PERSONAL STYLE
Kaye’s fashionable trademark is a headscarf that she wears on stage. Artistic freedom is extremely important to the singer, so she deliberately works without a major record label.
PERSONAL STYLE
Kaye’s fashionable trademark is a headscarf that she wears on stage. Artistic freedom is extremely important to the singer, so she deliberately works without a major record label.
You get goosebumps when you hear
Kaye-Ree sing. Her voice touches something
deep inside. Musically, the singer is
often compared to Sade and Alicia Keys.
But what makes her songs so special is the
unique crossover of different styles including hip-hop,
jazz, funk, soul and R & B. An American journalist once
wrote about her: “Her music is global soul.”
“I want to move people with my music and make
the world a little bit more positive,” says Kaye-Ree about
herself and her seven-member band, which also includes
tabla player Kiomars Nawab, who is inspired by
Indian soundscapes. Kaye-Ree has been making music
professionally for more than 20 years, plays internationally
on stages in Europe, the US and Africa, and was
a backing singer for Stevie Wonder, among other artists.
She is well-established in the industry.
For the interview, we met the singer at home in Limburg, where she lives with her 11-year-old son. Is he this enthusiastic about music too? She points to a corner of the room where there are guitars, a handpan and several bass guitars. “Yes, definitely. And you know what’s funny? My son dances and imitates Michael Jackson, just like I did when I was a teenager,” she says, laughing.
For the interview, we met the singer at home in Limburg, where she lives with her 11-year-old son. Is he this enthusiastic about music too? She points to a corner of the room where there are guitars, a handpan and several bass guitars. “Yes, definitely. And you know what’s funny? My son dances and imitates Michael Jackson, just like I did when I was a teenager,” she says, laughing.
You get goosebumps when you hear
Kaye-Ree sing. Her voice touches something
deep inside. Musically, the singer is
often compared to Sade and Alicia Keys.
But what makes her songs so special is the
unique crossover of different styles including hip-hop,
jazz, funk, soul and R & B. An American journalist once
wrote about her: “Her music is global soul.”
“I want to move people with my music and make
the world a little bit more positive,” says Kaye-Ree about
herself and her seven-member band, which also includes
tabla player Kiomars Nawab, who is inspired by
Indian soundscapes. Kaye-Ree has been making music
professionally for more than 20 years, plays internationally
on stages in Europe, the US and Africa, and was
a backing singer for Stevie Wonder, among other artists.
She is well-established in the industry.
For the interview, we met the singer at home in Limburg, where she lives with her 11-year-old son. Is he this enthusiastic about music too? She points to a corner of the room where there are guitars, a handpan and several bass guitars. “Yes, definitely. And you know what’s funny? My son dances and imitates Michael Jackson, just like I did when I was a teenager,” she says, laughing.
For the interview, we met the singer at home in Limburg, where she lives with her 11-year-old son. Is he this enthusiastic about music too? She points to a corner of the room where there are guitars, a handpan and several bass guitars. “Yes, definitely. And you know what’s funny? My son dances and imitates Michael Jackson, just like I did when I was a teenager,” she says, laughing.
Kaye-Ree was born in 1979 in Isfahan, Iran.
Shortly afterwards, her parents – German mother and
Persian father – moved with her and her older brother
to Limburg. Her younger brother, Amir, was born here
– he is now the drummer in her band. When it came to
music, her mother was the driving force, says Kaye-Ree.
She sang in a choir and music was always playing at
home. Kaye-Ree herself began ballet dancing at the age
of three; she first went on stage at age four. When she
was a teenager, her older cousins took her to concerts.
She listened to Whitney Houston and Boyz II Men,
and her biggest role model was Michael Jackson. She
practised his moonwalk, turns and kicks in her room.
Kaye-
Ree even designed her own choreography for the
music club at her school. “Back then, I dreamt of becoming
a backing dancer for Michael Jackson,” she recalls.
