Diandra Interviews Citizen Queen: Fated, Fierce, And For Your Consideration

I love sisterhood. It just feels so right, especially when it is based in music. If you have not hear Citizen Queen, please, stop your life, get on youtube, and enjoy a day of 5 powerful women: Cora Isabel, Hannah Mrozak, Kaedi Dalley, Kaylah Sharve’ and Nina Nelson. These ladies sing their hearts out as if they were trying to save the world. They proves music heals and revives people, of which Citizen Queen understands that a good song, especially a cover, can inspire a listener to turn things around for themselves. In our interview, we discuss how they they turned to each other to create a quintet ready to take over the world: whether by cover or original song.

Diandra: Covering so many artists, when you think of your own original sound, which artists do you feel you are a combination of? 

Hannah: I would like to think we have a similar style to Victoria Monét, Ariana Grande and a little bit of Chloe x Halle. 

Kaedi: Also Spice Girls, En Vogue, and Brandy are some of the people that come to mind

Diandra: Which artists do you feel are Karaoke musts? 

Nina: My Karaoke musts are “All By Myself” by Miss Celine Dion, “What Dreams Are Made Of” by Lizzie McGuire, some Amy Winehouse, Adele, Christina Aguilera or whatever else I’m feeling at the moment. Maybe the Spice Girls kind of night. You never know!

Cora: Old Disney is always my go-to when it comes to karaoke. Hannah Montana will forever be my first choice. Karaoke isn’t supposed to be taken seriously. It’s not about showing off vocals to me, it’s about having fun! Everybody rocks out to Hannah Montana!
 
[OFFICIAL VIDEO] Evolution Of Girl Groups – Citizen Queen

Diandra: When you look at all that artists you cover, what is one thing they all seem to have in common in both style and message, especially about love? 

Kaedi: Although we’re different ages, all of us in the group are at a point in life where we’re trying to figure out what love is. Sometimes, we might be looking in the wrong places but, nonetheless, gaining more understanding every day. With all the artists we’ve chosen to cover so far, I noticed that their views are pretty similar to ours. We rely on these artists to get us through our highest times and our most devastating breakups.

Nina: We’ve covered Kehlani, Ariana Grande, En Vogue, Tierra Whack, Kacey Musgraves and more. Each of these artists have been unafraid to put their personal mark on the music world with their unique sound, stepping outside the bounds of what is ‘mainstream’. They START the trends with their messages, musicality, and their art in general. They don’t follow them. And that is who we are trying to be. Even if we didn’t realize it at first, the artists that we have covered are artists who we’d like to emulate in so many ways.
 
Diandra: Singing so many love songs, what is your best relationship advice? 

Kaylah: One of the best pieces of relationship advice I can give is to always trust your intuition and don’t be afraid to speak up/be vulnerable about how you feel. Even if you end up being wrong, it’s important that you feel comfortable enough to express your concerns. I think that when entering a relationship you definitely need to look for a best friend before boyfriend or girlfriend. Whether it’s before or during, I think it’s important to build a friendship with your partner so your relationship is based on more than just appearance.
 
Diandra: What do you feel drew you to each other as persons and artists? Moreover, do you think it was fate? 

Hannah: I definitely believe it was fate. I never thought in a million years I’d be in a girl group. Let alone one where I get along so well with everyone. We are all so different, and I think everyone brings certain traits to the table; so we balance each other out.

Cora: I’ll never forget when our producers posted pictures from the auditions for the then-nameless girl group. I was not at them because I did everything over the phone, but when I saw the audition photos, a room full of different talented singers, I knew Hannah, Kaylah, Kaedi, and Nina were going to be in the group. I can’t explain to you why. They were in the picture with everyone else, and I hadn’t even heard them sing, but I saw them and somehow knew. I told my mom “these four are going to be in the group with me.” 
 [OFFICIAL VIDEO] Citizen Queen – Everybody Business

Diandra: What made you choose the name Citizen Queen? 

