Kenya Grace: The 'Meteor' That Made History As UK's No. 1

Kenya Grace Johnson, known as Kenya Grace, is a 25-year-old English musician who has been making seismic shifts in the UK music scene. Born in South Africa and raised in Southampton, England, she's a self-made artist whose recent single "Strangers" has not only topped the UK Singles Chart but also made her the second British female artist to reach No. 1 with a track she performed, wrote, and produced entirely by herself. The first to achieve this feat was Kate Bush, placing Kenya Grace in an exclusive league of extraordinary artists.

Kenya Grace's musical journey began at the tender age of ten when she started writing songs on a second-hand Yamaha keyboard she received as a gift. Initially drawn to musical theatre, she later developed an affinity for dance music and dubstep. Her academic path led her to the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, where she initially enrolled to study history and English literature. However, recognizing her true calling, she switched her major to music and graduated in September 2019 with a degree in songwriting and creative artistry. The university experience was transformative for her, helping her overcome stage fright and hone her skills.

Before her chart-topping success, Kenya Grace had already made her mark with earlier releases like "Obsessed" and "Tell Me Why." She gained further recognition when she and Willow Kayne made it to the Top 21 in ISawItFirst, a nationwide search in collaboration with Capital Xtra aimed at discovering new women musicians. Her song "Talk" was penned in her parents' bedroom during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, following the end of a toxic relationship. In 2022, she released "Oranges," the 3Strange collaboration "Someone Else," and the Homebodi collaboration "Venus."

Her 2023 single "Strangers" was a game-changer. Written and produced in her bedroom, the drum and bass track was intended to be a euphoric anthem. After being released on September 1, it went viral on TikTok, amassing over 11 million views. A subsequent video garnered over 38 million views. The song's virality didn't stop there; it also made waves on Instagram Reels. By September 26, 2023, "Strangers" had been used in over 570,000 videos on TikTok alone.  Within a week of "Strangers" release, the song entered the UK Singles Chart, eventually peaking at No. 1 in just a month. This new single dethroned Doja Cat‘s “Paint the Town Red” which sat at No. 1 for five weeks.The Official Charts Company attributed her success to the commercial renaissance of drum and bass and the dominance of female artists.

After the announcement, Kenya Grace took it to her Instagram to extend the gratitude to fans:

"Strangers is number 1 in the UK!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Guys this is the most surreal moment of my entire life😭😭 I am ETERNALLY grateful to every single one of you who streamed, shared & made videos for strangers!!! UR THE ABSOLUTE BEST PEOPLE EVER & I LOVE U ALL SO MUCH - thanku for changing my life forever !!!!!!😭😭😭😭💕💕💕💕💕💕 brb crying🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲😭😭😭😭😭"

Kenya Grace cites Amy Winehouse as her biggest inspiration, but she also draws from the likes of Flume and Nao. Her voice has been described as a unique blend of PinkPantheress, Charli XCX, and Piri by the Official Charts Company. She's not just about music; she's a multi-faceted individual. She used to play hockey for Hampshire and has a penchant for chips. She recently moved to North London, a transition delayed by the pandemic. Her natural hair is actually blonde, and she has a love for piercings and tattoos. She even worked at a piercing salon and has plans to cover her entire body with tattoos in the future. She describes her own music as "Sultry, smooth, delicate, dreamy, electronic, empowering."

Her music resonates with a generation navigating the complexities of modern relationships, often mediated by technology. Her songs delve into themes like the ephemeral nature of connections in the age of dating apps, capturing the zeitgeist of a generation seeking authenticity amid digital chaos. With her recent singles "Afterparty Lover" and "Meteor," released in February and May 2023 respectively, followed by "Only in My Mind" and the latest "Strangers", Kenya Grace shows no signs of slowing down, indicating that her creative well is far from dry.

Kenya Grace is more than just a musician; she's a cultural phenomenon. Her story is a blend of talent, tenacity, and a keen understanding of the digital landscape. From her early days writing songs on a second-hand keyboard to topping the UK charts, she represents a new breed of artists for whom boundaries—musical, geographical, or otherwise—seem increasingly irrelevant. As she continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Kenya Grace is an artist whose trajectory is worth watching, not just for the music she makes but for what she represents.