{"id":1774264,"date":"2026-02-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1774264"},"modified":"2026-02-16T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T21:00:00","slug":"wonderland-37","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1774264","title":{"rendered":"Wonderland"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\tWonderland<\/span>
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\n\t\t\tKEHLANI IS OUT OF BOUNDS<\/span>
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R&B force Kehlani has always spoken from the heart. After 15 years of hustle and now a two-time Grammy winner, she\u2019s done justifying herself in public. Her new album speaks for itself. So stop asking questions and listen \u2013 she\u2019s about to have you \u201cFolded\u201d. <\/h3>\n
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\"Kehlani
\u00a0Top & trousers ETRO; shoes MACH&MACH; earrings stylist\u2019s own; watch OMEGA; cuff FANCI CLUB.\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Kehlani is a winner, baby. The South Berkeley-born singer and I are speaking four days before she goes on to win her first two Grammy Awards \u2013 Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song \u2013 both for her hit song \u201cFolded\u201d<\/a>. Today, though, Kehlani is at home in Los Angeles for our Zoom, looking cosy as she lies on her olive sofa, decked out with earth-toned cushions. Her skin is glowing, her brows are snatched, and her long black hair is effortlessly tousled. Her aura is zen, but she\u2019s equally a hoot \u2013 she makes me chuckle more than a few times during our chat.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s just returned from her first trip to Mumbai, where she performed at Lollapalooza India. Kehlani shut it down on that stage: mic on, choreography nasty, crowd word-perfect. A beautiful reminder of music\u2019s power to unite us globally.<\/p>\n

Once you hear those opening strings, you know it\u2019s time to go pick up your clothes. \u201cFolded\u201d has all the ingredients of a classic R&B record: evocative, layered storytelling of a relationship in distress, runs for days that only a powerful vocalist could pull off, and a chorus that dares the listener to even attempt those notes.<\/p>\n

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\"Kehlani
Top & trousers ZIMMERMANN; earrings RIGASH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kehlani
Dress PATBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Kehlani herself couldn\u2019t have predicted the magnitude of the record. \u201cHonestly, it feels like [the film] Inception,\u201d she says of the response. \u201cThere were songs I feel like I really put my foot into \u2013 \u201cFolded\u201d for sure \u2013 but there was nothing about the creative process that made me logicise, \u2018Oh, this is the song that\u2019s going to do it for everyone.\u2019 I\u2019ve gone in with so much intention before, thinking, this is it, and it wasn\u2019t. So for this to have been such an easy process \u2013 I made a song with my friends and thought, \u2018Maybe I\u2019ll tease it, maybe I\u2019ll put it out\u2019 \u2013 and now it\u2019s doing its thing, felt indicative of something bigger happening in my life right now. It\u2019s changing everything in a positive way. When I think about the success of the song, I see it as part of something larger in my personal legend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inspiring TikTok challenges that invite \u201cmedium singers\u201d to the table, and embraced by R&B fans longing for a return to the genre\u2019s roots, \u201cFolded\u201d became Kehlani\u2019s first Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, peaking at number six, and her first-ever US R&B\/Hip-Hop number one. The past year for the 30-year-old singer has felt kismet; the seeds she\u2019s been planting are now in full bloom.<\/p>\n

Her fifth studio album \u2013 and ninth project overall \u2013 is slated for release at the end of March. In the meantime, she\u2019s intentionally focusing on her wellness, getting rest in rare pockets of time between final touches, incoming features, and the mastering process.<\/p>\n

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\"Kehlani
Blouse, trousers & shoes DOLCE & GABBANA; earrings CARTIER; watch OMEGA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kehlani
Blouse, trousers & shoes DOLCE & GABBANA; earrings CARTIER; watch OMEGA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