But things took a different turn. Her teacher asked her
if she would also like to sing. Kaye-Ree tried it and was
immediately cast in the main role of West Side Story.
That’s where her journey as a singer began.
After leaving school, she did a number of things at the same time: studying, working, singing. Kaye-Ree started as a temporary flight attendant with Lufthansa. “That was fantastic for me as a 19-year-old. I flew only long-haul to the US and South Africa, used my contacts and sang in various bars during stopovers,” she explains. However, after six months she switched to a ground staff position. She studied marketing alongside her job and slowly gained a foothold in the music scene in Germany. She laughs as she remembers her first singing contest. “It was put on by a radio station and, as the winner, I was able to go to a TV casting show. I thought I was going to be on the judging panel but, unwittingly, I was cast as a contestant,” she says. Nothing came of the TV show back then. Far more important for her career was her contact with classical guitarist Felix Justen. “He was my brother’s drum teacher and was recommended to me by my entire family. We met in the school music room. He played me a few melodies that he’d composed and I immediately began to think of lyrics and sing them,” she recalls. Felix was Kaye-Ree’s closest musical partner for 15 years. The pair recorded songs together, released three albums and toured internationally. Kaye-Ree was particularly impressed by her gigs in Africa. She sang in Cape Town for the 2010 World Cup and performed for various radio stations in Zimbabwe with musician Metaphysics from the band Söhne Mannheims. “I have to say that Africa is the continent I long for. I can imagine living there someday and building a Ree-treat Centre,” says Kaye-Ree.
After leaving school, she did a number of things at the same time: studying, working, singing. Kaye-Ree started as a temporary flight attendant with Lufthansa. “That was fantastic for me as a 19-year-old. I flew only long-haul to the US and South Africa, used my contacts and sang in various bars during stopovers,” she explains. However, after six months she switched to a ground staff position. She studied marketing alongside her job and slowly gained a foothold in the music scene in Germany. She laughs as she remembers her first singing contest. “It was put on by a radio station and, as the winner, I was able to go to a TV casting show. I thought I was going to be on the judging panel but, unwittingly, I was cast as a contestant,” she says. Nothing came of the TV show back then. Far more important for her career was her contact with classical guitarist Felix Justen. “He was my brother’s drum teacher and was recommended to me by my entire family. We met in the school music room. He played me a few melodies that he’d composed and I immediately began to think of lyrics and sing them,” she recalls. Felix was Kaye-Ree’s closest musical partner for 15 years. The pair recorded songs together, released three albums and toured internationally. Kaye-Ree was particularly impressed by her gigs in Africa. She sang in Cape Town for the 2010 World Cup and performed for various radio stations in Zimbabwe with musician Metaphysics from the band Söhne Mannheims. “I have to say that Africa is the continent I long for. I can imagine living there someday and building a Ree-treat Centre,” says Kaye-Ree.
Kaye-Ree was born in 1979 in Isfahan, Iran.
Shortly afterwards, her parents – German mother and
Persian father – moved with her and her older brother
to Limburg. Her younger brother, Amir, was born here
– he is now the drummer in her band. When it came to
music, her mother was the driving force, says Kaye-Ree.
She sang in a choir and music was always playing at
home. Kaye-Ree herself began ballet dancing at the age
of three; she first went on stage at age four. When she
was a teenager, her older cousins took her to concerts.
She listened to Whitney Houston and Boyz II Men,
and her biggest role model was Michael Jackson. She
practised his moonwalk, turns and kicks in her room.
Kaye-
Ree even designed her own choreography for the
music club at her school. “Back then, I dreamt of becoming
a backing dancer for Michael Jackson,” she recalls.
But things took a different turn. Her teacher asked her
if she would also like to sing. Kaye-Ree tried it and was
immediately cast in the main role of West Side Story.
That’s where her journey as a singer began.
