The most uninteresting thing about kwn ( pronounced like kay-on ) is who she talks to through him.
With all due respect, this rising star of London R&B is far more complex than she's been made out to be. Influenced by artists like Brandy, Destiny's Child, Jodeci, and Dru Hill, kwn burst onto the scene in 2022 with her debut single, "One Way or Another.".
It wasn't until 2024 that she achieved success with her single "Eyes Wide Open." Now she's in high demand. Ironically, kwn's formula for success wasn't based on chasing algorithms or analytics. The key component of her work is her uncompromising originality.
«"I'm not shy about speaking up. I say, 'If it's on my mind, I'll say it,'" she says frankly. "Outside of music, I'm a quietly confident person. So when it comes to songwriting, that confidence comes through a little more strongly.".
This confidence is evident in two collaborations with Kehlani: "Clothes Off" and "Worst Behavior." Naturally, kwn expresses his "massive gratitude" to the newly minted two-time Grammy Award winner. "She's certainly played a big role in my success, [but also] helped me stay grounded, learn to say 'no' when appropriate, and, most importantly, take care of my mental health.".
Another British vocal group, FLO, also played a role. Moreover, she praises the trio for their relaxed atmosphere in the studio. "They don't put pressure on themselves or anyone else in the room," she explains. "It's a very relaxed environment, which I like.".
As an artist newly confronted with fame, kwn admits it was "very overwhelming" and urges fans to remember that she and celebrities are only human. She addressed this theme during her opening performances on the European leg of Kehlani's CRASH World Tour and during her first solo tour.
«"On tour, I would respond to [their arrogance] with laughter and jokes," she says, "but eventually people realized, 'No, I'm completely serious. We need to tone it down a little bit.'" She admits, "I'm still finding ways to deal with it, but I don't take anything personally. I think, 'I know everyone's excited,' and I think it's because fans feel like they know you, and I think that always will be the case. I just deal with it the best way I can.".
This circumstance showed her that her dreams were entirely achievable. "It made me realize that I have the ability to attract an audience and all that. I'm very grateful [to Kehlani].".
Keen to show more of her humanity, kwn now opens up her heart while protecting her privacy. Yes, she's powerful, but she's also a girl who loves love. "Without a doubt, I'll never hide that," she teases. That's how her song "Hopeless Romantic" came to be. It's an honest album in which she openly shares her feelings. She doesn't want to be considered a "womanizer" and admits that as she gets older, she needs to be honest with herself about what she wants in future lovers. "It's not just about all this sexy, sensual stuff," she says. "It's much deeper.".
Fans can expect this and much more in her next release, and, throwing aside all pride, - on the B-sides version of her major-label debut album, with all due respect . Describing it as a "one-on-one therapy session" with herself, kwn hopes this more intimate project will resonate with listeners. "I'm touching on things I thought I'd never talk about," she explains. "I'm growing up, and that's what's pushed me to write more vulnerable and honest songs because I'm trying to be more open and honest with myself, and that, in turn, allows me to be more open and honest with the people who listen to my music.".
«I’m only 26, I’m growing and learning a lot about myself, about what I want not only from a partner, but from myself,» adds kwn. «I think it’s a stage that everyone goes through at this age: «What do you want? How do you see life? How do you see partner "It was like the first step: 'Here I am, I don't care what anyone says. I'm here. This is what I love to do. This is the music I love. Accept it or not.' And now I'm more willing to open my soul to everyone.".
With her latest project, kwn felt like she needed to prove herself. After being dropped from her former label in 2023, she recalls feeling like no one took her seriously. "I just felt neglected," she shares. "I wasn't even thinking about creating a project when I recorded 'With All Due Respect.'".
Her new goal was to create music that pushed the boundaries of R&B. «I thought, „If you don’t give it your all right now and commit to it completely, then maybe it’s time to end it…“ I said, „If I give it my all right now and I don’t love it, then maybe that will show me if this is really for me,“ and it did. I fell in love with the process all over again, and it was fresh and new and completely different.» Looking back, she considers leaving the label «100 percent» a blessing that helped her move forward.
On a global scale, KVN has learned to «finish what I love» because it has seen the consequences of its inaction.
«"When I love something, like a piece of music, I think it rubs off on my audience. It's almost like in everyday life: if you're unsure of something, people can sense it," she says. "I think when I wasn't confident in the music I was releasing, people could sense it. But when I released something I was truly passionate about, that's why things took off.".
Despite her life being turned upside down, KVN embraces the challenges, the awards, and the unconditional support of her family, especially her mother and sisters. "They always tell me, 'It's so weird seeing your life through a screen now,'" she jokes.
But the greatest reward is seeing the "Sold Out" sign next to her name on the poster. "I think every artist dreams of this from the very beginning of their career—to sell out. I was incredibly lucky to achieve it on my first try, and just hearing people sing along to my songs. Honestly, it's indescribable," recalls kwn.
But on the other hand? «The biggest challenge is getting used to it all. It’s very tiring. There’s a lot of energy exchange, and I’m an introvert-extrovert. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s a wonderful time, and every time I go on stage, I think, «This is why. I know why I’m doing this.»”.
At the moment the performance is on COLORS already crossed off her bucket list. Upon receiving the invitation, she admittedly was thrilled and decided to showcase her versatility by performing "Idea of Love," her latest single. "I feel like 'touch myself' would be inappropriate because that's the sound people expect from me right now," she explains. "But COLORS "Such a wide audience. I think it's brought a lot of new people into my small fan community.".
In the future, she hopes to create a visual album, try her hand at acting, work with artists like Pharrell, Olivia Dean, Yebba, Lola Young and Brent Faiyaz, and break the stereotype of "British R&B".
«"I actually hate the term 'British R&B,'" she says. "I know we borrow a lot from the Americans, and I don't think we've ever been shy about saying that, but I don't feel there's any division. We're all just making great music, and I don't think there should be any division, if there is one. I guess we should just leave it at that.".
Ultimately, kwn hopes to be remembered as "someone who took risks, did things differently, pushed boundaries, helped people, never gave up, and never played a role." She's also thrilled to be the subject of conversation. "I'm happy that my name is being heard in the halls, and that's all I could ask for, honestly. I want to keep releasing music to show people that I'm not just a one-hit wonder or a one-hit wonder. I want to keep showing people that I do have talent, and God has blessed me enough to show it to the world.".
More information on VIBE.com
-
NEXT: There's nothing Durand Bernard can't (and won't) do.
-
NEXT: BannaBi Creates Her Own Legacy in Atlanta
-
NEXT: 41 aims to take their sound global with Area 41.
The Best of VIBE.com
-
10 Rap Albums That Didn't Win Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
-
21 Black Artists Who Almost Won an EGOT (England and America Entertainment Goal) Award.
-
11 Black-Owned Games to Play at Your Next Event or Just for Relaxing.
Subscribe to the Vibe newsletter. Stay up-to-date with the latest news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.