King Princess

Mikaela Mullaney Straus[1][2] (born December 19, 1998), known by her stage name King Princess, is an American singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer from Brooklyn, New York.[3] She is signed to Mark Ronson's label Zelig Records, an imprint of Columbia Records.[4] She rose to fame in 2018 with her singles "1950" and "Talia", before her debut album Cheap Queen was released in 2019.

King Princess
King Princess at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.
Born
Mikaela Mullaney Straus[1][2]

(1998-12-19) December 19, 1998
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
OccupationSinger, songwriter
Years active2015–present
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocal
  • guitar
LabelsZelig Recordings
Associated actsMark Ronson
Websitekingprincessmusic.com

Early life

Straus was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York; she is the daughter of recording engineer Oliver H. Straus Jr. and Agnes "Aggie" Mullaney. Her parents divorced while she was young. On her mother's side she is of Irish, Italian, and Polish descent. On her father's side, her great-great-grandparents include Isidor Straus, a U.S. Congressman and co-owner of Macy's, and Ida Straus; they were from German Jewish families, who immigrated to the United States from the Kingdom of Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate. The couple died in the sinking of the passenger ship RMS Titanic.[5][6] However she has had to clarify on multiple occasions that she is not an heiress and that she did not inherit any of their money; telling Rolling Stone, "I didn’t inherit any of this money." [7] She has also clarified this information on her social media platforms.

Straus spent much of her childhood following her father to work at his recording studio, Mission Sound. There, she learned several instruments, including bass, guitar, piano, and drums, as well as music-production techniques and insight into the music industry. Straus's inspiration in those years had come from the rock music of the bands Led Zeppelin and T. Rex, as well as Jack White.[3] She attended high school at Avenues: The World School, a private school in Manhattan, and played volleyball.[8][9]

After high school, Straus moved to Los Angeles to study at the USC Thornton School of Music. However, after a year, she dropped out in favour of her music career.[3]

Career
King Princess performing at Royale in Boston, Massachusetts (2018).

A music label offered to sign Straus at the age of 11, but she refused to do so. Straus refused because of her experience watching other artists work with a music label in her father's studio. The labels would control the artist's product, and change the feel of the music. She did not want to sign with a record label until she had a definition of her music, how she wanted to run the production, and with whom she would work.[10]

In February 2018, King Princess released her debut single "1950".[4][11] "1950" is a tribute to the 1952 novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, to the LGBT community and to queer love. The song reached a wide audience when British singer Harry Styles tweeted a lyric from the song.[3] Straus followed this with her second single "Talia" in April.[12] She released her debut extended play Make My Bed on June 15, 2018.[13] Later that year, she earned Breakout Pop Artist of the Year honors from Vivid Seats.[14]

In 2019, it was announced that King Princess would perform at Lollapalooza[15] and Coachella.[16] She played The Park stage at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival and was joined by Mark Ronson (dressed as King Princess) for a performance of their collaboration "Pieces of Us" from his 2019 album Late Night Feelings.[17] Zelig Recordings released King Princess's debut album Cheap Queen on October 25, 2019.[18] In November 2019, King Princess was announced to be the opening act for the European leg of Harry Styles' planned 2020 concert tour, Love On Tour.[19] King Princess performed as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live (Season 45, Episode 7) on November 23, 2019.[20] She released a deluxe edition of Cheap Queen on February 14, 2020. The release included five previously unreleased new songs, including "Ohio".[21]

Personal life

Straus is gay.[22][23][24] From early 2018 to late 2018, Straus dated actress Amandla Stenberg. Since early 2019, Straus has been dating Quinn Whitney Wilson, the creative director of musician Lizzo.[25] She has said in an interview to Cosmopolitan "What I love about the time we are living in now is that you can express gender queerness."

