Kenia Os could be very a lot a pop star of the instances. Previously few years, the previous influencer parlayed her huge social media following right into a music profession and a Latin Grammy nomination. Like a real pop princess, Os has additionally undergone a number of evolutions in each picture and sound with every new album. Now, the Mexican famous person is ushering in her edgiest period but together with her new single “Belladona.”
“I really feel like a totally totally different Kenia,” Os says. “That is the period that I’ve most preferred of my complete profession. I’ve had probably the most enjoyable engaged on the music movies and outfits that you just’ll see quickly. All through the years, I’ve been creating this persona that displays who I’m as a girl at present.”
Os was born Kenia Guadalupe Flores Osuna in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. Over a decade in the past, she first began to amass a following from posting vlogs on YouTube. Along with her social media savvy, Os then grew her on-line presence by means of platforms like Instagram and TikTok. On the similar time, she was cultivating a music profession that took off with 2022’s Cambios De Luna. A yr later, Os scored her first international smash with the flirty “Malas Decisiones.” Since her breakout, she has toured throughout Mexico and the US. This previous yr, Os additionally discovered love together with her boyfriend, fellow Mexican singer Peso Pluma.
Os is now pushing Latin pop into the longer term with the defiant “Belladona.” Following the colourful 2024 album Pink Aura, she is now embracing a darker and extra fierce aesthetic for her upcoming LP Ok De Karma. Os can be plotting a brand new tour for the album, which will probably be launched on March 19. Over Zoom, she caught up with Uproxx about her creative progress, what to anticipate from her “Belladona” period, and if there’s an opportunity for one more duet with Peso Pluma.
How would you describe the method of constructing the leap from influencer to pop star?
It’s been a really pure development. Regardless that I’ve put plenty of work into this, every little thing in my profession has occurred very naturally. I began out enjoying round and recording songs throughout the pandemic with my group. We had plenty of enjoyable, and immediately, creating content material, recording music, making music movies, and all of that grew to become my profession. I’ve been very glad concerning the progress I’ve gone by means of these previous few years. I’m nonetheless a content material creator as a result of I like to document TikTok movies and my GRWM (Get Prepared With Me) movies. It’s been an attractive course of the place I’m now connecting with my followers in so some ways.
That’s cool to see you persevering with to bridge these worlds of music and content material creation.
That’s what makes what I’m doing totally different from different artists. I imagine it’s due to that cause that I’ve a really giant fandom. They join with my music as a result of they obtained to know me on a private stage. My followers know my day-to-day routine, who I’m, what I like, and the best way I’m.
Now that you just’ve been recording music for over seven years, what have you ever discovered about your self throughout that point?
I’ve discovered rather a lot. I’ve discovered that I’ve many expertise. Some expertise I’ve are higher than different ones [laughs]. I’ve discovered that if I can develop my expertise and work on them, I can rework myself and evolve. It seems like being on a curler coaster that by no means ends.
The place does the inspiration on your new single “Belladona” come from?
From the primary day that I proposed this new album, I needed to embrace a femme fatale aura. It’s that sort of vitality of an empowered lady who attire in pink latex with pink lipstick and smoky eyes. At first, I didn’t know the best way to musically develop that idea. I needed to take heed to songs that gave that inspiration. After I listened to these songs, I felt like that lady. All of a sudden, I began to work on that with my producers, and I created a moodboard. That’s what impressed me to really feel like a femme fatale, and from there, I began to create this story.
What does being a “Belladona” imply to you?
Regardless that I really feel very related to her, I might describe her as an alter ego. We have now rather a lot in widespread. On this upcoming album, “Belladona” is a girl who could be very stunning and loves rather a lot, however on the similar time, for those who harm her, she could be deadly. All through this album, I’m going to speak about plenty of the issues that she goes by means of. You’ll hear about when she’s hurting, when she’s crying, and when she’s being spiteful and having enjoyable to the max.
Why did you resolve to call your new album Ok De Karma?
For me, Ok De Karma is that lady that I’ve informed you about. She’s candy, stunning, and extra, however for those who cross her, she could be deadly. With karma, she’s not on the lookout for revenge or something like that. I see karma extra as a means of her getting her justice. The Ok additionally stands for Kenia. That is who I’ve grow to be now, and nobody can take that away from me.
On the finish of the “Belladona” music video, is {that a} preview of the following single?
Precisely! There’s a touch of what’s to come back. I imagine my followers are going to like it as a result of they’ve been asking me for extra poignant lyrics. The subsequent single is coming quickly. Will probably be like a sort of efficiency video. It’s easier than “Belladona,” however on the similar time, will probably be extra concerning the lyrics that make the music so particular.
What are you able to inform us about your upcoming tour?
I’m just a few weeks away from making ready for the tour. We’re getting nearer to saying the dates and the locations that I’m performing in. What we’re going to announce would be the first chapter of the tour. It makes me so glad as a result of I’ve been lacking doing reveals and being with my followers. For me, the countdown has begun.
How would you describe your relationship with Peso Pluma?
It’s very cool as a result of I really feel like we expertise these songs and album releases on the similar time. He simply put out a brand new album, and I used to be simply as nervous as he was. We assist one another. We’re very glad. Yesterday, he was telling me, “Right this moment ‘Belladona’ comes out! How are folks reacting to it?” We perceive one another very effectively. Above all, we encourage one another a lot. We’re additionally making an attempt to arrange ourselves for the way loopy our lives are going to be this yr.
After beforehand collaborating on “Tommy & Pamela,” is there an opportunity that you just two can work on one other music collectively?
It’s one thing that we’ve talked about. Clearly, we’d like to do one other music collectively, however I’ve informed him, “How are we going to outdo ‘Tommy & Pamela’?” That was an enormous music. He’s been recording plenty of songs and there are lots of of them the place we’ve mentioned, “Might this music be higher if we document it collectively?” There are occasions once we get excited and say, “We might sound so good on this one collectively!” However for now, we haven’t discovered the precise music.
As a longtime ally of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, what does the connection that you’ve together with your queer followers imply to you?
I imagine my followers who belong to the LGBTQ+ neighborhood are my most loyal followers. They’re all the time there for me. I additionally imagine that with out these followers, the pop facet of my venture wouldn’t exist. I’m very glad, grateful, and blessed to have this very huge neighborhood that has adopted my profession and helps me. Typically they’re those who scold me probably the most, however I take that as a technique to study from my errors and develop.
What’s the standing of your extremely anticipated collaboration with Belinda and Danna?
I imagine the final time we have been within the studio collectively, we made an attractive and divine music. I like it! I’ve all the time informed them, “It is a hit!” All of a sudden, our agendas grew to become very loopy, and we couldn’t meet up. Beli is in Spain, and I want her one of the best of luck. I do know that she’s filming a sequence. I additionally know that Danna could be very centered on her new album. Proper now, it’s a venture that now we have placed on pause. We’ve mentioned that that is one thing that’s very huge, and we have to discover the time to be absolutely dedicated to it. I’ve plenty of religion that if every little thing goes effectively this yr, we’ll get again to it and put out this collaboration that everybody is ready for. We’re so excited for it.
What do you wish to hope to perform subsequent?
I might like to sing in locations I’ve by no means carried out earlier than. I might like to develop my profession in different nations whereas staying related to Mexico. I do know there are extra locations to journey to within the US, Europe, Central America, and South America. There are lots of locations the place folks aren’t conversant in Kenia Os. I might love to achieve these locations and continue to grow as an artist.
Ok De Karma is out 3/19 through Sony Music Leisure México. Discover extra data right here.
