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Kenya Grace



Kenya Grace Johnson is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer from South Africa. She is best known for her 2023 single "Strangers". "Strangers" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. She is signed with Warner Records. Nick Huggett and Nick Shymansky of Day One Music, who have worked with Amy Winehouse and Adele among others, became Grace's managers in November 2022.

Kenya Grace
Birth nameKenya Grace Johnson
BornSouth Africa
GenresElectropop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2019–present
Labels




Life and career


Early life


Kenya Grace Johnson[1] was born in South Africa to a South African mother and a British father.[2]  She grew up in “very quiet and chill” town near Southampton.[3] She is thought to have been born in the late-1990's or the early 2000's. She went to Thornden School[4] and used to play hockey for Hampshire. She started writing when she was 10 years old. She started singing in primary school after getting a second-hand Yamaha keyboard.[5] She first had an interest in musical theater, before growing up and developing an interest in dance music, dubstep first.[6](p1:09:50) She went to Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, first reading history and English works. Grace then switched to music after choosing to become a musician.[5] She graduated in September 2019 with a degree in songwriting and creative artistry.[7] She has said that the university helped cure her stage fright.[8]


Personal life


She has blue eyes. She also has a nose piercing and many tattoos on both arms (mostly on her forearms), hands and neck. Her tattoos include a butterfly, a dragonfly, a flower, a topless lady, and a big cat. She mostly wears clothing with Christian crosses.



2019-2022: First releases


In 2019, she let out "Obsessed", her first release, and then "Tell Me Why".[5]  Grace wrote "Tell Me Why" while drunk and arguing with someone.[9] Later that year, she and Willow Kayne made the Top 21 in ISawItFirst,[10] a competition for a around the world search with Capital Xtra, looking for new women musicians. After becoming one of the final people in the competition she won a music video shoot for "Tell Me Why" , which was her first music video.[7] She then let out "Talk".[5] Kenya wrote in her parents' bedroom during the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom after getting out of a bad relationship.[8] Kenya later moved to North London.[11] Her move was delayed by the pandemic.[8] In 2022, she let out "Oranges", the 3Strange collaboration "Someone Else". She also let out the Homebodi collaboration "Venus".



2023–present: Strangers and The After Taste


In February and May 2023, she let out "Afterparty Lover" and "Meteor".[12]
In late July 2023, she started to support "Strangers",[13] a drum and bass song she had written and made[14] in her bedroom, with the plan of making a euphoric track,[6](p1:08:08) on her TikTok account.[13] This clip was seen over 11,000,000 times, with a following video being seen over 38,000,000 times.[15] When let out on 1 September 2023 on FFRR Records,[16] the song saw further success on the platform. By 26 September 2023, it had seen use in over 570,000 videos.[12]
She supported the song with a further eight videos supporting the track. They were seen more than 1,000,000 times, and which typically show her singing the track on her electronic drum pads;[13] the song also went viral on Instagram Reels.[16] A week after being let out, the song entered the UK Singles Chart, eventually coming at No. 1.[14] On entry, the Official Charts Company let out her success to the commercial revival of drum and bass and the power 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] Three weeks after that, she let out 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. It was let out on 22 March 2024.[19]
As of 10 July 2024, on Spotify, Strangers has been streamed almost 1 billion times and she has over 13 million listeners every month.[20] Kenya 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 number value judging your art, which is just not good. I try to protect my creativity.”[21] She has almost 1 million followers each on both Instagram[22] and TikTok.[23]


Artistry


Kenya has stated that her biggest inspiration is Banks; she also gets inspiration from Flume and Nao.[11] She also gets inspiration from Norah Jones and Katie Melua.[4] She first writes her tracks instrumental first.[6](p1:08:08) 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”.[24]


Live performances


Kenya has played live in:



Festivals


Kenya played her first festival at Coachella in 2024.[37] She said it "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".[38] In a separate interview she said, "I've never seen a crowd that big before".[39]
Later in 2024, she played at Glastonbury Festival.[40] She "delivered an amazing set" according to the BBC.[41]  Kenya sang her own songs such as Strangers, Stay, Only In My Mind and Paris. She also covered 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[42] to play at:



Notes






References




  1. ↑ Venus (Radio Edit) by Homebodi & Kenya Grace, 12 May 2022, retrieved 29 September 2023

    2. 

