Kenzi Hale

Kenzi Hale
Background information
Birth name	Mackenzie Augustine Hale
Origin	The Bronx, New York, USA
Genres	Electro-Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer Songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2012-Present
Associated acts	Jackson Bradshaw Paulo Araujo

Kenzi Hale is an American-born and British-raised pop singer, who first earned attention as a contestant on URAPS Idol 13 in 2012. Kenzi successfully auditioned and earned a place on Team Jackson in the season's re-tooled format. She reached the top 12 before the season discontinued. Later, she auditioned for season 3 of The Uraps Factor and successfully made the top 12 again, this time with Paulo Araujo as her mentor. After a number of delays and setbacks with the show's production team, she was eventually declared the winner. She releases her debut single and album in June of 2015 following her victory.

Personal History

Mackenzie Augustine Hale was born on April 1st, 1993, in the Bronx, New York. She has two sisters, Bo and Lauren, both in their twenties making Kenzi the youngest of her family. She spent the first few years of her life in the Bronx, but at the age of five her family re-located to Birmingham in the UK. Kenzi's parents heavily encouraged their children to pursue higher education, and pushed them to excel in their academic studies. Lauren, the eldest Hale, pursued a career in medicine and went on to earn a medical degree, while Bo pursued a career in law as a defence attorney. Kenzi was pushed to follow a similarly high-profile career path, but her interest had turned to music and a singing career, which her parents did not approve of, as they did not see it as a 'productive' career choice like her sisters' were. Since her parents would not support her goal of achieving a singing career, Kenzi did not receive any professional vocal training; she is self-taught.

Kenzi's desire to break into music was too strong for her parents, who attempted to steer her on the path toward becoming a scientist. She began writing her own songs from the age of 16, and sang lead in a couple of local bands before deciding that indie and rock music wasn't her interest. Kenzi instead found greater inspiration from the mainstream pop music being played on commercial radio stations. Kenzi became determined to prove to her parents that she was good enough to make it into the industry as a singer. When presented with the opportunity, Kenzi went to audition for URAPS Idol 13 without her parents' knowledge, knowing that they would not approve and would prevent her from going. Her initial audition was successful, and although it angered her parents they allowed her to go to her second audition, in front of the panel of Idol judges.

Music

URAPS Idol 13 & The Uraps Factor 3

Kenzi first audirioned for the 13th season of URAPS Idol, hopeful that it would be the breakthrough she needed to launch her career. She successfully auditioned for the producers and advanced to the blind auditions in the show's Voice-inspired re-tooled format.

• Blind Audition: David Guetta - "Titanium (ft. Sia)"
• Top 20: Robin S. - "Show Me Love"
• Top 16: Paul van Dyk - "White Lies (ft. Jessica Sutta)"
• Top 12: Justin Hayward - "Forever Autumn"

The season was put on hiatus following the top 12 live show; it was later announced to be discontinued and the IDOL franchise declared officially dead in 2014. It is not known whether Kenzi would have survived the next elimination, but it is believed her chances were slim. Kenzi spent her time after IDOL working independently on an album, but work ceased when she decided she was unhappy with the way the project was developing. She later decided to try her hand again by auditioning for the third season of The Uraps Factor. Once again she successfully auditioned for the producers, just as she did during her URAPS Idol attempt. She made it past boot camp to the judges' houses, where she was categorized with the girls as mentored by Paulo Araujo. Paulo was not impressed with her initial 'cockiness', but enjoyed her voice, and accepted her into his team for the live shows off recommendations by his guest judge and boyfriend Raphael.

• Judges Houses: Zedd - "Clarity (ft. Foxes)"
• Week 1: Delerium - "Silence (ft. Sarah McLachlan)"
• Week 2: Anastacia - "I'm Outta Love"
• Week 3: Beyoncé - "Love On Top"
• Week 4: Madison Avenue - "Don't Call Me Baby"
• Week 5: Ariana & The Rose - "In Your Bed" / Clean Bandit - "Rather Be (ft. Jess Glynne)"
• Week 6: Delerium - "Silence (ft. Sarah McLachlan)" / Kenzi Hale - "Girl Interrupted (with Nicola)" / Clean Bandit - "Real Love / Rather Be (ft. Jess Glynne)"

Kenzi was eventually declared the winner of the season after successfully advancing through every stage of the competition. At no point was she ever at risk of elimination.

Debut Album Era (2012-2015)

After production cancelled on Uraps Idol 13, Kenzi began writing songs and working independently on a solo album. She recorded a number of demos but lacked the funds to properly finance the high caliber of production she desired. Expensive sessions with Greg Kurstin only resulted in one fully-realized song, "Girl Interrupted". Work on this album was eventually abandoned after Kenzi wasn't entirely happy with the shape it was taking. She was incredibly fortunate when she sold "Girl Interrupted" to Irish singer Nicola O'Neill, who recorded her own version of the song with Richard X. Nicola's version served as the title track on her debut solo album, and also as the first track on the album. Kenzi would later have the opportunity to perform her original version of the song with Nicola during the live Uraps Factor final.

Kenzi has been hard at work on her album during the production breaks on The Uraps Factor. She spent studio time with Alesha and Crystal Barker working on songs for the album, and prior to the finale she prepared a single. Her single "Valkyrie" was announced after she was declared the winner of The Uraps Factor, and she premiered the song the same night with a live performance.