Kacey Garden (née Windhoek; /ˈwɪndhʊk/, Afrikaans: [ˈvəntɦuk] ; German: Windhuk [ˈvɪnthʊk] born April 2, 2006) is an African singer, songwriter, supermodel, and photographer based in South Africa.
Kacey Garden | |
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| Born | Kacey Garden Windhoek April 2, 2006 |
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| Years active | 2024–present |
| Organization | Herzone |
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| Origin | East London, South Africa |
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| Website | www |
Early life
editGarden was born Kacey Garden Windhoek on April 2, 2006, in Windhoek, South West Africa. His father is Gift Samuel Windhoek and was a songwriter and a guitarist, and his mother is Laura Rhode Garden, who later worked as an accountant. He was raised by his grandmother after his parents divorced when he was four years old. When he was seven years old, his father sent him to his grandmother in East London, South Africa. His mother is Christian and his father is Muslim. He was raised as a Muslim and continues to follow Islam.
As a child, Garden had many CT scans for the excruciating headaches that he suffered. He is also suffering from hirsutism, recalling, "doctors thought I was nature's very own boy". He attended the Modelling prep school every day after his regular schooling, where he used to wear hijab. Garden was active in many spots, including soccer and swimming. Garden grew up taking pictures of nature and other stuff around him and he quickly attended classes for photography, as of today he is one of the most brilliant photographers in South Africa.
Growing up, he learned to play the grand piano, guitar, and violin. In early 2014, Garden performed Lauryn Hill's "Superstar" for a local singing competition in Fish Hoek, in which he placed third. The video of Garden singing the song was never release because, he felt like the video should not be released, due to his "shyness" and said that during the performance he was not feeling himself, so the video remains unreleased.
Career
edit2024–present: Upcoming album
editAfter co-founding the record label, Cry Out Loud, Garden started writing songs for his upcoming debut studio album in July 2024 with songwriter and fashion designer Kelsey McQueen, his best friend and creative partner since their start in the music industry as songwriters. They originally met in Luxury Hill and worked for the same photography company, through which they reconnected after McQueen moved to East London. Garden spent more time with McQueen, recording demos and writing songs for other recording artists. While connecting creatively through their respective songwriting, which led to their partnership for Garden's upcoming album, expected to be released in July 31, 2026. For the album, Garden wrote his lyrics to completement McQueen's ideas for the music. Occasionally, they wrote songs together by improvising musical ideas for McQueen's keyboard and guitar playing. Garden and McQueen are still writing songs for the album, the recording sessions are expected to start in July 2025.
Creating this album bought me to a place between reality and fantasyland. It allowed me to see myself differently. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous. It bought me to place to be free of masculism, classism and sexuality. A place to live, love, sing and die.
— Kacey Garden on his upcoming album
Influences
editGrowing up, Garden was exposed by his family to different genres, which were formative influences for his music. His mother enjoyed R&B and church music, his grandmother was a fan of dance, house, disco and a little bit of R&B. His uncle listened to melodic rap and hip hop artists like Tupac Shakur. Garden listened to Lauryn Hill for vocal influence and has said that H.E.R. is one of his personal influences. Garden has expressed admiration for singer Rihanna, citing her as a major inspiration and someone he has loved since childhood.
Garden also cites Kelly Rowland, Jazmine Sullivan, Jennifer Hudson, Solange, Alicia Keys, Lisa Lopes, André 3000, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, and Jay-Z as aspiration. Speaking on his influences, Garden said: "I personally love music with everything inside of me. When I'm listening to music, I feel like I'm in a place between reality and my imagination and that's where I get all the aspiration for my music". Garden also spoke about Beyoncé, admiring her strong and confident attitude, of someone who only does the music she wants to do, and that if there's anybody that he could imagine singing his words, it would be Beyoncé.
Discography
editStudio albums
- TBA (2026)
Tours
editHeadlining
- TBA (2028)