It was in 2011 that Kehlani, then a junior in high school, appeared on America\u2019s Got Talent with her cover band PopLyfe. The band recruited her when she was 14, during a period when she was shifting her focus from dance to singing after a knee injury. At the Seattle auditions, a 16-year-old, baby-faced Kehlani \u2013 crimson cut tucked beneath a white beanie, flannel shirt on \u2013 wowed the judges with her crystal-clear tone as she sang Travis McCoy featuring Bruno Mars\u2019 \u201cBillionaire\u201d.<\/p>\n

Judge Piers Morgan suggested that Kehlani was the star and didn\u2019t need the band, but she swiftly pushed back, explaining they had chosen to perform acoustically on purpose \u2013 just a taste \u2013 and assuring him that once they went electric, he would change his mind. A true Taurus, loyal to the end, Kehlani said, \u201cI don\u2019t go without my brothers.\u201d The band made it to the semi-finals, ultimately placing fourth, and even performed \u201cHigher Ground\u201d with Stevie Wonder. When I tell her it\u2019s been 15 years since her time on the show, she looks visibly spooked by how quickly time has flown.<\/p>\n

The period after America\u2019s Got Talent wasn\u2019t smooth sailing. The band broke up due to unfortunate business circumstances, and there was a period of sofa-surfing \u2013 but the fire in Kehlani\u2019s spirit only grew bolder. At 19, she released her debut mixtape \u201cCloud 19\u201d<\/a>, and the industry began to wake up to her star power.<\/p>\n

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\"Kehlani
Top ETRO; earrings stylist\u2019s own; watch OMEGA; cuff FANCI CLUB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Kehlani\u2019s second mixtape, 2015\u2019s \u201cYou Should Be Here\u201d \u2013 her first commercial mixtape and first project under Atlantic Records \u2013 was widely lauded, earning her a Best Urban Contemporary Album nomination at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in 2016. Early on, she set the tone: vulnerability and honesty were her superpowers. On the mixtape\u2019s intro, she tells us, \u201cI\u2019ve seen things and felt more pain than some will in their entire lives, all before the age of even being able to buy a fucking drink at a bar.\u201d With ease, she could move from singing about a partner who is physically present but emotionally hollow on the title track, to the smooth Chance the Rapper\u2013assisted single \u201cThe Way\u201d, which later achieved Platinum status.<\/p>\n

Kehlani spent her twenties grinding, releasing four albums and three mixtapes that cemented her as one of R&B\u2019s most promising young talents, distinguishing herself with resounding swag and emotional intelligence. From the jump, her songwriting stood out because she goes there \u2013 equally vocal about love when it\u2019s blissful and tender, and when trust erodes and turns toxic, leaving nothing but disappointment, rancour, and a migraine. It\u2019s not all heartbreak, though. The singer-songwriter also has a knack for writing bops that are s-e-x-y, from the declarative \u201cWhat A Girl Wants\u201d to the entendre-laced \u201c8\u201d.<\/p>\n

Discernment, she notes, is the greatest lesson she learned during this decade. \u201cDiscernment, all around: people, places, things, opportunities. Discerning what it feels like when you\u2019re being healthy, discerning what it feels like when you\u2019re not, not letting anything cloud your relationship with God. Discerning my own behaviour \u2013 whatever is solely in my control \u2013 and making that my responsibility. I think I learn everything as a crash course, and it\u2019s on display for the world, so I\u2019m always learning this double lesson: the super personal one, and the lesson that comes with the intense magnifying glass of my career and so-called celebrity. So I\u2019m always getting the double ass-whoop. I\u2019m used to it at this point,\u201d she guffaws.<\/p>\n

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\"Kehlani
Top & trousers ZIMMERMANN; earrings RIGASH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kehlani
Top & trousers ZIMMERMANN; earrings RIGASH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

This insight has become crucial in this era of Kehlani\u2019s career, where opportunity is opening up like never before. Throughout her journey, she has been steadfast in showing love to her inspirations \u2013 whether that\u2019s rallying people to ensure Jazmine Sullivan\u2019s legacy is properly discussed, or taking a moment to remind the world of neo-soul singer India.Arie\u2019s often-overlooked impact.<\/p>\n

