For Njerae, growth has never meant standing still. Since the release of her debut album “Unintentional” and the breakout success of “Aki Sioni,” the Kenyan singer, songwriter, and producer has continued to push beyond the Afro-Indie sound that first introduced her. She is moving deeper into contemporary R&B and Afropop while maintaining the emotional honesty at the center of her music.
Now, as she releases “On My Own” featuring KayCyy and “Let Them Know” on August 21, Njerae is embracing two different sides of the same emotional journey. “On My Own” finds her choosing self-worth, privacy, and independence, while “Let Them Know” explores the vulnerability of allowing herself to fall for someone.
The releases arrive at a significant point in her career. After becoming one of Kenya’s most-streamed female artists, earning international recognition through Apple Music’s Africa Rising, Spotify’s EQUAL, and YouTube’s Foundry programs, and receiving a 2026 AFRIMMA nomination, Njerae is looking beyond the milestones toward what comes next.
In this conversation with Rolling Stone Africa, Njerae discusses the emotional contrast between her new singles, reuniting with KayCyy after “Far Away,” the impact of “Aki Sioni,” the growing global attention on Kenyan music, and why her next chapter is about expansion without losing the identity that brought her here.
“On My Own” and “Let Them Know” explore two very different emotional positions. Why was it important for you to release these two songs together, and what do they reveal about where you are emotionally and creatively right now?
I think it was important to release them together because they capture two sides of the same emotional journey. Putting them together felt honest because I don’t think emotions exist in isolation. Creatively, I’m at a point where I’m embracing that complexity more. I’m not trying to fit myself into one emotional box or one sound. These songs reflect me giving myself permission to explore different sides of who I am and letting the music be as honest and layered as I feel right now.
“On My Own” reunites you with KayCyy after “Far Away.” What changed between the two collaborations, and how has your creative relationship with him evolved as both of you have grown as artists?
“Far Away” was our introduction to working together, so there was a lot of discovery in that collaboration. With “On My Own,” there was a deeper understanding of each other creatively. I think the biggest change is that we’ve both grown into our own artists. There’s more confidence in what we bring to a record, and that makes the collaboration feel less like trying to find common ground and more like meeting in the middle with two fully formed perspectives.
“On My Own” is about self-worth, privacy and recognising when someone’s actions no longer align with their words. Was there something specific you wanted listeners to take away from that story?
I wanted it to feel empowering rather than bitter. There’s strength in choosing yourself, keeping certain parts of your life private, and understanding that not every situation needs closure from another person. Sometimes the closure is simply knowing what you deserve and walking away.
On “Let Them Know,” you explore the less guarded side of yourself. Do you find vulnerability easier to express through music than in your personal life?
A hundred percent. I think music gives me a little more freedom to be vulnerable because I can process things through a character, a melody or a story before I have to confront them directly. I think vulnerability is something I’m still learning to embrace not just as an artist, but as a person. Music gives me the space to sit with those feelings and understand them.
You are a singer, songwriter and producer, and your music has evolved from the Afro-Indie sound of Unintentional into contemporary R&B and Afro-pop territory. How would you describe the evolution of the Njerae sound, and what are you discovering about yourself as a producer along the way?
As a producer, I’m also learning to trust my instincts more. I’m becoming more intentional. I’ve realised that production isn’t just about making something sound good; it’s about creating an environment where the emotion of the song can live.
“Aki Sioni” became the most-streamed song in Kenya in 2025 and turned into something much bigger than a breakout record. How did experiencing that level of recognition change your understanding of your audience and did it change the way you approached the music that came after it?
”Aki Sioni” was definitely a moment that made me realise just how deeply music can travel and connect with people. I don’t think it made me want to chase a formula, though. If anything, it gave me more confidence to trust my instincts. The biggest lesson was that authenticity can resonate on a much bigger scale than you sometimes imagine.
You’ve spoken about creating music that feels emotionally honest. As your audience grows, how do you balance staying true to your own experiences with the expectations that come with becoming one of Kenya’s most recognised young artists?
Being recognised as one of Kenya’s young artists is something I’m incredibly grateful for, but I also see it as a responsibility to keep evolving. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that I can’t create from a place of trying to meet everyone’s expectations. The more my audience grows, the more important it becomes for me to stay connected to why I started making music in the first place.
You’ve become part of a wider conversation around Kenyan and East African music reaching international audiences. What do you think makes Kenyan music distinctive globally, and what do you want listeners outside East Africa to understand about the scene you come from?
I think there’s a softness and honesty in a lot of the new Kenyan music that deserves to be heard globally. I want people to discover the scene beyond the stereotypes and realise that Kenya isn’t just a place where music is being consumed. we’re creating sounds, stories and identities that can stand confidently on a global stage. For listeners outside East Africa, I’d love them to understand that Kenyan music is not one sound. There’s so much depth and diversity within the scene.
You were named in Apple Music’s Africa Rising Class, became Spotify Africa’s Global EQUAL Ambassador, and were selected for YouTube’s Foundry programme before receiving your 2026 AFRIMMA nomination. At this stage of your career, what does international recognition mean to you, and what still feels unfinished?
International recognition feels like both an honour and a reminder of how much further there is to go. Being included in spaces like Apple Music’s Africa Rising Class, Spotify’s EQUAL programme and YouTube’s Foundry has shown me that the music I’m making from Kenya can travel and resonate beyond where it started. The AFRIMMA nomination feels especially meaningful because it’s a recognition from within the wider African music community. But I don’t see these moments as the destination. If anything, they make me more ambitious. What still feels unfinished is reaching more people, collaborating across borders, performing in places I’ve never been and continuing to grow without losing the identity that brought me here.
Looking beyond “On My Own” and “Let Them Know,” what does this next chapter of Njerae look like? Are there new sounds, collaborations or creative directions you’re exploring that might surprise people who think they already know your music?
I think this next chapter is about expansion. I’m really excited about collaborations. I want to work with artists and producers from different parts of Africa and beyond and see what happens when different musical worlds meet.
Listen to Njerae’s “On My Own” and “Let Them Know” HERE
