Millions of listeners have become acquainted with the singer's sensual sound Kendresses after her appearance alongside Drake on the laid-back track "Slap The City.".
But who is she? Where did she come from? And how did she end up on two of the three albums Drake just released? Not only did she appear on hite Habibti , but also received two more awards for her participation in the album: "Gen 5" and "Fortworth" with PARTYNEXTDOOR. She also features on the song "Stuck" from the album. Maid of Honor .
In fact, it's Drake, once again serving as a tastemaker, showcasing rising vocal stars on his album. (The album also features newcomers Stunna Sandy, Molly Santana, and Iconic Savvy.)
«"He is an artist of his generation and a brilliant talent scout," said Kendresa. Complex publication . «I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of all this, as in the case of Habibti , and with Maid of Honour.".
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It's just the beginning for Kendrea, one of the UK's most promising rising stars.
Here's everything you need to know about Qendresa.
Who is Kendresa?
The singer, born Kendresa Sopa, grew up in London to Albanian parents who emigrated from Kosovo in the 1980s.
«"They came to the UK with nothing… raised three children, mortgaged their house, found jobs, learned the language, and sent money home too," Kendresa said. "Now I can't afford anything less.".
Although music eventually became her profession, neither of her parents were musicians. However, they loved music themselves and introduced Kendresa to various performers throughout her childhood.
She also started performing at a young age.
«"I remember being in a school talent show and singing Lauryn Hill's 'Killing Me Softly,'" she said. "My mom came over and filmed it. I need to find that footage somewhere.".
As she aged, music continued to play an important role in her life. In 2013, Frank Ocean's debut album Channel Orange changed everything. "When Frank Ocean's album came out, I started writing songs," she said. "When Channel Orange , „I realized: “I need to make music.»”.
Her first release came in 2016, when she released a standalone track, "Real Thing (Demo)," on SoundCloud. Even then, the beginnings of her soulful, intimate sound could be heard in her vocals. However, it sounded more restrained than it does now, when Kendresa seems to have more control over her voice.
In 2017, she released her debut EP Shades On, Pt. 1 , a minimalist and jazzy R&B experiment where Kendresa showcased her vocal talents. Around the same time, she also mastered DJing and, in 2018, began hosting her own show on NTS Radio.
Who influenced her?
Growing up, Kendresa's parents listened to a mix of "Western British" and "Albanian" music. Her own sound was also influenced by the songs her peers were listening to in the late '90s.
Early in her career, she drew influence from legendary artists like Sade, the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. She also developed a love for hip-hop and R&B. "When [Missy] Elliott was releasing her songs, I'd just lock myself in my room and try to copy her moves," she said. "The golden era [of R&B] was in the '90s… and I was just fascinated by it. My friend and I… would write our own songs… like making fun of the guys in our class or something.".
Kendresa's R&B music blends funk, soul, and new jack swing. Her most famous songs, "2 Much" and "Sweet Lies," not only pay homage to '90s R&B but also showcase her signature fuzzy textures—rhythmic drums, lo-fi vocals, and an incredibly catchy bassline.
Her songs explore the tensions in relationships, and her music is most nostalgic when she laments the connections that existed before the constant use of digital technology.
How did she meet Drake?
Kendresa's first encounter with Drake came through Sound42 and OVO Radio, which regularly played her tracks in 2022. "I was like, 'Damn, maybe he knows what's going on,'" she said. "The fact that someone like Drake would pay attention to me, even though he doesn't have to—but he does it because he likes what I do—that's why it felt so logical to collaborate.".
This indirect recognition eventually led to something more concrete: in August 2025, Drake used her song "Tearz" in an Instagram post, marking their first direct interaction.
After they met through direct messages on Instagram, they began exchanging music.
«"We were just messaging each other, and it all just felt so natural and right," she said. "When he first sent me the track 'Slap the City,' we were both like, 'Yeah, that sounds like our track.'".
The track combines the funky basslines and '80s-inspired synths that are characteristic of Kendresa's music with the soul-trap textures of Drake's sound. Drake clearly embraced her artistic style not only on this one track, but also by inviting her to contribute to "Fortworth" and "Gen 5." The latter delves even deeper into this atmospheric territory, a largely drumless track where Drake sings and Kendresa complements his vocals in the background.
«"Drake is a music lover, he's not just an artist," she said. "I think I identify with him in that way.".
How was her song "Stuck" created?
Working on music with Drake is a rare thing, and Kendresa doesn't take it for granted. "It feels surreal that we have such a musical exchange," she said. "It's a kind of validation of my growth and success that Drake is one of my musical collaborators.".
While working on "Stuck," Drake came up with a melody and passed it on to Kendresa, who describes herself as a "hermit" who's always close to her studio. She continued working on ideas for what she thought would become Iceman album , not knowing at the time that Drake had two more albums in the works.
«"[Drake] gave me a link to his song ['Stuck'] and was like, 'Maybe try something, just try it, do whatever you want, but maybe these lyrics…' I tried a few versions and we both liked them, but then we did this version in a more minimal way.".
The process was relaxed—Drake didn't expect music to come out of the collaboration, but simply saw what they could create together. This ease is evident on "Stuck," a laid-back track that sounds completely natural. "He's like, 'If it works, it works. If it doesn't, I don't feel any pressure.' The only pressure I put on myself is thinking, 'I have to live up to expectations.'".
What are her plans for the rest of 2026?
Having gained fame thanks to one of the world's biggest artists, Kendrea remains extremely low-key and focused on creating music. "I just want to be myself. I just want to continue being myself.".
Working with Drake also changed Kendresa's perception of what was possible creatively. Seeing that level of craftsmanship and production up close inspired her to think more broadly about her own music. "If someone sends me beats that are Drake-level, I won't complain," she said, laughing.
She explained that both Drake and Bad Bunny have been a huge creative inspiration for her, especially due to the scale and precision of their recent releases. "I'm really inspired by working with him, and also by the music I've heard on their albums," she said, before pointing to Bad Bunny's latest album., DTMF, as a benchmark for the level of music she hopes to achieve herself, and asked herself, "How can I achieve that level of production?"«
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