a lot on "Every Where is Some Where" as well. She has a lot of skill as a rapper, but I am just as, if not more impressed by her composition and production skills. I feel like the core of her talent, and the unique thing she provides as a musician is the way she integrates unique and difficult sounds into melodies using clever composition and production.
If anyone hasn't given every track on "Every Where is Some Where" a chance, I suggest you do if you liked this song. Also, if you did not like Giver, Blood in the Cut, or Mean it and haven't heard the rearrangements she did (they will be marked as Seattle Sessions) I really suggest it, she also rearranged Black Wave and High Enough, but I think those worked better in their original arrangements.
She manages to repeatedly make songs that are simultaneously heavily produced, and very raw sounding. Every time she does it, I love it, so yeah, I hope she continues, because it's amazing.
Digi_N
You got a new tattoo
Dead on arrival typed out plainly
You only like bad News
Sleep in your coffin like a baby
Beautiful trees outside
Sky is a bright blue you see storm clouds
Storm clouds
You think it’s hot to be sad but it’s not
You’re an ex prom queen
Slipping stones in your docs
A circle of people with fun that´s illegal
You act like a cop
You’re the sequel that sucks
Doors always have their locks
Like why even try when we’re already fucked
Got your hands on a laptop
Face in the mud just stop
(CHORUS)
You give me bad vibes
Bad times, bad nights with you
Yeah I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
Rolling a cigarette
When you know that smoking causes cancer
Say that it´s just depressing
When basic girls sing tiny dancer
Sip all your drinks on ice
No surprise your backyard´s filled with stray cats and that´s sad
You think it´s cooler to have dark thoughts
Never eat ice cream only take white drugs
In a circle of people without any reason to love you’re a God
I’ve been screaming a lot
How is the Earth so hot
Like why even try when it´s already fucked
Got your hands on a laptop
Face in the mud just stop
(CHORUS)
You can’t drug me down 4x
Cause I feel good
Yeah I’m real good
Said I feel good
Damn I feel good
(CHORUS 2x)
camilly gomes
You've got a new tattoo
Dead on arrival types outplay me
You only like bad news
Sleep in your coffin like a baby
Beautiful trees outside
Sky is a bright blue, you see storm clouds
Storm clouds
You think it's hot to be sad, but it's not
You're an ex prom queen slippin' stones in your docks
You're in a circle of people with fun that's illegal
You act like a cop, you're the sequel that sucks
Doors always have their locks
Like, why even try when we're already fucked?
Got your hands on a laptop, facing the mud, just stop
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Bad nights with you
Yeah, I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
Rollin' a cigarette
When you know that smoking causes cancer
Say that it's just depressing
When basic girls sing "Tiny Dancer"
Sip all your drinks on ice, no surprise
Your backyard's filled with stray cats
And that's sad
You think it's cooler to have dark thoughts
Never eat ice cream, only take white drugs
In a circle of people without any reason to love
You're a god, I've been screaming a lot
How is the earth so hot?
Like, why even try when it's already fucked?
Got your hands on a laptop, facing the mud, just stop
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Bad nights with you
Yeah, I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
You can't drag me down, you can't drag me down
You can't drag me down, you can't drag me down
'Cause I feel good
Yeah, I'm real good
Said I feel good
Damn, I feel good
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Bad nights with you
Yeah, I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
You give me bad vibes, bad times
Bad nights with you
Yeah, I get bad energy
Sick pleasure from you
TuesdayThursday
Yaaassss this song gives me old k.flay vibes. As much as I enjoy her new stuff I adore her old stuff
Minimalist Vlogger
yesssss
Fleur
Any k flay is best k flay
TuesdayThursday
@Fleur True
Nada Hamadi
Same i just love her voice
volt production
Kinda life as a dog era vibes
gabe
Y’all it’s official, KFLAY, our queen is back.
K.Flay
oh hiiiiiiiiiii
gabe
K.Flay i’m actyally screaming-
Curtis Holsinger
The evolution of K Flay continues! Internal rhyme schemes, simple and repeatable choruses, stronger pop hooks... the structure and sound of this song reminds me of some of her songs in "I Stopped Caring in '96" and "Life as a Dog." K Flay's got a lot of range, I'm loving it!