2025, however, was filled with full-circle moments, as Kehlani found herself working with the pioneers who shaped her artistry. Mariah Carey\u2019s \u201cHero\u201d was the first song she ever learned to sing, so when an invite came from the Songbird Supreme herself to feature on \u201cSugar Sweet\u201d \u2013 alongside dancehall star Shenseea \u2013 for Carey\u2019s sixteenth studio album Here For It All, Kehlani was understandably shook.<\/p>\n

Kehlani\u2019s eyes twinkle when asked about Mariah. \u201cMy queen,\u201d she exclaims sweetly. \u201cI think the main thing I learned from her is how much care she still puts into everything. Down to the colours matching a certain way, to how the fan had to hit the hair just right \u2013 everything was so on point. [Watching her film content] reminded me that she\u2019s such a seasoned, thorough professional. She\u2019s been doing this for ages, and that\u2019s the standard I hold myself to. Seeing that in real life was an honour. I really had to gush and tell her she\u2019s my favourite.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is something magnetic about \u201cFolded\u201d and the way it brings people in. The song opened a portal for some of Kehlani\u2019s GOATs to return the love on the \u201cFolded Homage Package\u201d<\/a> EP, released last October, featuring remixes from R&B titans Toni Braxton, Brandy, JoJo, Mario, Ne-Yo, and Tank.<\/p>\n

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\"Kehlani
Dress PATBO; earrings CARTIER; ring ZIMMERMAN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIt was really natural,\u201d Kehlani tells me of the EP\u2019s inception. \u201cI woke up one day and Mario was like, \u2018I love this song, and I\u2019m gonna drop a remix.\u2019 I was like, what?! When I think of my age group\u2019s R&B world, we didn\u2019t just have the grace of the \u201890s \u2013 we also had that teen, young-adult R&B era. We had Mario, Omarion, and JoJo. These were our teen Avengers. That generation showed me I could do it young.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Mario came a call from Brandy\u2019s team. She wanted not only to remix the song, but to perform it on tour. A pinch-me moment for Kehlani. From there, everything began to fall into place. \u201cI\u2019d just done some sessions with Ne-Yo, and it was really important for me to include him,\u201d she shares. \u201cHe\u2019s such a key player in R&B history, both as an artist and a writer. JoJo, of course \u2013 that\u2019s my dawg. She showed me that there are new generations coming. It was the first time I felt truly embraced by people I look up to, so that was really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which brings us to Kehlani\u2019s upcoming era. If her 2024 album Crash<\/em> tapped into a \u2018What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas\u2019 spirit \u2013 sparing no limits in genre exploration \u2013 then this new project is the classic R&B record that\u2019s long lived within her.<\/p>\n

For the full interview, pre-order Wonderland\u2019s Spring 26 Issue now.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Photography<\/strong> by Sophia Wilson
Styling<\/strong> by Michy Foster
Words<\/strong> by Trey.
Hair<\/strong> by Tai Simon
Make-up<\/strong> by Troye Antonio
Nails<\/strong> by Johana Castillo at Opus Beauty
Producer<\/strong> Krystal Collier
Lighting Tech<\/strong> Zach Arquilevich
Fashion Assistant<\/strong> Diana Valdavinos
Videography<\/strong> by Robert Marrero
Videography Assistant<\/strong> Cole Magrini<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t16 February 2026\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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Magazine<\/a><\/div>\n
Music<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tLed By No One\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wonderland KEHLANI IS OUT OF BOUNDS R&B force Kehlani has always spoken from the heart. After 15 years of hustle and now a two-time Grammy winner, she\u2019s done justifying herself in public. Her new album speaks for itself. So stop asking questions and listen \u2013 she\u2019s about to have you \u201cFolded\u201d. \u00a0Top & trousers ETRO; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,257],"class_list":["post-1774264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-wonderlandmagazine-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1774264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1774264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1774264\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1774264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1774264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1774264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}