Kenya Grace Johnson (born May 9, 1998) is a South African-born British singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is best known for her 2023 single "Strangers", which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
Kenya Grace | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kenya Grace Johnson |
| Born | May 9, 1998 South Africa |
| Genres | Drum and bass |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Labels |
|
Life and career
editEarly life
editKenya Grace Johnson[1] was born in South Africa to a South African mother and a British father,[2] but she grew up in “very quiet and chill” town near Southampton.[3] She attended Thornden School[4] and used to play hockey for Hampshire. She started writing when she was 10 years old, and started singing in primary school after being gifted a second-hand Yamaha keyboard.[5] She first developed an interest in musical theatre, before growing up and developing an interest in dance music, dubstep first.[6]: 1:09:50 She attended Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, first reading history and English literature, but switching to music after deciding to become a musician,[5] and graduated in September 2019 with a degree in songwriting and creative artistry.[7] She has credited the university with curing her stage fright.[8]
In 2019, she released "Obsessed", her first release, and then "Tell Me Why",[5] which she wrote while drunk and having just fought with someone.[9] Later that year, she and Willow Kayne made the Top 21 in ISawItFirst,[10] a competition for a nationwide search in collaboration with Capital Xtra intended to find new women musicians. After becoming a finalist in the competition she won a music video shoot for "Tell Me Why" - her first music video.[7] She then released "Talk",[5] which she wrote in her parents' bedroom during the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom after getting out of a toxic relationship;[8] she later moved to North London,[11] her move having been delayed by the pandemic.[8] In February and May 2023, she released "Afterparty Lover" and "Meteor".[12]
2023–present: Strangers and The After Taste
editIn late July 2023, she started to promote "Strangers",[13] a drum and bass song she had written and produced[14] in her bedroom, with the intention of making a euphoric track,[6]: 1:08:08 on her TikTok account.[13] This clip was viewed over 11,000,000 times, with a subsequent video being viewed over 38,000,000 times;[15] when released on 1 September 2023 on FFRR Records,[16] the song saw further success on the platform, and by 26 September 2023 had seen use in over 570,000 videos.[12]
She promoted the song with a further eight videos promoting the track, all of which were viewed more than 1,000,000 times, and which typically depicted her singing the track on her electronic drum pads;[13] the song also went viral on Instagram Reels.[16] A week after release, the song entered the UK Singles Chart, eventually peaking at No. 1;[14] upon entry, the Official Charts Company attributed her success to the commercial renaissance of drum and bass and the dominance of female artists (in its first week on the charts, the top three were Doja Cat, Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo).[16]
On 15 September 2023, she released a "slower and sadder" remix of Strangers,[12] and three weeks after that, she released a further single, "Only in My Mind", having teased the track on social media.[17]
On 13 October 2023, Strangers peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, making her the first British female artist to top the charts with a debut single since X-Factor star Ella Henderson's 'Ghost' in 2014.[18] It also made her the second British female artist ever to reach No. 1 with a track performed, written and produced entirely solo after Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill".[15]
In December 2023, a day after the release of her single, "Paris", she revealed on Instagram that she was working on her debut EP, The After Taste, which released on 22 March 2024.[19]
She said “I've tried to not look at numbers anymore and get caught up in that world. I feel like that's a killer of joy, in a way. It's actually really toxic. You constantly see a numerical value judging your art, which is just not good. I try to preserve my creativity.”[20]
Artistry
editKenya has stated that her biggest inspiration is Banks; she also takes inspiration from Flume and Nao,[11] and cites Norah Jones and Katie Melua.[4] She first writes her tracks instrumental first.[6]: 1:08:08 Upon entrance of the UK Singles Chart, the Official Charts Company described her voice as a combination of PinkPantheress, Charli XCX, and Piri.[16]
She laughed, “Me and my brother would put drum'n'bass on, like really heavy jump-up. And then my mum and my dad would try and put Fleetwood Mac on”.[21]
Live performances
editKenya has played live in:
- New York City[22]
- Chicago[23]
- BBC Music Introducing[24]
- Melkweg (Amsterdam) - 2023[25]
- Amsterdam Dance Event (Amsterdam) - 2023[26]
- iHeart Radio Jingle Ball - 2023[27]
- El Rey Theatre (Los Angeles) - 2023[28]
- Spotify Wrapped - 2023[29]
- Roundhouse (London) for the Rolling Stone UK Awards - 2023[30]
- Village Underground (London) - 2023[31]
- BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend - 2024[32]
- Gorilla (Manchester) - 2024[33]
Festivals
editKenya played her first festival at Coachella in 2024,[34] which she said "was literally the best day of my life". She continued, "I ran off the stage before I started sobbing". She went on to say "it was the best experience of my entire life".[35] In a separate interview she said "I've never seen a crowd that big before".[36]
Later in 2024 she played at Glastonbury Festival[37] where she "delivered an amazing set" according to the BBC,[38] singing her own songs such as Strangers, Stay, Only In My Mind and Paris; as well as covering other artists' songs such as Toxic by Britney Spears and Whatcha Say by Jason Derulo.