After leaving school, she did a number of things at the same time: studying, working, singing. Kaye-Ree started as a temporary flight attendant with Lufthansa. “That was fantastic for me as a 19-year-old. I flew only long-haul to the US and South Africa, used my contacts and sang in various bars during stopovers,” she explains. However, after six months she switched to a ground staff position. She studied marketing alongside her job and slowly gained a foothold in the music scene in Germany. She laughs as she remembers her first singing contest. “It was put on by a radio station and, as the winner, I was able to go to a TV casting show. I thought I was going to be on the judging panel but, unwittingly, I was cast as a contestant,” she says. Nothing came of the TV show back then. Far more important for her career was her contact with classical guitarist Felix Justen. “He was my brother’s drum teacher and was recommended to me by my entire family. We met in the school music room. He played me a few melodies that he’d composed and I immediately began to think of lyrics and sing them,” she recalls. Felix was Kaye-Ree’s closest musical partner for 15 years. The pair recorded songs together, released three albums and toured internationally. Kaye-Ree was particularly impressed by her gigs in Africa. She sang in Cape Town for the 2010 World Cup and performed for various radio stations in Zimbabwe with musician Metaphysics from the band Söhne Mannheims. “I have to say that Africa is the continent I long for. I can imagine living there someday and building a Ree-treat Centre,” says Kaye-Ree.
After leaving school, she did a number of things at the same time: studying, working, singing. Kaye-Ree started as a temporary flight attendant with Lufthansa. “That was fantastic for me as a 19-year-old. I flew only long-haul to the US and South Africa, used my contacts and sang in various bars during stopovers,” she explains. However, after six months she switched to a ground staff position. She studied marketing alongside her job and slowly gained a foothold in the music scene in Germany. She laughs as she remembers her first singing contest. “It was put on by a radio station and, as the winner, I was able to go to a TV casting show. I thought I was going to be on the judging panel but, unwittingly, I was cast as a contestant,” she says. Nothing came of the TV show back then. Far more important for her career was her contact with classical guitarist Felix Justen. “He was my brother’s drum teacher and was recommended to me by my entire family. We met in the school music room. He played me a few melodies that he’d composed and I immediately began to think of lyrics and sing them,” she recalls. Felix was Kaye-Ree’s closest musical partner for 15 years. The pair recorded songs together, released three albums and toured internationally. Kaye-Ree was particularly impressed by her gigs in Africa. She sang in Cape Town for the 2010 World Cup and performed for various radio stations in Zimbabwe with musician Metaphysics from the band Söhne Mannheims. “I have to say that Africa is the continent I long for. I can imagine living there someday and building a Ree-treat Centre,” says Kaye-Ree.
INSPIRATION
For those who want to see Kaye live: numerous concerts are planned for 2026, and she will also be appearing with her brother Amir at a cultural festival (tour information: kaye-ree.com)
INSPIRATION
For those who want to see Kaye live: numerous concerts are planned for 2026, and she will also be appearing with her brother Amir at a cultural festival (tour information: kaye-ree.com)
But there was more. “I still remember visiting Iran
when I was 11, for the first time since I was born, and experiencing
the joy of life, the warmth and cheerfulness there.”
That touched her deeply, she says, and it is reflected in her
circle of friends, her family and her music, which now also
features Persian influences.
Her family is incredibly proud of her. Kaye-Ree laughs and says: “It took a while for my mother, though. I think she hoped for a long time that I’d work in a marketing department with my degree.” But that changed after Kaye-Ree appeared on “The Voice” in 2018, where all four coaches turned around for her and she wasn’t eliminated until just before the semi-final. “In this industry, you have to get yourself known, and that was one way of doing it,” she explains. At first, her rather modest mother felt somewhat uncomfortable “that she was always asked about her daughter”. But that’s no longer an issue.
Her family is incredibly proud of her. Kaye-Ree laughs and says: “It took a while for my mother, though. I think she hoped for a long time that I’d work in a marketing department with my degree.” But that changed after Kaye-Ree appeared on “The Voice” in 2018, where all four coaches turned around for her and she wasn’t eliminated until just before the semi-final. “In this industry, you have to get yourself known, and that was one way of doing it,” she explains. At first, her rather modest mother felt somewhat uncomfortable “that she was always asked about her daughter”. But that’s no longer an issue.
