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Music is her life

At the age of 19, Kiki Bratu, a student with the National University of Music in Bucharest, dreams of becoming a renowned artist.

Individual study, festivals, concerts, courses, and a lot of studio work – this is, in short, what defines her.

Her covers of international and Romanian songs, posted on Instagram and TikTok, have caught the attention of well-known artists such as Nicole Cherry, Alina Eremia, Mira, Theo Rose, Feli, Iuliana Beregoi, and some others.

She won music awards in local competitions, such as “Festivalul Tinereții de la Amara” and “O vedetă vreau să fiu!” in Vălenii de Munte, Prahova.

You’ve said you work hard for your dream, what do you do, day by day?

Currently, my days are split between university, music sessions, and creating online content, which is super important. Social media takes up a lot of time, even if it doesn’t seem like it. I network, take every opportunity that comes my way, perform wherever I’m invited—and just like that, my entire day is gone.

Who is Patricia, known as “Kiki” to friends?
Everyone calls me Kiki; almost no one calls me Patricia. I feel that Kiki is exactly who I present myself to be, both online and in real life. I’m a 19-year-old girl pushing hard to take her passion to the next level, someone who believes she has a message to share. I do what I love through music and hope to reach people’s hearts this way.

A connection between people’s souls

I see. In a past interview, you said that music means a lot to you, that it’s a way to express yourself, to share your thoughts, and to escape reality.
Exactly, exactly. It creates a connection between people’s souls, and I don’t know… I feel like my heart grows. It’s a joy, every time.

I’d love to know – what do you feel when you sing on stage in front of people?
It’s a sensation that’s hard to describe. It’s like a trance – you completely detach from the real world and enter, I don’t know, a parallel universe where it’s just you, the music, and the people you connect with. A real connection forms between souls, and I feel this overwhelming joy in my heart every single time.

You mentioned that music has been a part of you since childhood. When did you acknowledge your path to a career in music?
I grew up surrounded by music – my dad is a violin teacher. Initially, I played the violin, but after watching TV shows like Pariu cu viața and Violetta, I wanted to try singing too. My parents saw potential in me and encouraged me to develop my vocal skills. The moment I truly realized I could take this passion to the next level was after an online talent show. I met influential people from the music industry and received three “Yes” votes. That experience gave me wings – I knew I could really do something in this field.

So that was the push you needed to pursue music…
Yes, exactly. I had been performing at competitions and festivals before, but that show gave me the confidence boost I needed.

Kiki Bratu cu Alina Eremia / Source: facebook

Kiki Bratu and Alina Eremia | source: artist’s youtube channel

 

Overcoming challenges and performing with Alina Eremia 

Reporter: You recently posted videos from an Alina Eremia concert – you had the chance to sing with her. How was that experience?
Kiki Bratu: That concert was one of the happiest moments of my life! Pariu cu viața and Alina were my inspirations for starting music. The fact that she invited me to sing alongside her at Hard Rock Cafe meant the world to me. It was an incredibly beautiful memory. Of course, I was nervous at first, but I told myself to enjoy the moment, to connect with Alina, the band, and the audience, and to stay completely present. I looked around and thought, “Wow, this is real,” and it made me so happy.

You’ve said that staying present is important. How do you do that?
It’s easy for us, as humans, to get distracted by past worries or future anxieties. When I want to stay present, I consciously decide to put aside all my worries and focus on my surroundings – what I feel, what I smell, how I feel inside. That’s how I fully connect to everything around me and stay in the moment.

So, it’s like you take a moment to check in with yourself?
Exactly!

You’ve also performed with Andrei Bănuță and Theo Rose. How do you prepare for performances with established artists?
It’s a huge honor! If I know about the performance in advance, I prepare through rehearsals and practice at home. But sometimes, things happen spontaneously. For example, with Andrei Bănuță at Fortza ZU, I found out the night before that I’d be singing, so I studied the show that evening instead of having a formal rehearsal.

That must have been intense…

Yeah, but it was worth it!

Lessons and advice from established artists

Reporter: Have Alina Eremia or other artists given you advice?
The most valuable advice I’ve received – something I’ve heard from multiple well-known artists – is to truly enjoy performing. The moment you’re on stage with a microphone, singing for an audience—that’s what we work so hard for. That’s when you have to let go of worries and just enjoy it.

But there are also moments of rejection or discouraging words.
Yeah, but those are inevitable in any field. They push you to work harder and prove that you can make it.

How do you deal with them?
I focus on my goal – where I want to go. I don’t let one rejection define me. Instead, I ask myself, “What went wrong? What can I improve?” Then I move forward.

Final Thoughts

Before we wrap up, do you want to express appreciation for anyone?
Absolutely—I’m grateful for my family, my sister, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, artists, and everyone who has supported me. Every single experience in my life means so much to me.

Kiki Bratu in concert. | Photo: artist’s facebook page

 

Interview by: Ștefania Vâlciu, student at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences. Article curated by Manuela Preoteasa.

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