Kehlani on the Creative Process Behind Folded and Her Self Titled Album

Kehlani has opened up about the deeply personal journey behind her self-titled album and the unexpected emotional resonance of her hit single “Folded,” revealing how periods of silence during intense touring cycles led to some of her most vulnerable and authentic songwriting to date.

The R&B artist, who received the Billboard Women in Music 2026 Impact Award, shared in a recent interview that much of her self-titled album was written in solitude during breaks between tour legs, often in her bedroom with her engineer, as she processed complex emotions she wasn’t ready to speak aloud.

“I was going through so much that I wasn’t speaking, and the only thing I was able to do was really write in my room,” Kehlani said, describing how external chaos contrasted with her internal stillness during those periods. “I was muted. I was going through so much that I wasn’t speaking, and the only thing I was able to do was really write in my room.”

These quiet, introspective sessions became the foundation for tracks that grappled with themes of betrayal, reconciliation, and self-reckoning. Kehlani explained that songs like “Folded” emerged from moments when she felt emotionally folded — not broken, but reshaped by experience — using the metaphor of laundry to reflect how she had been handled and how she chose to respond.

“‘Folded’ — so can you come pick up your clothes? I had them folded,” she said, referencing the song’s central lyric. “It’s not just about being taken back. It’s about asking: Did you see me? Did you respect me? Or did you just assume I’d stay?”

The artist noted that reactions to the song have varied widely, with some listeners interpreting it as a toxic narrative, others as a candid expression of desire, and many as a reflection on emotional resilience. “There are some people who are like, ‘I can’t wait for y’all to stop listening to this toxic song.’ And other people are like, ‘Oh, girl, it’s a sex song.’ And then there’s other songs that’s like, ‘OK, so they had you messed up and you’re just gonna take them back and you just folded the clothes like that?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, wow, let’s talk about it some more.’”

Kehlani revealed that the self-titled album almost didn’t happen in its current form. Initially, she had been working on a more alternative-leaning project during tour breaks, but after time spent in Hawaii with family and friends — surfing, reconnecting, and writing — she realized it wasn’t the right moment for that direction.

“I was like, ‘It is not time for this weird-ass album. Get your head in the game, girl. Like, it’s not time for this right now. You wanna go alternative so bad, and it’s just not that. I know what time it is.’”

That clarity led her to embrace the self-titled album as a necessary artistic statement — a “redemption tour” in sound, where she sought to see who had remained loyal through the chaos of fame, public scrutiny, and personal upheaval.

“I just came out of it and went on kind of this redemption tour of, like, ‘Let me see who really is still here with me through all the chaos.’ And I was like, ‘OK. All right, let’s do it.’”

Although she initially aimed to make a bold, expansive statement with the self-titled record — “I’ve gotta go big. I’ve gotta pull out all my stops” — Kehlani admitted that early versions didn’t fully feel like her. It was only after creating “Folded” that she felt the album began to align with her truth.

“I started making that album. That album was also not true to me at the time. I think it was a part of me, but I think I was shooting for it in this, like, ‘It’s my self-titled, I’ve gotta go big.’ Then we made ‘Folded.’”

The collaboration with producers and engineers during those isolated recording sessions allowed her to build a sonic landscape that matched the emotional weight of her lyrics — blending traditional R&B textures with minimalist, atmospheric beats that let her voice and vulnerability take center stage.

Kehlani also reflected on her career-long collaborations with artists like Ludacris, Lil Wayne, and Clipse, noting how those experiences shaped her understanding of artistry and longevity in the industry — though she emphasized that her most recent work stems from a place of internal clarity rather than external validation.

As she continues to promote her self-titled album, Kehlani remains focused on creating music that invites conversation — not just consumption — especially when it comes to songs that challenge listeners to sit with discomfort, ambiguity, and growth.

“Keep watching for more,” she said, signaling that her artistic evolution is far from complete.