Sturgis, S.D. (AP) – PopROCKS is back at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and lead singer Kia Brown is once again lighting up the Black Hills like a disco ball at a biker bar.
Known for impersonating pop legends from Tina Turner to Beyoncé with Vegas-worthy precision, Brown says the band’s past year has been a whirlwind of military bases, international adventures, and unforgettable moments, including one very determined fan in Bahrain.
“We were doing hookah with some guys on the street and using Google Translate to talk,” she said, laughing. “We woke up the next morning and this guy had followed our band Instagram and liked every single post dating back to the first one. And he gave me his phone case. I mean… Bahrain loves us!”
Brown joined PopROCKS just shy of two years ago, and her energy is unmistakable. Whether she’s performing in South Dakota or flying halfway across the globe to entertain the troops, she shows up with contagious enthusiasm.
“Our manager works with Time Music Agency, and we’ve built a great relationship with the USO,” she explained. “We went overseas from Thanksgiving to just before my birthday, performing for troops in the Middle East and Africa. I got to shoot guns and even learn how to save civilians in a mock drill. Not your typical day at the office.”
For the uninitiated, PopROCKS is a musical impressionist group with three musicians and three vocalists, all committed to mimicking the sound, look, and choreography of music icons. Brown doesn’t just sing a Beyoncé song. She becomes Beyoncé, Coachella outfit and all.
“My favorite right now is Donna Summer,” she said. “But honestly, it changes with the crowd. I might wake up not wanting to do Beyoncé, but then halfway through the show I’m like, yep, Beyoncé really is that bitch.”
Despite the glitter and glam on stage, Brown remains grounded. She started in theater, never sang pop music until she got this gig, and pours her creativity into choreography.
“All the Lizzo dances? That’s all me,” she said proudly. “Some of it’s pulled from music videos, but I choreograph most of it based on how the songs make me feel.”
Her performance philosophy? It’s not about fame or flash. It’s about storytelling.
“I’ve always said I just want to be a storyteller,” she said. “If someone comes up after the show and says, ‘When you did Whitney Houston, it brought me back to 1986 in South Dakota,’ that’s everything. That’s why I do this.”
Brown is also full of surprises, like the fact she’s learning Japanese and dreams of one day performing in Japan.
“I’m on day 600 of Duolingo,” she said. “I love the culture, and I’ve been speaking the language for years.”
But for now, she’s focused on the next gig: a Halloween performance at Guantanamo Bay.
“No idea how that even came up,” she admitted. “But they’re excited to have us, and we’ll be back Halloween day. I’m pumped.”
Whether it’s on a naval base, a main street stage, or a hookah lounge halfway across the world, Kia Brown brings stories to life with sequins, sweat, and a whole lot of soul.
“We’re not just doing a show,” she said. “We’re giving people memories.”
