SoundCloud Ascending is a global initiative created to spotlight emerging UK artists. Each featured artist receives support through billboards, playlists, a social content piece, and a framed print of the whole creative campaign. Next up is London’s Kenya Grace, the self-taught singer, songwriter, producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist who hails from Southampton by way of South Africa.
Kenya Grace honed her songwriting skills by playing the keyboard growing up and learned music production on her own while working in a piercing shop. She cites soul music as one of her favorite genres—neo soul, in particular. “I love neo soul so much,” she says. “One of my absolute favorite genres ever.” After drawing inspiration from Erykah Badu’s Baduizm as a child, Grace was influenced by the work of artists like Disclosure, Flume, and Kaytranada. She also absorbed the drum and bass scene in Southampton, blending it with her other influences to create her own brand of R&B crossed with UK garage, pop, and other electronic music.
She’s known to weave keys, guitar, and trumpet into her music, in addition to devices like the playtronica midi controller and maschine mikro to create something unique.
“I’m massively influenced by the sound of music… I’m obsessed with 7th and 9th chords. Like, lush sounding, open, airy chords and synths.”
Despite developing an affinity for music at a young age, Grace was reluctant to perform in front of people before attending the Academy of Contemporary Music. Being surrounded by fellow musicians gave her the confidence to share her gift with the world. After graduating in 2019, Grace released the singles “Tell Me Why,” “Obsessed,” and “Talk.”
Her career took off when she began releasing music on SoundCloud, including the exclusives “Sad (demo),” “afterpartylover (demo),” and “Weekend Cycle.”
Since then, she has developed a larger SoundCloud following in the US than in the UK, indicating she has the potential for global stardom. But one of the main reasons she enjoys the platform so much is because it allows her to establish deeper connections with fans and share music quickly and easily.
“SoundCloud is so helpful because it builds a community for you… I’ve been making these little beats for Reels and TikToks, and it’s allowed me to upload the song straight away.”
Looking ahead, she is eager to release new music and create even more subgenres.
Listen to Kenya Grace on SoundCloud, and check out our UK Ascending Playlist.
LISTEN TO KENYA GRACE
%20(1).png)
.png)
%20(1).jpg)
.png)
.png)
