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Kathleen "Kat" Emperatriz DeLuna (born Nov
DeLuna has won several awards for her musical work. In 2007, she won the "Best New Artist" award at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007 awards. In 2008, she won not only the "Best New Artist" award, but also the "Best Urban Artist" award at the TMF Awards, which took place in Belgium. Later that year, at the 2008 Latin Billboard Music Awards, DeLuna's debut single, Whine Up won the award for "Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year". She also won a Casandra Award the same year for "Best International Artist".
In 2008, DeLuna began work on her second studio album. The album spawned several official and promotional singles. The first of these was Unstoppable, which became a minor hit in Canada. The song was featured in the film Confessions of a Shopaholic, as well as it's accompanying soundtrack. It was followed by the second promotional single Dance Bailalo, which became a major hit on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. DeLuna's sophomore album, titled "Inside Out" later spawned the official singles "Push Push", "Party O'Clock" and "Dancing Tonight". After much delay, "Inside Out" was released in Belgium on November 5, 2010. It received commercial success, reaching the top twenty of the Belgium album chart. The album is currently unreleased in any other country.
Deluna was born on November 17, 1987 in The Bronx, New York. At a young age, DeLuna and her family moved to the Dominican Republic.[4] While there, at age 12, DeLuna performed on a stage where she was heard by Milly Quezada who commended her vocals.[4] However, at age 14, her family moved back to the United States, to Newark, New JerseyShe had attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary in Newark, New Jersey and was taught by Nicholas Straus.[4] DeLuna had a tough upbringing, she was raised in poverty. DeLuna spent her time listening to Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday records, which she imitated daily on her karaoke machine. Friends and family recognized her talent at an early age, but it wasn't until moving back to the US that DeLuna realized her potential as a singer. DeLuna then attended the Newark Arts High School. While there, DeLuna and her friends formed a R&B group called Coquette.[4]
In 2004, while DeLuna was 17, Coquette opened for a Cassidy concert in New Jersey.[4] At age 15, Kat entered a Coca-Cola sponsored karaoke competition. Her version of I Will Always Love You took first place. It was through this competition that she met legendary Cuban salsa singer Rey Ruiz. Ruiz gave Kat advice that she claims she carries with her today. DeLuna quoted him as saying "Nobody knows you better than you do, and that nobody can help you if you can't help yourself." With this, DeLuna began writing her own music and has continued to do so since.[5] In 2006, DeLuna chose to pursue a solo career and was signed by Epic Records.
After being signed to Epic Records, DeLuna began working with producers such as RedOne and Jane't Sewell-Ulepic, among others. The two would work together to produce the majority of the songs on Kat's debut album. On May 15, 2007 DeLuna released her debut single, Whine Up.[6] The title comes from the Caribbean English (West Indian) pronunciation of Wind up meaning to move one's hips on the dance floor. The single was met with mixed reviews from critics. A reviewer from todaysmusic gave the song a mixed review, stating "The song itself is great musically. It has all the ingredients of a hot dance song. I love the driving Latin sound of the chorus. But Kat, you’re 19 as of this writing. You’re writing about very sensual things. Is this what you want to tell the young girls from your neighborhood? Is this what you give your parents after all their encouragement and support as you studied music diligently all your life? Reminds me of Rihanna- wanting to be a good example to young girls, but really not being one at all."[7] Associatedcontent had a more positive review of the song, stating "On the song Kat goes back forth between singing in English and Spanish. The song is catchy and fills a void currently in the marketplace. Elephant Man adds his traditional high energy approach and the song is a surefire hit." Billboard also spoke highly of the song, claiming "Talk about a summertime sure thing. Nineteen-year-old Dominican Kat Deluna is prepped to combust with a platinum-plated debut so certain you can practically smell the smoke emanating from its juicy one-spin hook and manic tempo. Accompanied by reggaeton queen Ivy Queen and dancehall staple Elephant Man, aka the Energy God, the bilingual crossover beauty -- who grew up in poverty in the Dominican Republic and the Bronx before studying music at the New Jersey School of Performing Arts -- combines Caribbean cadence with a novel mesh of hip-hip, R&B and merengue. Deluna's launch single offers ultimate seasonal sizzle -- over the airwaves, on the beach, down the highway and across dance floors. A "Whine" to be heard loud and proud the world over."[8] The single was also met with commercial success. In the US, the single debuted at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart. In the following weeks, the song would continue climbing the charts until it reached a peak of number 29, becoming her only US Top 40 hit. Aside from its success on the Hot 100, the single also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, which monitors plays of the song in night clubs.[9] The single also peaked at number 43 on the Hot Latin Songs chart. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the single peaked inside the Top 20, reaching number 12. It also reached the Top 20 of the Pop 100, peaking at number 14.[10] The single also charted well internationally. The single reached the Top 20 of the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number 15, as well as reaching a peak of number 7 in both Belgium and France.[11] The single also peaked inside the top 20 of the Australian ARIA Charts, where it peaked at number 18, as well as the Romanian Singles Chart, where it peaked at number 13.[12]
