Step Into #BLUE: Kanii’s Shape-Shifting Pop Odyssey Where Identity Is the Price of Admission
At just 19, the D.C. artist builds a cinematic new world with #BLUE—a moody, multimedia universe of fractured identity, fleeting connection, and quiet rebellion.
Photo by Jason Renaud
At just 19, Kanii is already reshaping the possibilities of pop music from the inside out. The Northeast D.C.-born artist moves fluidly between R&B, hyperpop, and alt-rap, building emotionally loaded songs that feel both deeply personal and eerily universal—like love letters transmitted through broken screens. His new EP, #BLUE, is more than a record; it’s a full-spectrum experience, complete with cryptic PSAs, collapsing identities, and a world sedated by a fictional “wellness program” that feels disturbingly close to real life. Inspired by early-2000s anti-drug ads, underground coming-of-age cinema, and the hollow highs of internet culture, #BLUE finds Kanii diving headfirst into the psychological toll of constant visibility and curated connection.
Check out his new single off #BLUE titled “Less Than” out today, an aching, magnetic follow-up to “Skin” that pushes Kanii into even bolder sonic territory.
To celebrate the release, I caught up with Kanii in Los Angeles, fresh out of a late-night studio session, to talk about building the #BLUE universe, detaching from clout culture, and the quiet rebellion of being fully yourself.
“ I saw a lot of people around me fall into this dependency, whether it was on substances or just the need to be cool and fit in with what’s popular. I wanted to make a project that shed light on that”
Justin Staple: Bring us into the brand new world of your new EP #BLUE. What does #BLUE mean to you?
Kanii: Honestly, I took a lot of inspiration from my experience coming out of high school and living on my own in New York—finding my friend group and just experiencing life. I saw a lot of people around me fall into this dependency, whether it was on substances or just the need to be cool and fit in with what’s popular. I wanted to make a project that shed light on that, but also allowed me to stand out within that scene. #BLUE is like a brainwashing program—it represents what people go through to chase clout and feel relevant.
JS: Clout can be a drug, very addicting.
Kanii: Exactly. Clout, love, sex, attention—all of it. People get addicted to that rush. And #BLUE symbolizes all of that combined.
JS: The visual elements to the project are amazing, the PSA’s and world-building. What were the inspirations behind those?
Kanii: I took inspiration from early 2000s PSAs. The visual eeriness of those ads stuck with me. I wanted to translate that into this world and tone. I remember watching those growing up and feeling both unsettled and intrigued. That duality—wanting to avoid that fate, but also being fascinated by it—was important to capture.
JS: A first single, “Skin”, really plays into that theme too. What is that song about?
Kanii: “Skin” is about understanding me as a person. You wouldn’t fully get me unless you were in my shoes—or in my skin. It’s symbolic. The only way to really know someone is to live in their experience. That goes for all of us. No one can fully understand someone else unless they're in their body, brain, and heart.
JS: How did you first get into music coming from the DMV?
Kanii: I was born and raised in northeast D.C. Growing up, there was always music around me—Motown, Beyoncé, The Temptations. My family wasn’t musical in the technical sense, but they always played music. I’ve loved Michael Jackson since I was like two years old. I’ve been dancing and singing since I could walk. MJ really pushed the boundaries of music, and that’s what I strive to do too.
JS: That totally comes through in the genre blending of your music. There are alt-rock experimental textures in almost every moment. Where does the inspiration for rock sounds come from?
Kanii: You know, I love Fleetwood Mac. And I’ve been listening to The Cure, and I recently did a deep dive into Nirvana. I’d always known their songs, but I wanted to understand how the minimal, unpolished writing still hits so hard. I’m studying that dynamic now.
JS: Let’s talk about your process. Did you have the #Blue concept before writing the songs?
Kanii: The stripped-down idea was always there—this commentary on how people chase attention and the adrenaline that comes with fame, love, or substances. But as I started recording, the visuals started to form. It all came together really beautifully, shaped by my experiences and conversations while making the music.
“ I feel like this is something I’m destined to do—like I’ve been called to put out the music I make, to help the people I can help.”
JS: Tell me about the new single that dropped today, “Less Than”.
Kanii: I worked on the song with Ali Payami, it’s one of my favorites. It’s about seeing someone who feels unattainable to you and yearning for that connection. The hook says, “I wish I could be with you tonight, I don’t want you less than mine.” It’s that feeling of wishing you could be with someone who feels out of reach.
Justin: How are fans reacting to the world of #BLUE so far?Kanii: It’s been beautiful. I’m finally showing my most authentic self musically, and it’s being received well by both longtime fans and new ones. That’s the best part—being seen and understood through this project.
Justin: Your visuals have really evolved too. Early on, people might not have even known what you looked like. Now it feels like you’re building this world deliberately.
Kanii: Yeah, back when “I Know” dropped, I was 16 or 17. I’ve grown so much since then—personally, stylistically, musically. This new aesthetic reflects that growth and new interests.
Justin: What’s it like being so young, making this kind of ambitious, conceptual music?
Kanii: I feel like this is something I’m destined to do—like I’ve been called to put out the music I make, to help the people I can help. I really feel like I’m the perfect person to do it, because this is all I care about. It’s all I think about. Even when I’m sleeping, it’s what I dream about. So it doesn’t really feel like work—it just feels like what I’m meant to be doing.
Justin: What’s the story behind the Dalmatian on the Skin artwork?
Kanii: Luna, the Dalmatian, really signifies a man’s best friend. It’s like—no matter how much the world is falling apart around you—you still have that one companion, that one presence that’s always there for you. Visually, the Dalmatian represents that. It’s another version of me, almost like a mirror in animal form. Even if everything’s crashing down, I can look at this being and find comfort. I can find peace.
Justin: Are you pulling from specific film or TV references when building out this visual world?
Kanii: Definitely. KIDS (1995) is a huge one—the rawness and honesty of it. Requiem for a Dream too. The psychological tension and emotion linger with you. And the UK show Skins inspired the “Skin” video. I actually wrote the song before I’d even watched the show, but after diving into it, the connection just clicked.
Justin: What happens when the EP drops? Tour? More visuals?
Kanii: I’m really focused on bringing the live element to life. I don’t want to just be known on the internet. If the world shut down tomorrow and phones didn’t work, I want people to still care about the music. Still play the CD. That’s why making live experiences real and tangible is so important to me.
Justin: How are you liking the L.A. scene?
Kanii: I love L.A. for working. New York is great for energy and going out. In L.A., things move a little slower—people mostly go out on weekends. In New York, you can find something happening any night. But no complaints. I appreciate both for what they bring.
Justin: Do you feel like there’s a movement coming out of the DMV right now?
Kanii: Absolutely. So many artists I grew up around are starting to shine—Jaey Chino, Blasian, Neopave, Xanman, Brent Faiyaz. These are culturally significant DMV artists, and now they’re getting recognized outside the area. That’s powerful to see.
Justin: Are there any dream collaborations for the future?
Kanii: PinkPantheress. We’ve talked, and it’s definitely in the works. She’s one of my favorites right now, and I think we could make something really special together.
Justin: What do you hope kids take away from #BLUE?
Kanii: I want it to be open to interpretation. I don’t want to dictate what people should think or feel. I know what I put into it, and I trust that anyone who really engages with the project will understand the message. It’s about the energy and the integrity.
Justin: Thank you so much. It's been a pleasure. You’re creating something really unique, and I can’t wait to write this up and share it with people.
Kanii: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Kanii’s new single off #BLUE titled “Less Than” is streaming everywhere now.