Oakland native Kehlani, a genre-defying R&B artist known for their soulful vulnerability and boundary-pushing visuals, has entered a fresh chapter in their career with the release of “Folded,” their first solo single of the year. The track is a moody, introspective exploration of emotional indecision, caught between letting go of a past love and holding on to its lingering warmth.
The accompanying music video, released June 26, brings that emotional tension to life in striking fashion. Directed by City James, the visual unfolds inside a dry cleaner shop playfully named “Nini’s Fluff ‘n’ Fold,” where Kehlani greets a line of women dropping off laundry. But behind the scenes, the ordinary setting transforms into a dreamlike world. As Kehlani glides barefoot through puddles and delivers sensual choreography with baskets of clothes, the video captures themes of emotional labor, cleansing, and transformation.
This new release follows Kehlani’s recent wave of momentum. Earlier this year, they dropped Crash, a project that earned them critical praise and a GRAMMY® nomination for the standout single “After Hours.” Not long after, they surprised fans with While We Wait 2, a 14-track offering that served as both a callback to their earlier work and a bridge to what’s next.
“Folded,” produced by Khris Riddick-Tynes, Andre Harris, Donovan Knight, and Don Mills, adds another layer to that journey—one that showcases Kehlani’s ability to reinvent themselves while staying true to their emotional core. Recently, Kehlani also wowed audiences at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas with a stunning performance and earned two nominations at the BET Awards: “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist” and “Video of the Year” for “After Hours.”
With “Folded,” Kehlani isn’t just airing out old feelings—they’re setting the stage for what promises to be a transformative new phase in their artistry. And while no official album announcement has been made yet, the message is clear: something meaningful is on the horizon.
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