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SHARES NEW SINGLE “LESS THAN”
Today, D.C. alt-pop provocateur Kanii is back to announce his forthcoming EP #BLUE due July 18th via Warner Records. The announcement comes alongside a new single “less than,” which opens with a distorted robotic vocal allowing Kanii’s encapsulating silky vocals to cut into the beat, morphing into a house-inspired pop anthem.
The forthcoming EP carves out new sonic territory for Kanii, but whether is exploring R&B, house-infused pop, club beats, or something closer to pop punk – the songs are urgent, restless, and undeniably catchy. Atop driving percussion and vibrant chords, he unleashes the emotional poetry that’s become his trademark. “I want that versatility,” he says. “I want to be able to make pop songs, rap songs, rock songs, and have them all be hits.”
“less than” follows previous single “skin,” which came alongside an immersive music video introducing the world of #BLUE. The video opens on Kanii dozing on the floor of a cozy room, flashing back to the night before. In the same space, we see teens jumping on furniture, shooting silly string and bubble guns, and dancing with abandon. Other moments are more hallucinatory, with the kids faded or fading in a parked car while he sings, or Kanii and a friendly dalmatian exploring a field full of flowers. It all feels like a fever dream.
Much of #BLUE serves up a complicated look at the things we do to protect ourselves, as well as those who get hurt along the way. “I’ve been around substance abuse,” says Kanii, “but I see both sides, and also notice the actions people take to get rid of pain.”
Kanii kicked off 2024 with “hate me” featuring wolfacejoeyy and The Heart Racers EP, a joint project with Riovaz and Nimstarr, that includes the retro-leaning singles “tell me” and “lost without you.” His swelling discography also boasts streaming hits like “nightcrawler,” “it was nice knowing u,” and “pretty photos.” His ascent first began in 2023 with the RIAA Gold-certified earworm “I Know,” which cracked the Billboard Hot 100.
The result of his sonic explorations is a global streaming tally that amasses nearly one billion streams. Now, with the forthcoming EP #BLUE the stage is set for an ambitious new phase that demonstrates the full scope of Kanii’s ever-evolving artistry.
About Kanii
No one makes heartbreak sound as sweet as Kanii. The 19-year-old from D.C. has earned around 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone by turning his romantic ups and downs into uniquely catchy songs — a mix of shadowy R&B and electronic beats that invites us to dance away the pain. His writing’s always been personal, but its relatability lies in his sticky melodies and ability to craft hooks for both the stadium and the drive home. In 2025, Kanii is parlaying that gift into new music that moves from his signature sound into electro-infused pop, darkwave dreamscapes, and something closer to punk.
The change might be momentarily jarring for fans who got hooked on 2023’s Gold-certified, jersey club-inflected “I Know”; beloved past projects like exiit and it was nice knowing you; or his collabs with the likes of Trippie Redd, wolfacejoeyy, Riovaz, and Nimstarr. But for Kanii — who aims to be as boundless as the icons he grew up admiring — it’s the next step toward his definition of success. The palette may have shifted but the strokes are familiar: bittersweet longing, a need to move, undeniable catchiness. His latest songs also illustrate how much Kanii’s grown. As he works through powerful themes — love, loss, things we do to protect ourselves, those who get hurt along the way — he’s more sure of what he wants to say and the best way to say it. “I’m there with my fans,” he says. “I’m helping them fight their battles by letting them know I’ve been there, too.”
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