Rising Star Kiddo A.I. Shapes Pop Music Landscape

MIAMI, Fla. — Amanda Ibanez, known as Kiddo A.I., has emerged as a force in the pop music scene, propelled by early inspiration from Adam Lambert and a decade of determination. At 28, she reflects on her journey that began in a home filled with music and laughter.

“My family lived in an American Idol household,” Kiddo A.I. said. “I would get in front of the TV and sing, and my brothers would make fun of me.” Despite the teasing, her mother supported her passion, enrolling her in a local church youth group where she began writing songs and performing.

As a teenager, Kiddo started self-releasing her music, but described her career as a “really slow climb.” It was not until she met producer JKash, known for his work with artists like Charlie Puth and Morgan Wallen, that she began to forge connections within the competitive Los Angeles music scene. She even encountered renowned pop producer Max Martin during her ascent.

Kiddo’s significant breakthrough came three years ago with the remix of Rema‘s “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, which climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “I used to watch her as a kid on Wizards of Waverly Place, so it was very full circle,” Kiddo recalled. This collaboration shifted her focus toward songwriting for other artists, a process she describes as “less invasive.”

Since then, she has contributed to several pop hits including songs on Gomez and Benny Blanco‘s collaborative album, “I Said I Love You First,” Le Sserafim‘s “Crazy,” and Tyla‘s “Back to You.”

In speaking about the album, Kiddo noted, “It really came out of nowhere. I think Benny or Michael Pollack was playing the keys, and we all just started singing this hook melody. I don’t remember who said ‘Sunset Blvd,’ but it just made so much sense because then Benny and Selena were like, ‘Wait, that’s where we had our first date.’ It was great to be able to help them say what they wanted to say. We wrote it in, I think, an hour. It basically wrote itself.”

Kiddo also collaborated on a track from BLACKPINK member JENNIE‘s solo debut album, “Ruby.” “That was such a crazy day,” she said. “I went to Diplo’s house, which is deep in Malibu, so it was an hour drive. I was working with him and Tayla Parx for the first time, so I was very nervous because I was such a fan of both of them. When we got there, we went through a couple of different tracks, but nothing made sense. Then Tayla and I were like, ‘We need something hard and just so in-your-face. This is Jennie’s song, right? Let’s make a song called “like JENNIE.”’ JENNIE freaked out. She loved it.”

Kiddo’s songwriting prowess didn’t stop with JENNIE; she also contributed to LISA’s debut album, “Alter Ego.” She explained, “I wrote this one with Ali Tamposi and John Byron. We came up with the hook before the session, and it just came so naturally. Ali worked with LISA to finish it, and it came out great. It’s one of my favorites on the album.”

As Kiddo A.I.’s influence grows within the music industry, she remains committed to her songwriting craft, balancing her own artistry with the joy of helping other artists express their visions.