Building on her success at festivals, between July and October 2024 Kenya is booked[39] to play at:
- Mad Cool Festival 2024 - Iberdrola Music - Madrid, Spain
- Exit Festival 2024 - Petrovaradin Fortress - Novi Sad, Serbia
- NOS Alive 2024 - Passeio Marítimo de Algés - Algés, Portugal
- Melt Festival 2024 - Ferropolis - Gräfenhainichen, Germany
- Electric Castle Festival 2024 - Electric Castle - Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Way Out West Festival 2024 - Slottsskogen - Gothenburg, Sweden
- Flow Festival 2024 - Suvilahti - Helsinki, Finland
- Reading Festival 2024 - Richfield Avenue - Reading, United Kingdom
- Leeds Festival 2024 - Leeds Festival - Leeds, United Kingdom
- Zürich Openair 2024 - Zürich, Switzerland
- Sundown Festival 2024 - Norfolk Showground - Costessey, United Kingdom
- Lollapalooza 2024 - Olympiastadion & Olympiapark - Berlin, Germany
- Breakaway Music Festival 2024 - zMAX Dragway - Concord, North Carolina, United States
- Breakaway Music Festival 2024 - Fair Park Fairgrounds - Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Discography
editExtended plays
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Dance [40] | ||
| The After Taste |
|
7 |
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [41] |
AUS [42] |
AUT [43] |
GER [44] |
NLD [45] |
NZ [46] |
SWE [47] |
SWI [48] |
US [49] |
WW [50] | ||||
| "Obsessed"[5] | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Tell Me Why"[5] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Talk"[5] | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Venus" (with Homebodi)[51] |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Someone Else" (with 3Strange)[12] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Oranges"[52] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Afterparty Lover"[53] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Meteor" (with Solomon)[54] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Strangers" | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 42 | 5 | The After Taste | ||
| "Only in My Mind"[17] | — | — | — | — | — | —[A] | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Paris"[63] | — | — | — | — | — | —[B] | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "It's Not Fair"[65] | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The After Taste | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Awards and nominations
edit| Award | Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Sound of... | 2023 | Herself | Sound of 2024 | Nominated | [66] |
| Brit Awards | 2024 | "Strangers" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [67] |
| EDM.com | 2024 | Herself | Class of 2024 | Included | [68] |
| Electronic Dance Music Awards | 2024 | "Strangers" | Dance Radio Song Of The Year | Nominated | [69] |
| DnB (Drum and Bass) Song of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Herself | Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Global Awards | 2024 | "Strangers" | Best Song | Nominated | [70] |
| Herself | Rising Star | Nominated | |||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2024 | "Strangers" | Dance Song of the Year | Won | [71] |
| American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers | 2024 | Herself | Global Impact Award | Won | [72] [73] |
| Ivor Novello | 2024 | "Strangers" | Most Performed Work | Nominated | [74] |
Notes
edit- ^ "Only in My Mind" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 15 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[62]
- ^ "Paris" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 27 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[64]
References
edit- ^ Venus (Radio Edit) by Homebodi & Kenya Grace, 12 May 2022, retrieved 29 September 2023
- ^ "Kenya Grace on 'Strangers', being nominated for an Ivor Novello, and her debut EP 'The After Taste' - Interview - DIY Magazine". DIY Magazine. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Kenya Grace on 'Strangers', being nominated for an Ivor Novello, and her debut EP 'The After Taste' - Interview - DIY Magazine". DIY Magazine. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ a b Mukhtar, Damel (17 October 2023). "Meet Kenya Grace, The Breakout Musician Topping Doja, Taylor, And Drake For The UK #1". British Vogue.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Kenya Grace". projext Liquid. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "BBC Radio 1 – Radio 1's Future Artists with Jack Saunders, Kenya Grace". BBC. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b "ACM Alumni Reach Final of Nationwide Music Competition Hosted by Top Fashion Brand". ACM. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Introducing: Kenya Grace". Wordplay. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ "Kenya Grace :: Nxtstyle's The Next 100: 2020 New Music Guide". Nxtstyle. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ "First Look – I Saw It First". 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Le'Afrinique #LAChats With Vans Musicians Wanted Finalist Kenya Grace". Le'Afrinique. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d Zellner, Xander (26 September 2023). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Kenya Grace Arrives With Viral Hit 'Strangers'". Billboard. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Kenya Grace: No Longer a Stranger | Vulkan Magazine". vulkanmagazine.com. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Strangers". The Official Charts Company. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b "How Kenya Grace made chart history as self-produced single 'Strangers' reaches No 1". The Independent. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Who is Kenya Grace? The dance artist who debuted Top 20 with Strangers". Official Charts. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b "New Releases: Kenya Grace, Joel Corry, Roger Waters and more". Official Charts. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Kenya Grace on 'Strangers', being nominated for an Ivor Novello, and her debut EP 'The After Taste' - Interview - DIY Magazine". DIY Magazine. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Out now on all platforms <3". Instagram.
