03 Dec 2025
do what i say
kwn
WE SAY
Today's Ones To Watch 2025 is rising R&B star kwn (pronounced kay-one). It’s been a phenomenal year for the east London artist, who has transitioned from underground favourite to breakout star. After releasing her self-produced single 'worst behaviour' last year, she reignited it in March with a steamy remix and video featuring Kehlani, recorded just after supporting her on the European leg of the Crash World Tour. The clip went viral, propelling kwn onto a bigger stage and earning her a debut UK Official Chart entry at no.75. In June, she followed with her acclaimed EP 'with all due respect', featuring the sultry standout 'do what i say', which secured her first Radio 1 playlist spot (C List) this week. Her rise has been matched by a wave of tastemaker recognition, including Billboard Rookie of the Month, BET Best New International Act nominee, Amazon Music UK Breakthrough Artist, Apple Music Up Next, BET Amplified Artist, and a cover feature in NME. She also impressed with her UK TV debut on Later… with Jools Holland, surprised fans with a Walthamstow pop-up, and wrapped a sold-out headline tour across the UK, Europe and the US, alongside standout moments at Wireless and a Spotify-curated San Francisco showcase spotlighting UK R&B. With over 206mn global streams, 75m YouTube views, 3.2m monthly Spotify listeners, and a place on Vevo’s 2026 DSCVR Artists to Watch and BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2026 longlist, kwn has made a serious impression in 2025, firmly establishing herself as one of the genre’s most exciting new voices. Her silky vocals, bold lyricism and sleek, American-tinged UK R&B underline a talent in full ascent. Expect her name to appear on many more lists — kwn is on a rapid rise to global stardom.
CONTACTS
Label: AWAL Recordings/RCA Records
Marketing: Janette Quaye, AWAL
National Radio: Joe Dodson & Ryan Brock, All Ears
Streaming: Sam Potts & Nnamdi Okafor, AWAL
Audience Development/Digital: Keziah Reed & Rebecca Barry, AWAL
Project Consultancy: Sukhraj Johal, Other Agency
Press: Morgan Davies, Wired PR
TV: Andrea Edmondson, Foske
Live: Craig D’Souza & Claire Macleod, WME
Management: Carlyn Calder, Ruby Ladlow & Dinero Powell, Vibeout
Photo Credit: Michelle Helena Janssen
RECORD ARCHIVE
Next up on our Ones to Watch is fast-rising American rock duo Girl Tones. Formed...
Burnout
Girl Tones
Next up on our Ones to Watch is fast-rising American rock duo Girl Tones. Formed by classically trained sisters Kenzie...
Starting this week's Ones To Watch 2026 is rising post-punk pop group My First Time....
Sippy Cup
My First Time
Starting this week's Ones To Watch 2026 is rising post-punk pop group My First Time. Since breaking through with last...
Our final Ones To Watch artist this week is Burnley-born non-binary musician, illustrator, and tattoo...
CHRONIC
Cody Frost
Our final Ones To Watch artist this week is Burnley-born non-binary musician, illustrator, and tattoo artist Cody Frost. Since their...
Next up on our Ones To Watch 2026 is rising dance-pop force Rose Gray. Born on...
I Don’t Speak French
Rose Gray
Next up on our Ones To Watch 2026 is rising dance-pop force Rose Gray. Born on New Year’s Eve and raised...
Continuing our Ones To Watch 2026 is fast-rising pop auteur Chloe Qisha. The Malaysian-born, UK-based artist has...
So Sad So Hot
Chloe Qisha
Continuing our Ones To Watch 2026 is fast-rising pop auteur Chloe Qisha. The Malaysian-born, UK-based artist has packed an extraordinary amount into...
Today's Ones To Watch is American singer-songwriter Matt Hansen. At just 25, the LA-based artist...
Don’t Look Back
Matt Hansen
Today's Ones To Watch is American singer-songwriter Matt Hansen. At just 25, the LA-based artist has quietly become one of...
Starting this week's Ones To Watch 2026 is the burgeoning self-taught alt-pop singer, songwriter, and...
MACHINE GHOST
Erin LeCount
Starting this week's Ones To Watch 2026 is the burgeoning self-taught alt-pop singer, songwriter, and producer Erin LeCount. She first...
Next up in our Ones To Watch 2026 spotlight is emerging pop force Alessi Rose,...
Get Around
Alessi Rose
Next up in our Ones To Watch 2026 spotlight is emerging pop force Alessi Rose, who has carved out one...
Kickstarting our Ones To Watch 2026 is rising British-Ghanaian soul star Nectar Woode. The 25-year-old...
Stick Fight
Nectar Woode
Kickstarting our Ones To Watch 2026 is rising British-Ghanaian soul star Nectar Woode. The 25-year-old Milton Keynes-raised, London-based artist has...
We were seriously impressed when this gorgeous, soulful alt-R&B cut dropped into our inbox last...
This Is Not Me
Malunga
We were seriously impressed when this gorgeous, soulful alt-R&B cut dropped into our inbox last month from east London’s Malunga....
South London’s Amity pushes his remarkable rise forward with 'To Make A Man', an anthemic,...
To Make a Man
Amity
South London’s Amity pushes his remarkable rise forward with 'To Make A Man', an anthemic, piano-led salvo against toxic masculinity...
Fresh from their instantly sold-out UK dates last month, rising girlband XO return with their...
Candy
XO
Fresh from their instantly sold-out UK dates last month, rising girlband XO return with their punchy debut EP 'Fashionably Late',...
With Christmas fast approaching and the sound of Mariah Carey et al already on the...
I Won’t Be Lonely (This Christmas)
Alexis Strum
With Christmas fast approaching and the sound of Mariah Carey et al already on the air, Alexis Strum steps up...
Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Quiet Man continues his impressive trajectory with 'Treading Water', a hauntingly introspective track...
Treading Water
Quiet Man
Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Quiet Man continues his impressive trajectory with 'Treading Water', a hauntingly introspective track that drifts between melancholy and...
North London sister duo Hot Stamp deliver their blistering new single 'Better Taste', the sharp...
Better Taste
Hot Stamp
North London sister duo Hot Stamp deliver their blistering new single 'Better Taste', the sharp and swaggering follow-up to debut...
Norwegian alt-pop auteur Iris Caltwait has completely captivated us with her new album 'Again, for...
Alchemy (Living Is Not For The Heart)
Iris Caltwait
Norwegian alt-pop auteur Iris Caltwait has completely captivated us with her new album 'Again, for the first time', released last...