Kah-Lo is a Nigeria-born, London-based artist and songwriter whose distinctive vocal style first caught global attention through her collaborations with Riton on tracks like Rinse & Repeat, Fake ID, and Ginger.
Since then, she’s continued to build her own path across pop, house, and electronic music, releasing her debut EP The Arrival and her 2023 album Pain/Pleasure, and collaborating widely across the UK, US, and beyond.
Her new single Somersaults continues that progression, opening up a new direction in her sound. With disco-leaning production, an elastic bassline, and lyrics that open up about giving too much of yourself, the track captures both the directness and emotional clarity that run through her work.
What’s the story behind ‘Somersaults’?
I gave a lot of myself to a couple of relationships and got little in return. I essentially found myself ‘bending over backwards’ and overextending myself to remain in the relationship when the other person wouldn’t even inconvenience themselves in any capacity – so I wrote a song about it.
Your visuals and style are integral to how people experience your music. From a creative perspective, how do you think artists can use fashion and visual identity to build a stronger artistic brand?
I’m very into visual identity, especially hair theory, as a tool to build an artistic brand. I think everything about an artist should reflect the era they’re in. New era? New hair. I don’t make the rules.
What’s one mistake you see new artists make when trying to “break through” that you’d advise them to avoid?
I think anticipating ‘no’s before they happen and not collaborating. Fear of failure doesn’t really ever go away, so I’d advise against succumbing to it in the early stages. Also, collaborating can be a really strong tool to win over newer audiences.
What’s your best networking tip for artists trying to make authentic connections in the industry today?
Go to the party and have fun. People are more likely to remember the person they had a fun time with than the person that was trying to shove an idea down the entire night.
How do you stay inspired and avoid creative burnout when music becomes your full-time job?
Going to parties and having fun lol. I also recently started doing digital detoxes for about 2 weeks a year where I lock my smartphone away and just immerse myself in reality. Experiences feel heightened and I’m more in tune with myself and what’s actually going on within and around me.
Tips for finding your creativity on a tough day?
Stepping away from the computer or talking to people.
What’s your favourite thing about making music?
My favourite thing is getting to create something out of nothing and have it do things beyond my imagination