“Honestly, you should stick to sound engineering,” the VP of a major label scoffed in a dusty South Central LA warehouse. KILLIAN sat across from him, feeling a fire ignite within. Fueled by a desire to prove himself and inspire others, he was determined to rise as one of the world’s biggest artists. From Calgary—a city far from the music scene—he aimed to show what’s possible when you refuse to give up. From the age of 12, KILLIAN had been a rising star in production, and by 16, his beats were already drawing millions of streams on Spotify and YouTube. He left behind Calgary, Alberta—a city not exactly known for producing music icons—for Vancouver, BC, to pursue his dreams. In Vancouver, his first major releases quickly gained traction, landing him a deal with BBNO$ thanks to his explosive production and a distinctive, melodic voice that melded Justin Bieber's smoothness with Travis Scott's edge. “This is it,” he thought, brimming with hope. But after the release of his 2022 single “Emerald,” that optimism turned to frustration when BBNO$’s manager vanished without a trace. Now stranded in Vancouver, KILLIAN finds himself engineering for local artists just to keep the lights on. “Sometimes I worry my lyrics might get me in trouble. I disguise my relationship drama with flashy lights and bouncy beats. Sure, my music is all about partying, but when the crowd sings my words back, it's a relief to know I'm not the only one with issues.” ig: @yo_killian