  2. ↑ "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.

    3. 

  3. ↑ "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.

    4. 

  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mukhtar, Damel (17 October 2023). Meet Kenya Grace, The Breakout Musician Topping Doja, Taylor, And Drake For The UK #1. https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/kenya-grace-interview. 

    5. 

  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Kenya Grace". projext Liquid. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    6. 

  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "BBC Radio 1 – Radio 1's Future Artists with Jack Saunders, Kenya Grace". BBC. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    7. 

  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "ACM Alumni Reach Final of Nationwide Music Competition Hosted by Top Fashion Brand". ACM. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    8. 

  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Introducing: Kenya Grace". Wordplay. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    9. 

  9. ↑ "Kenya Grace :: Nxtstyle's The Next 100: 2020 New Music Guide". Nxtstyle. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    10. 

  10. ↑ "First Look – I Saw It First". 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2023.

    11. 

  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Le'Afrinique #LAChats With Vans Musicians Wanted Finalist Kenya Grace". Le'Afrinique. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    12. 

  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Zellner, Xander (26 September 2023). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Kenya Grace Arrives With Viral Hit 'Strangers'" (in en-US). Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kenya-grace-hot-100-debut-strangers-1235425948/. Retrieved 29 September 2023. 

    13. 

  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Kenya Grace: No Longer a Stranger | Vulkan Magazine". vulkanmagazine.com. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    14. 

  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Strangers". The Official Charts Company. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    15. 

  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "How Kenya Grace made chart history as self-produced single 'Strangers' reaches No 1". The Independent. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.

    16. 

  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Who is Kenya Grace? The dance artist who debuted Top 20 with Strangers". Official Charts. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

    17. 

  17. ↑ "New Releases: Kenya Grace, Joel Corry, Roger Waters and more". Official Charts. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.

    18. 

  18. ↑ "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.

    19. 

  19. ↑ "Out now on all platforms <3". Instagram.

    20. 

  20. ↑ "Kenya Grace - Spotify". Spotify. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.

    21. 

  21. ↑ "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.

    22. 

  22. ↑ "Kenya Grace (kenyagrace) - Instagram photos and videos". Instagram. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.

    23. 

  23. ↑ "kenyagrace (@kenyagracebaby) Official - TikTok". TikTok. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.

    24. 

  24. ↑ "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.

    25. 

  25. ↑ Kenya Grace New York City - YouTube

    26. 

  26. ↑ Kenya Grace live in Chicago - YouTube

    27. 

  27. ↑ Kenya Grace - Afterparty Lover (BBC Music Introducing London International Women's Day Session) - YouTube, 15 March 2023

    28. 

  28. ↑ Kenya Grace Melkweg - YouTube

    29. 

  29. ↑ Kenya Grace ADE Amsterdam - YouTube

    30. 

  30. ↑ Kenya Grace performing Only In My Mind live at iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023 - YouTube, 16 December 2023

    31. 

  31. ↑ Kenya Grace Strangers @ El Rey Los Angeles 12/12/23 - YouTube, 13 December 2023

    32. 

  32. ↑ Kenya grace strangers Spotify wrapped live 2023 - YouTube, 30 November 2023

    33. 

  33. ↑ Kenya Grace performs 'Strangers' at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, in collaboration with Rémy Martin - YouTube, 26 November 2023

    34. 

  34. ↑ Kenya Grace Village Underground - YouTube

    35. 

  35. ↑ Kenya Grace - Strangers (Radio 1's Big Weekend 2024) - YouTube, 25 May 2024

    36. 

  36. ↑ Kenya Grace Gorilla Manchester - YouTube

    37. 

  37. ↑ Kenya Grace Concert Setlist at Coachella Festival 2024 on April 13, 2024 - setlist.fm

    38. 

  38. ↑ Kenya Grace - Instagram

    39. 

  39. ↑ "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.

    40. 

  40. ↑ Glastonbury 2024 line-up

    41. 

  41. ↑ BBC iPlayer - Glastonbury - Kenya Grace

    42. 

  42. ↑ Kenya Grace Official Website

    43. 








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