kwn, born Khyra Leah Wilson, is a British singer, songwriter and producer from Walthamstow, East London, known for blending alternative R&B, soul and electronic influences into her music. Born on April 5, 2000, she was raised in a multicultural household that played a huge role in shaping her identity and sound. She is of Nigerian and Irish heritage, with a Nigerian father who worked as a DJ and an Irish mother, while growing up alongside two older sisters who introduced her to classic R&B, soul and jazz. Music surrounded her from an early age, and by the time she was 11 years old, she already knew she wanted to become an artist. She taught herself to play instruments including the piano and drums, uploaded songs to SoundCloud as a teenager, and later attended the East London Arts & Music College, where she refined her songwriting and performance skills. Before music became her full-time career, kwn had dreams of becoming a professional footballer and also worked jobs as a chef alongside her father and later as a delivery driver after experiencing setbacks in the music industry. Away from the spotlight, kwn describes herself as naturally introverted and prefers to let her music tell her story. She has been open about her sexuality, saying she has always known she liked women but doesn’t feel the need to label herself beyond simply being “a girl who likes girls.” Her songs often draw directly from her personal experiences with love, heartbreak, healing and self-discovery, making her music feel deeply authentic. One of her most meaningful tattoos reads “Lord I’ve Tried” in Spanish, inspired by one of her own songs, symbolizing perseverance through difficult times.
Four: Wn Way or Another
“Wn Way or Another” is the debut single by British singer, songwriter, rapper and producer kwn, released in 2022 as the lead single from her debut EP, Episode Wn. The track marked her first official commercial release and introduced listeners to the moody alternative R&B sound that would later become her signature. Since its release, ‘Wn Way or Another’ has garnered over 1.5 million streams on Spotify and over 142K views on its official music video on YouTube, an impressive achievement for kwn’s debut single and an early indication of the growing audience that would later propel her to mainstream success. Although the song did not chart internationally, it received positive attention from music critics and R&B listeners for its atmospheric production, honest lyricism and mature vocal delivery, establishing kwn as one of the UK’s most promising emerging artists. The release also helped her secure early industry recognition and laid the foundation for the success she would later achieve with songs like “Worst Behaviour,” making “Wn Way or Another” an important milestone in her career.
FYI
- Since 2025, she has also publicly confirmed her relationship with fellow R&B star Kehlani, although she generally keeps her private life away from the public eye.
Three: Do What I Say
“Do What I Say” is a single by British singer, songwriter and producer kwn, released on April 11, 2025, as the second single from her EP With All Due Respect. Written and self-produced by kwn, the song showcases her signature blend of alternative R&B and trap soul, with playful, confident lyrics and a minimalist, bass-heavy production. According to the singer, the track was created in her bedroom during a period of creative uncertainty before she sped up the tempo and transformed it into the final version, describing it as a fun exercise in seeing ‘how cheeky’ she could be with her songwriting. Commercially, “Do What I Say” has become one of the biggest songs of kwn’s career, garnering over 39M streams on Spotify and over 14M views on its official music video on YouTube, making it one of her three most-streamed solo tracks on the platforms and further cementing her status as one of the UK’s most exciting new voices in contemporary R&B. Upon release, the song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its sultry atmosphere, bold lyricism and kwn’s confident vocal delivery, with many describing it as another step forward following the success of “Worst Behaviour.”
Two: Touch Myself
Serving as kwn’s most recent single release, “Touch Myself” was released on May 22, 2026, alongside its companion track, “Idea of Love,” as a double single ahead of her sophomore EP, And All Pride Aside. Produced by FAXONLY and ZEEK, the song finds kwn embracing her sensual side, lyrically exploring intense physical attraction, longing and the desire for intimacy with someone she deeply craves. Released through RCA Records and WNWAY Limited, “Touch Myself” has generated strong attention across streaming platforms and social media, garnering over 6.8M streams on Spotify and over 1.9M views on its official music video on YouTube within weeks of release, helping introduce fans to the bold, intimate direction of her new musical era. The track balances seductive lyricism with emotional honesty, highlighting kwn’s ability to write openly about queer love while maintaining the vulnerability that has become a hallmark of her music. Music critics praised the song for its polished production, confident vocal performance and emotionally charged storytelling, describing it as another sign of her artistic growth and maturity. The single also serves as a preview of And All Pride Aside, signalling a more fearless and emotionally transparent chapter in kwn’s career.
Awards/Nominations
- Despite being a relatively new artist, kwn has already earned significant industry recognition.
- In 2025, she received her first major award nomination at the BET Awards for Best New International Act, following the breakout success of “Worst Behaviour.” She was also named Billboard’s R&B Rookie of the Month and featured on NME’s NME 100 list of essential emerging artists.
- In 2026, she expanded her awards recognition with multiple MOBO Awards nominations, including Best Newcomer, Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul Act, and Song of the Year for “Do What I Say,” further cementing her status as one of the UK’s most promising rising R&B stars.
Discography
As of 2026, kwn has not released a full-length studio album yet. Her discography currently consists of extended plays (EPs) rather than studio albums.
* Episode Wn (2022)
* Echoes… (2024)
* With All Due Respect (2025)
* And All Pride Aside (2026)
One: Worst Behaviour Ft. Kehlani
Cementing its place as kwn’s biggest hit and signature song to date, “Worst Behaviour” was released on October 30, 2024, as the lead single from her EP With All Due Respect. Lyrically, “Worst Behaviour” explores the thrill of desire, emotional intensity and embracing one’s authentic self without fear of judgment, themes that resonated strongly with listeners. The song quickly became a viral sensation across TikTok and other social media platforms, propelling kwn from an emerging artist to one of the UK’s most exciting new voices in contemporary R&B. Commercially, “Worst Behaviour” has become the most successful song of her career, successfully garnering over 72M streams on Spotify and over 33M views on its official music video on YouTube, while its official remix featuring Grammy-nominated R&B star Kehlani introduced the song to an even wider global audience. Music critics praised the track for its infectious production, memorable hook and kwn’s effortless vocal performance, with many hailing it as her breakthrough record. The success of “Worst Behaviour” earned kwn her first major industry recognition, including a BET Award nomination for Best New International Act, helped secure her recording deal with RCA Records, and firmly established her as one of the brightest rising stars in modern R&B.
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