Awards and honors

In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade, Queerty named her among the fifty heroes “leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people”.[26][27]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Current
[28]		 US
Heat
[29]		 US
Alt
[30]		 AUS
[31]		 UK
Physical
[32]
Cheap Queen 888184186

Extended plays
Title EP details Peak chart positions
NZ
Heat.
[33]
Make My Bed
  • Released: June 15, 2018[13]
  • Label: Zelig
  • Format: digital download, streaming
 1

Singles

As lead artist
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Alt.
Airplay
[34]		 AUS
[35]		 AUT
[36]		 BEL
(FL)
[37]		 NLD
[38]		 NZ
Hot
[39]		 SWE
[40]		 SWI
[41]
"1950" 2018 1725754883—8794 Make My Bed
"Talia"[46] ————————
"Pussy Is God"[48] —————17—— Non-album single
"Femme Fatale" (RISE Recording) ————————
"I Know" (RISE Recording)
(featuring Fiona Apple)		 2019 ————————
"Cheap Queen"[49] ———98—17—— Cheap Queen
"Prophet"[50] —————17——
"Ain't Together"[51] ————————
"Happy Together" (with Mark Ronson) ———————— Non-album single
"Hit the Back"[52] ———————— Cheap Queen
"Ohio"[53] 2020 ————————
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Title Year Peak chart position Album
NZ
Hot
[54]
"Pieces of Us"[55]
(Mark Ronson featuring King Princess)		 2019 24 Late Night Feelings

Guest appearances
Title Year Other artists Album
"Run Me Through" (King Princess Remix)[56] 2018 Perfume Genius Reshaped EP

Awards and nominations
Year Organization Award Work Result
2018 BBC Sound of 2019 Herself Second[57]
DIY Class of 2019 Included[58]
2020 GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Music Artist Cheap Queen Pending[59]


International Music Awards

Rolling Stone Germany's International Music Awards celebrate the best of music. Winners are selected by artists and experts. The first edition is set to take place in 2019.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Herself Beginner Pending[60]
gollark: I mean that most of these things (HDDs *and* SSDs) will either fail quickly or probably run for quite a while.
gollark: I know this, yes.
gollark: I "have" ""backups"".
gollark: They have a "bathtub" failure curve, apparently.
gollark: Unless it got swapped out during its lifetime.

References
  1. Murphy, Lauren (October 21, 2019). "'As per usual, we’re in a drought of good music': Rising star Mikaela Straus, aka King Princess, has got the songs, connections and attitude for pop-star life". Irish Times. p. 10. ProQuest 2307026373
  2. "Your query : Creator's Name begins with STRAUS MIKAELA on any territories (Domestic works)". ISWC. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  3. Dunn, Frankie (April 30, 2018). "you probably know her debut single 1950, now get to know king princess". i-D. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  4. Jessica (February 26, 2018). "Future Stars: King Princess (Columbia/Zelig Records)". This Must Be Pop. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  5. Straus, Isidor. Autobiography of Isidor Straus. Independently published by the Straus Historical Society, 2011. p.168–176
  6. Newstead, Al (October 19, 2018). "King Princess on reappropriating White Stripes and her "extra as hell" family history". triple j. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  7. Martoccio, Angie; Martoccio, Angie (October 31, 2019). "King Princess on Her Drag Persona and Titanic Lineage". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  8. "Mikaela Straus – Stats".
  9. "Issue 5".
  10. "King Princess interview (part 1)". FaceCulture. via YouTube. October 3, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  11. Maher, Amelia (February 24, 2018). "King Princess' debut single "1950" is a beautiful exploration of unrequited love". The Line Of Best Fit. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  12. "Life Soundtrack: King Princess". Rookie. April 13, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  13. "King Princess Aims For Her Own Fairytale Success Story". Hotpress. May 18, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  14. "2018 Year In Review: The Year in Live Events". Vivid Seats. December 18, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  15. @lollapalooza (March 20, 2019). "Here it is your 2019 #Lolla Lineup! Grab your 4-Day Tickets and get ready to party with Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots, The Strokes, Tame Impala, Flume, The Chainsmokers, J Balvin + more!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. "Lineup". Coachella. 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  17. "Watch Mark Ronson join King Princess at Glastonbury — dressed as King Princess". NME. July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  18. Barlow, Eve (September 9, 2019). "Bend the Knee King Princess, Brooklyn queer pop royalty, is ready for the throne". Vulture'. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  19. Allston, Trey (November 13, 2019). "Harry Styles and King Princess Will Melt Hearts Together in 2020". MTV.
  20. Miller, Victoria (November 24, 2019). "King Princess Takes Over ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Fans React To Singer’s Stunning 'SNL' Debut". The Inquisitr.
  21. "King Princess shares huge new song 'Ohio' from deluxe edition of 'Cheap Queen'". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  22. Gilmour, Paisley (June 4, 2019). "King Princess on identifying as a lesbian: 'I am a girl who dates girls and I have been for a long time.'" Cosmopolitan.
  23. Gutowitz, Jill (June 15, 2018). "King Princess Is a Genderqueer Pop Icon for the Next Generation of Queer Youth". Them. Condé Nast. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  24. "Daly, Rhian (July 23, 2018). King Princess: Meet the gay icon-in-waiting who's come to wreak glorious havoc on pop". NME. TI Media Limited. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  25. Gilmour, Paisley (September 20, 2019). "Is King Princess dating Quinn Wilson, Lizzo's creative director?' Cosmopolitan UK.
  26. "Queerty Pride50 2020 Honorees". Queerty. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  27. Tracer, Daniel (July 15, 2020). "These musicians became queer role models young fans need, and they're changing the world for good". Queerty. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  28. "Top Current Albums - November 9, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  29. "Heatseekers Albums: Up and Coming Artists - November 9, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  30. "Alternative Music: Top Alternative Albums - November 9, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  31. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  32. "Official Physical Albums Chart: 08 November 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  33. "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  34. Peak chart positions in the United States:
  35. "Mikaela Straus". australian-charts.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  36. "Discographie King Princess" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  37. "KING PRINCESS – 1950" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  38. "KING PRINCESS – 1950" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  39. "HOT 40 SINGLES". Recorded Music NZ. November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  40. "Mikaela Straus" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  41. "KING PRINCESS – 1950" (in German). Swiss Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  42. "American single certifications – King Princess – Eastside". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 21, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  43. "BRIT Certified - bpi" (enter "King Princess" into the "Keywords" box, then select "Search"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  44. "Gold/Platinum: King Princess". Music Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  45. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  46. "Talia – Single by King Princess". Apple Music (UK). April 13, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  47. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  48. Newstead, Al (November 2, 2018). "First Spin: King Princess' romantic new single 'Pussy Is God' is love at first listen". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  49. "cheap queen coming to u this Friday can you even believe it ?!". May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019 – via Twitter.
  50. @KingPrincess69 (July 15, 2019). "Prophet is out on Friday my loves ;)" (Tweet). Retrieved July 16, 2019 – via Twitter.
  51. Richards, Will (September 3, 2019). "King Princess shares new song 'Ain't Together' featuring Father John Misty on drums". NME. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  52. Kenneally, Cerys (October 3, 2019). "King Princess unveils soulful new track "Hit the Back"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  53. Daw, Stephen (February 11, 2020). "King Princess Finally Gives Fans What They Want With 'Ohio': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  54. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 1, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  55. Bien, Kat (June 17, 2019). "Mark Ronson & King Princess Ride a Retro Dream on 'Pieces of Us': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  56. Haas, Anna (May 29, 2018). "Perfume Genius Announces Remix EP Reshaped, King Princess "Run Me Through" Remix". Paste Magazine. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  57. "BBC Sound of 2019: 'Queer icon' King Princess is the runner-up". BBC. January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  58. "Class Of 2019: King Princess". DIY. December 18, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  59. "The Nominations for the 31st Annual GLAAD Awards". glaad.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  60. "SHORTLIST: DAS SIND DIE NOMINIERTEN DES IMA 2019". Rolling Stone Germany (in German). Retrieved May 19, 2019.
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