KIANA LEDÉ

This is how Kiana Ledé talks about R&B.

“It’s heart, it’s soul, it’s love, it’s honest, it’s sexy, and…,” she grins. “It’s definitely got a bit of an attitude.”

She could very well be talking about herself though. Kiana’s shown “heart,” going from her home in South Phoenix as “a Black, Mexican, Native American, and White girl who participated in pageants and fixed cars” to the doorstep of superstardom. She’s shown “soul” on platinum-certified bangers such as “EX” and a catalog streamed north of 1 billion times. She’s shown “honesty” by supporting causes such as I Am A New Voter and many more. She’s shown“sexy” in each performance and appearance with features in ELLE, Highsnobiety, Complex, Vibe, Billboard, and ROLLACOASTER Magazine. And, she’s shown “attitude” in pretty everything she’s done. 

However, all of these elements drive her full-length debut album, KIKI [Republic Records], and its accompanying Deluxe Edition. 

“When you listen to me, I want you to know that I am one-hundred percent an Aries, and that is all me,” she explains. “This album is like my coming-of-age. I’m coming into my own, my own sexuality, and my own being. I’m finding my place in this world in a much more honest and vulnerable way.”

That vulnerability instantly connected. In the Spring of 2020, the original KIKI crashed the Top 5 of the Billboard Top R&B Albums Chart, Top 5 of the Apple Music R&B/Soul Albums Chart, Top 5 of the iTunes R&B/Soul Albums Chart and Top 10 of the Apple Music Overall Albums Chart, posting up 60 million streams. In order to expand on the original, she revisited her roots, listening to classic R&B icons such as Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald as well as leaders of the new vanguard a la Kehlani and Jhené Aiko. 

Now, this energy carries over to the Delxue Edition single “Only Fan.” with Jacquees. A guitar-laden beat simmers as the seductive chemistry betweenKiana and Jacquees practically bursts under the weight of fiery falsetto and delicate moans.

“I’m obsessed with Only Fans and all of the women who do it, but the song is actually not about the site,” she laughs. “It’s about meeting my one and ‘Only Fan.’ Jacquees and I went in there and had a great time in the studio. His voice is unbelievable.”

Then, there’s “Must Be Mine.” [feat. Ant Clemons]. She imparts a poetic sense of possessiveness on this dynamic duet. “I’m not a territorial or jealous person, but I love making sure my partner knows they’re mine,” she says. “It’s show you’re not afraid to claim somebody.”

In many ways, the sumptuously swaggering “Ladylike.” might be her most revealing confession yet.

“Growing up in pageants, I was always told, ‘Be a lady’,” she states. “I am the least ladylike person you’ll ever meet though, because I don’t give a fuck. I’ll burp. I won’t sit with my legs crossed. I never followed the rules in pageants either. I don’t know how I won any of them. I love the sexual freedom I’m finding as a woman too. I’m so happy with it.”

In addition to a Remix of “Chocolate” [feat. Ari Lennox], she unearths “Youth” [feat. Gary Clark, JR.] as a bonus track. Originally conceived back in 2016, the meaning remains apropos for 2020. The sinewy and scorching guitar lead bleeds into a hard-hitting harmony shared by Kiana and Gary. As the world turned upside down in 2020, Kiana found herself singing “Youth” again, bringing it back to the forefront of her consciousness.

“With everything going on, it’s a good story to tell right now,” she affirms. “When I initially wrote it, I was feeling really heavy about how the U.S. is this fake-painted picture perfect thing. For people who are black and brown like me, they say you can do anything, but you really grow up going through so much fucking bullshit you forget what you’re entitled to as an American. The system is clearly not built for us. I wanted to remind everyone America is not what we say it is, and we have to make a change. After the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, I was in a state of grief. I know a lot of my community was in and still is in one. I cried every day for a week. I started randomly singing ‘Youth’, and I taught myself how to play it on guitar, so I could get through it. It was something I need to sing, and I thought others might need to sing it too.”

In the end, KIKI is Kiana and R&B… “The more songs I put out, the closer I get to knowing who I am,” she leaves off. “I’m ever-changing. Everything is passing—present moments and even thoughts. Everything is temporary, and I’m okay with that.”