Kenya Grace

Kenya Grace Johnson, better known online as Kenya Grace is a South African-born British singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is best known for her 2023 single "Strangers", which reached number-one in the UK Singles Chart. She is signed with Warner Records.
==History==
===Early life===
Kenya Grace Johnson was born in South Africa and grew up in Southampton. She used to play hockey for Hampshire. She started writing when she was 10 years old, and started singing in primary school after being gifted a second-hand Yamaha keyboard. https://www.projextliquid.co.uk/kenya-grace She first developed an interest in musical theatre, before growing up and developing an interest in dance music, dubstep first. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001qckw She attended Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, first reading history and English literature, but switching to music after deciding to become a musician, and graduated in September 2019 with a degree in songwriting and creative artistry. https://www.acm.ac.uk/acm-students-reach-final-of-nationwide-music-competition-hosted-by-top-fashion-brand/ She has credited the university with curing her stage fright. https://www.wordplaymagazine.com/blog-1/introducing-kenya-grace
===2023-present===
In late July 2023, she started to promote "Strangers", a drum and bass song she had written and produced in her bedroom, https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/kenya-grace-strangers/ with the intention of making a euphoric track, on her TikTok account. https://vulkanmagazine.com/kenya-grace-no-longer-a-stranger/ This clip was viewed over 11,000,000 times, with a subsequent video being viewed over 38,000,000 times; https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kenya-grace-strangers-no-1-kate-bush-b2429823.html when released on 1 September 2023 on FFRR Records, https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/who-is-kenya-grace-the-dance-artist-who-debuted-top-20-with-strangers/ the song saw further success on the platform, and by 26 September 2023 had seen use in over 570,000 videos. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kenya-grace-hot-100-debut-strangers-1235425948/ On 15 September 2023, she released a "slower and sadder" remix of the song, https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kenya-grace-hot-100-debut-strangers-1235425948/ and three weeks after that, she released a further single, "Only in My Mind", having teased the track on social media. https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/new-releases-kenya-grace-joel-corry-roger-waters-and-more/ On 13 October, the song peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, making her the second British female artist to reach No. 1 with a track performed, written and produced entirely solo after KateBushMusic's "Running Up That Hill". https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kenya-grace-strangers-no-1-kate-bush-b2429823.html
==Personal life==
She has stated that her biggest inspiration is Banks; she also takes inspiration from Flume and Neo https://leafrinique.co.za/lachats-with-vans-musicians-wanted-finalist-kenya-grace/ She first writes her tracks instrumental first. Upon entrance of the UK Singles Chart, the Official Charts Company described her voice as a combination of Pinkpantheress, Charli XCX, and Piri & tommy. https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/who-is-kenya-grace-the-dance-artist-who-debuted-top-20-with-strangers/ 
==Discography==
===Singles===
*Obsessed (2019)
*Tell Me Why (2019)
*Talk (2020)
*Venus (with Homebodi) (2022)
*Someone Else (with 3Strange) (2022)
*Oranges (2022)
*Afterparty Lover (2023)
*Meteor (with Solomon) (2023)
*Strangers (2023)
*Only in My Mind (2023)
*Paris (2023)
==References==
Category:Music YouTubers
Category:South African YouTubers
Category:Users who joined in 2020