But there was more. “I still remember visiting Iran
when I was 11, for the first time since I was born, and experiencing
the joy of life, the warmth and cheerfulness there.”
That touched her deeply, she says, and it is reflected in her
circle of friends, her family and her music, which now also
features Persian influences.
Her family is incredibly proud of her. Kaye-Ree laughs and says: “It took a while for my mother, though. I think she hoped for a long time that I’d work in a marketing department with my degree.” But that changed after Kaye-Ree appeared on “The Voice” in 2018, where all four coaches turned around for her and she wasn’t eliminated until just before the semi-final. “In this industry, you have to get yourself known, and that was one way of doing it,” she explains. At first, her rather modest mother felt somewhat uncomfortable “that she was always asked about her daughter”. But that’s no longer an issue.
Her family is incredibly proud of her. Kaye-Ree laughs and says: “It took a while for my mother, though. I think she hoped for a long time that I’d work in a marketing department with my degree.” But that changed after Kaye-Ree appeared on “The Voice” in 2018, where all four coaches turned around for her and she wasn’t eliminated until just before the semi-final. “In this industry, you have to get yourself known, and that was one way of doing it,” she explains. At first, her rather modest mother felt somewhat uncomfortable “that she was always asked about her daughter”. But that’s no longer an issue.
“If you have the opportunity to use music as a mouthpiece, then use it.”
“If you have the opportunity to use music as a mouthpiece, then use it.”
And what does she do when she’s not making music?
“I love travelling, especially to the sea.” Her favourite time
of the day? “In the morning when I’m meditating, and in the
evening when everything calms down. And all my music
activities – I’m currently recording an album with my
brother.” A dream? “The very big stage, like the one I experienced
with Stevie Wonder.” She is multi-talented, a woman
of action. Kaye-Ree demonstrated this most recently last
fall when she performed at Idstein civic hall, where she
organised everything herself – from booking the hall to
selling tickets, the cloakroom and the stage design. “It was
great to see I could do that, and the atmosphere was magical.”
And the evening gave her at least one unforgettable
moment: “After the concert, a woman came up to me
and said: ‘You turned the world here upside down tonight’.”
Truly
a goosebump-inducing moment.
And what does she do when she’s not making music?
“I love travelling, especially to the sea.” Her favourite time
of the day? “In the morning when I’m meditating, and in the
evening when everything calms down. And all my music
activities – I’m currently recording an album with my
brother.” A dream? “The very big stage, like the one I experienced
with Stevie Wonder.” She is multi-talented, a woman
of action. Kaye-Ree demonstrated this most recently last
fall when she performed at Idstein civic hall, where she
organised everything herself – from booking the hall to
selling tickets, the cloakroom and the stage design. “It was
great to see I could do that, and the atmosphere was magical.”
And the evening gave her at least one unforgettable
moment: “After the concert, a woman came up to me
and said: ‘You turned the world here upside down tonight’.”
Truly
a goosebump-inducing moment.
CREDITS
Fotografie: Katrin Binner, Produktion: Vanessa Zeeh, Styling: Heidi Koselowski, Hair & Make-up: Ute Hildenbeutel, Fotoassistenz: Tessa Trautmann
Fotografie: Katrin Binner, Produktion: Vanessa Zeeh, Styling: Heidi Koselowski, Hair & Make-up: Ute Hildenbeutel, Fotoassistenz: Tessa Trautmann
CREDITS
Fotografie: Katrin Binner, Produktion: Vanessa Zeeh, Styling: Heidi Koselowski, Hair & Make-up: Ute Hildenbeutel, Fotoassistenz: Tessa Trautmann
Fotografie: Katrin Binner, Produktion: Vanessa Zeeh, Styling: Heidi Koselowski, Hair & Make-up: Ute Hildenbeutel, Fotoassistenz: Tessa Trautmann