.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.
Drama
K.Flay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't change girl I'm too stuck in my ways
This way that way, made plays
Ok, is it too late for us to save
I want your body, you want my time
Let's make a trade for now
Don't give it up to no-one else (no one, no one)
Under the stars, I seen it all
Rolling it up
These are my thoughts
You're moving fast but, everything is slow
Foot on the gas woah, don't lose control
Don't make me ask no, just tell me sum
I know you want more you drink until it's done yeah
How you looking for love but you up in this club yeah
I can't lie I seen a lot but you still number 1
I don't mind you come with drama but it's fucking fun
Yeah, she know what it is, she know what it is
Whenever she over she right to the biz, she poppin' and shit
Yeah, let's make a movie, I told her I'm ruthless
She want me to prove it
In K.Flay's song Drama, the lyrics touch on the theme of wanting someone who craves attention and validation, and the singer's willingness to provide that validation in exchange for their body. The first few lines reflect on how the singer is well-known by many women, but he feels trapped in his ways and unable to change. The line "This way that way, made plays" suggests that he has been involved with multiple women, but is now looking to save something more meaningful with one person.
The chorus reveals that the singer is interested in a specific person, but only on his terms. He proposes a transaction - trading sex for time spent with him - and warns the person not to give themselves to anyone else. The lyrics that follow reference the stars, suggesting an intimate setting for physical intimacy. The line "rollin' it up, these are my thoughts" implies that the singer is indulging in substances to escape his thoughts and the situation.
The second verse reveals that the person the singer is interested in is moving quickly, but he wants to slow down and enjoy the moment. He also wants the person to be honest with him about what they desire, and knows that they are thirsty for attention and validation that only he can give. The lines "How you looking for love but you up in this club yeah / I can't lie I seen a lot but you still number 1" suggest that the singer has witnessed the person's behavior before, but still views them as special.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a shame all these bitches know my name
It bothers me that so many people are aware of my identity
I can't change girl I'm too stuck in my ways
I'm unable to alter my behavior because I'm set in my habits
This way that way, made plays
I've tried various approaches and strategies to achieve success
Ok, is it too late for us to save
I'm questioning whether it's possible to salvage our relationship
I want your body, you want my time
I desire physical intimacy, while you desire my company and attention
Let's make a trade for now
Let's compromise and exchange what we each want
Don't give it up to no-one else (no one, no one)
Don't engage in physical intimacy with anyone else but me
Under the stars, I seen it all
I've experienced a lot of things, including romantic moments under the night sky
Win, lose or draw baby we're wrong
Regardless of the outcome, our situation is not ideal
Rolling it up
I'm rolling a joint
These are my thoughts
I'm sharing my personal ideas and reflections
You're moving fast but, everything is slow
You're rushing ahead while everything else around us is moving at a slower pace
Foot on the gas woah, don't lose control
We need to make progress, but we should ensure that we remain in control of the situation
Don't make me ask no, just tell me sum
Don't make me prompt you for an explanation, just be upfront and honest
I know you want more you drink until it's done yeah
You're seeking more than what you currently have, and you're using alcohol to cope with your dissatisfaction
How you looking for love but you up in this club yeah
It seems contradictory that you're searching for a meaningful relationship in a place like a nightclub
I can't lie I seen a lot but you still number 1
Although I've witnessed a lot of different people and experiences, you still hold the top spot in my eyes
I don't mind you come with drama but it's fucking fun
I don't necessarily enjoy the conflict and turmoil you bring, but it adds excitement and entertainment to our relationship
Yeah, she know what it is, she know what it is
The woman I'm referring to is well aware of our dynamics and what our relationship entails
Whenever she over she right to the biz, she poppin' and shit
Whenever she's with me, she gets straight to the point and is lively and energetic
Yeah, let's make a movie, I told her I'm ruthless
I suggested we create a memorable experience together, and I warned her that I can be uncompromising and intense
She want me to prove it
She wants me to demonstrate my fierceness and follow-through
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Dwayne Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind