Kiana On Key

“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I just want to make it last,” sings Kiana Baird over the soft strings of a guitar. Though most artists are thought to be found on apps like Spotify, the 16 year old singer-songwriter can be found at PRHS, beginning her first year as a junior.

“I’ve been singing ever since I was a little kid, it’s always been something I’ve loved. And then I just kind of started w

riting songs, in a way it helps me process things,” Baird said.

Though music has always played a part in Baird’s life, it wasn’t until the Covid-19 Pandemic, when mandated quarantine left the young artist with more time to learn. Baird said she began with the ukulele, watching youtube videos and exploring her talent. As she began to play more, she wanted the sound of a guitar to tell the story of her lyrics.

“I remember being in Morro Bay and my cousin Kiana bought her first ukulele, and then my sister got one and it just kind of started off lik

e that. Then we eventually started playing guitar,” Baird’s cousin, Lailana Packer said. 

As mandated quarantine was lifted, Baird entered the world as not only a singer but a developed artist. At the age of 12 Baird and her cousin Packer took their self taught skills to the streets.  

“My cousin and I started busking on the streets at farmers markets. People would just pay us and we would play for them, it was really a lot of fun. Eventually we just grew out of it, but we still write together, we actually just finished our song,” Baird said.

The song, Thinking Of You, is set to be released around. Baird and Packer mentioned that it took them a year to finish the song as it wasn’t the typical process. The two said it all began with a game.

“It all started when we were just playing this game. We would come up with three words and make each other think of lyrics that included them. But as we started playing we realized it was kind of good, so we just kept writing it,” Packer said. 

As the two searched their memories for the initial words that led to their song they briefly remembered the origin. The three words include record, comfort, and telephone. Though Baird and Packer admit their game was kind of random, they agree it turned into something much larger. 

Packer said she watched Baird grow as an artist and couldn’t be more proud of the artist she is today.

“I was there when Kiana finished “Agree To Be Mine “. It was so cool hearing it in person and then later hearing it on Apple Music. I knew it was such a big goal for her. It’s just like a swelling of emotions,”Packer said, “I want to see her on stage.”