- ^ "Kenya Grace on 'Strangers', being nominated for an Ivor Novello, and her debut EP 'The After Taste' - Interview - DIY Magazine". DIY Magazine. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Kenya Grace on 'Strangers', being nominated for an Ivor Novello, and her debut EP 'The After Taste' - Interview - DIY Magazine". DIY Magazine. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Kenya Grace New York City - YouTube
- ^ Kenya Grace live in Chicago - YouTube
- ^ Kenya Grace - Afterparty Lover (BBC Music Introducing London International Women's Day Session) - YouTube, 15 March 2023
- ^ Kenya Grace Melkweg - YouTube
- ^ Kenya Grace ADE Amsterdam - YouTube
- ^ Kenya Grace performing Only In My Mind live at iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023 - YouTube, 16 December 2023
- ^ Kenya Grace Strangers @ El Rey Los Angeles 12/12/23 - YouTube, 13 December 2023
- ^ Kenya grace strangers Spotify wrapped live 2023 - YouTube, 30 November 2023
- ^ Kenya Grace performs 'Strangers' at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, in collaboration with Rémy Martin - YouTube, 26 November 2023
- ^ Kenya Grace Village Underground - YouTube
- ^ Kenya Grace - Strangers (Radio 1's Big Weekend 2024) - YouTube, 25 May 2024
- ^ Kenya Grace Gorilla Manchester - YouTube
- ^ Kenya Grace Concert Setlist at Coachella Festival 2024 on April 13, 2024 - setlist.fm
- ^ Kenya Grace - Instagram
- ^ "Kenya Grace on 'Strangers', being nominated for an Ivor Novello, and her debut EP 'The After Taste' - Interview - DIY Magazine". DIY Magazine. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Glastonbury 2024 line-up
- ^ BBC iPlayer - Glastonbury - Kenya Grace, 28 June 2024
- ^ Kenya Grace Official Website
- ^ "Top Dance/Electronic Albums: Week of April 6, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Kenya Grace | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Kenya Grace – Strangers". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Discographie von Kenya Grace". offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Kenya Grace – Strangers". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 41". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Kenya Grace – Strangers". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of January 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of October 7, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Venus - Single by Homebodi, Kenya Grace". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Oranges - Single by Kenya Grace". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Afterparty Lover (Sped Up Edit) - Single by Kenya Grace". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Meteor (Edit) - Single by Kenya Grace, Solomon". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "British certifications – Kenya Grace". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 January 2024. Type Kenya Grace in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kenya Grace)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Austrian certifications – Kenya Grace" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Kenya Grace)". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "American certifications – Kenya Grace". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Kenya Grace – Strangers". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ "Paris - Single by Kenya Grace". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (15 March 2024). "Kenya Grace is a talent here to stay with her brilliant new track, 'It's Not Fair'". Dork. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Savage, Mark (4 December 2023). "BBC Sound of 2024: Tyla, Last Dinner Party and Kenya Grace tipped for success". Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Brit Awards 2024: The nominations in full". BBC. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Heffler, Jason (9 February 2024). "EDM.com Class of 2024 Revealed". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Staff, EDM com (19 February 2024). "Fan Voting for the 2024 Electronic Dance Music Awards is Now Open". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ Tabor-King, Ashley (4 March 2024). "RAYE, Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, Dave, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, and More Nominated for The Global Awards 2024". Global. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ Irvin, Jack; Michaud, Sarah (2 April 2024). "iHeartRadio Music Awards 2024: See the Complete List of Winners!". People. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Kenya Grace to Receive ASCAP Global Impact Award; Cian Ducrot to Be Honored with ASCAP Vanguard Award".
- ^ "Kenya Grace attends the red carpet during ASCAP London Celebrates at Aqua Nueva on June 18, 2024 in London, England". 19 June 2024.
- ^ "The Ivors 2024 nominations - M Magazine".