Nina: To be a queen is to be regal, of a certain status, revered. But why must that term be so unattainable? I was speaking with my mom, one day, and realized that she is a queen in my life, an amazing role model; maybe, in some ways, I am a queen too. So we wanted to democratize the term. What makes you a queen every day? What makes you great, how do you step into your own power for those around you to see? Everybody is a queen in their own right; hence the name, Citizen Queen.
 
Diandra: If Citizen Queen were a force or a supernatural energy people can embody, what would be the requirements and personality for joining or becoming a Citizen Queen, beyond being able to sing? 

Hannah: That’s a hard one. I think confidence and kindness is huge. You don’t need a superpower to be special, which is kind of what the name Citizen Queen is about. You don’t have to be a Queen to be royalty. Everyone is unique and special. Everyone has something to bring to the table that is unique to them.
 
Diandra: If you could create your own world, what would it look like and what would be 3 rules for living on Citizen Queen Planet? 

Kaedi: Rule one, BRING YA CONFIDENCE! and if you don’t have as much as you’d like, we’ll help you build it up. Anything and everything we do now, we do in the name of OURSELVES. Self-love boot camp!

Kaylah: Rule two, trust that what you bring to the table is valued and necessary!

Hannah: I gotta add one thing: there would be super pretty colors everywhere all the time like, pastel pinks and stuff and the stars would be visible in the sky 24/7 (lol). I just needed that to be said if we’re creating our own world, but the third rule would be that you must not be afraid to break out into dance at any given moment.
 [OFFICIAL VIDEO] bad guy – Citizen Queen

Diandra: What are 5 facts about you that you say, “If your don’t know this, you don’t know Citizen Queen?”

Nina: Most of us didn’t know each other before Citizen Queen. We auditioned for the group and within a month, we were living in the same Airbnb making music.

Kaedi: If I asked any of the girls, right now, what they were listening to, none of our answers would lie in the same “pool” of music. I think that’s so cool. 

Hannah: The amount of inside jokes we have is actually insane. I don’t know how we have so many, honestly. If you know us you know we mainly speak to each other through our inside jokes.

Cora: I taught myself how to beatbox during lunchtime in middle school because I was bored and it sounded cool!

Kaylah: We are coming through playing no games! We own our individuality, which is what makes us bosses who know our worth and don’t settle for anything less than greatness!
 [OFFICIAL VIDEO] Whack World Medley – Citizen Queen

Diandra: What is your favorite love story? Why?

Cora: My favorite love story is the relationship between Ron and Hermione in Harry Potter. I remember egging them on and shipping them so hard when the series was still going on, and we didn’t know for sure if they would end up together.

Kaylah: I love any love story really. Love is such a complex yet beautiful thing, and you’re lucky if you get to experience it in its truest form with the person you want to spend your life with. I love modern love stories because it’s easier to relate to my life.
 
Diandra: What is a book or film you think would become a great concept album? 

Cora: This isn’t a film, it’s a TV show, however it is also a book series so I think it’s okay to say the show The 100.

Nina: Maybe Kill Bill, Vol. 1, Westworld, Avatar the Last Airbender, or Fight Club to name a few!

Kaedi: Maybe Wonder Woman for a movie!
 
Diandra: What is your favorite childhood memory with music?

Hannah: My family would take annual vacations, and, anywhere we went, we always drove. My dad’s playlists from those road trips are my favorite memories. Driving in the car, for hours, listening to the Beatles, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, etc. those memories are a huge reason as to why I am a singer today. My dad introduced me to all the classics. I’m very grateful for that.

Kaylah:  Actually same for me! Family road trips when I was little. My dad would blast the same few gospel albums and play them top to bottom every trip. Eventually, it turned into a full car sing-along, breaking out into harmony when it was time. I realized as I got older that that was the start of me really appreciating music. I still draw from those musical influences today!