After a big year with her breakthrough hit “Folded,” Kehlani is gearing up to release her next album. And this time, she’s making sure it’s her biggest project yet.
On Tuesday, December 30, the Grammy nominee took to Instagram to share some photos from the studio. By her side was none other than prolific producer and songwriter, Pharrell Williams. The post was deleted shortly after, but not before fans screengrabbed the images and shared them across social media.
Though Kehlani and Williams have never officially released a collaboration before, Williams has songwriting credit on Kehlani’s single “Everybody Business” from her 2020 album It Was Good Until it Wasn’t, as she interpolates Williams and Chad Hugo’s 2003 hit, “Frontin’.”
On top of a robust catalog of his own, Williams has quite a coveted list of production credits with artists like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake.
Kehlani first began releasing music in 2014 with her debut mixtape Cloud 19. The follow-up, 2015’s You Should Be Here, received a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. Though Kehlani has been consistent in her musical output over the course of 10 years, “Folded” — which dropped this past June — proved to be her biggest hit, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In the months since “Folded’s” release, Kehlani has given back to single mothers by offering free laundry services to single mothers. Several other artists — including Tank, JoJo, and Brandy — have also dropped remixes to “Folded,” prompting Kehlani to compile them and officially release a remix EP.
Kehlani released the follow-up single, “Out the Window,” back in November. Like “Folded,” “Out the Window” features Kehlani emphasizing vocals, utilizing methods like layering, channeling her inspirations like Brandy and Aaliyah. If these two songs, plus her link-up with Williams, are any indication, Kehlani’s next album may comprise a traditional R&B sound, and an homage to R&B icons past and present.
Needless to say, fans are waiting with bated breath.