The Yonkers-born Jamaican-Bajan artist brings together dancehall, reggae, soca and hip-hop on an album she says reflects her independence, identity and evolution as a musician.
Kimio has released KHAMELEON, an album she hopes will establish her identity as an independent recording artist while bringing together the different musical influences that have shaped her life.
Released worldwide on Friday, 9 October, across major streaming platforms, the project marks a new stage in Kimio’s career. The Yonkers-born Jamaican-Bajan artist told RaptureStone that the album grew out of a decision to move beyond working behind the scenes and put her own music at the centre of her ambitions.
“I had spent enough time in the background and supporting everyone else, and it was time to step into my own spotlight,” Kimio told RaptureStone.
Work on KHAMELEON took shape over the past year, drawing on a collection of songs, personal experiences and ideas that Kimio wanted to bring together into a cohesive body of work. Rather than limiting herself to one genre, she uses the album to explore the connections between dancehall, reggae, soca and hip-hop.
The title reflects that approach. For Kimio, the chameleon represents the ability to adapt to different environments without losing a sense of identity.
“I’m Jamaican and Bajan, born and raised in Yonkers, moving between hip-hop, dancehall, reggae, and soca, juggling business, motherhood, and music,” she told RaptureStone. “The title KHAMELEON represents me owning every single side of my duality instead of letting anybody put me in a box.”
That combination of cultural and musical influences forms the foundation of the album. Kimio said the project evolved from a collection of individual recordings into a more unified musical statement, with attention given to the mixes, transitions and overall sound.
Its central themes are self-worth, resilience and independence. The songs explore different aspects of Kimio’s experiences, from acknowledging the community that shaped her to asserting her ambitions as an artist.
Among the tracks she highlighted in her interview with RaptureStone is “Yonkers”, which pays tribute to the New York community where she grew up, including Getty Square. “Code Inna Pocket” explores the fusion of soca and dancehall rhythms, while “Overdrive” marks her first official dancehall track. “Main Character”, meanwhile, serves as a declaration of where she intends to take her career next.
Each song, Kimio explained, captures a different aspect of her development as an artist.
She was closely involved in shaping the album’s direction, writing extensively across the project and leading much of the production process. No Folly Entertainment (@nofollyent) handled the final mastering.
An intimate listening party at Reggae Mountain Lounge in April 2025 offered an early opportunity to share the songs with an audience. Kimio told RaptureStone that seeing people respond to the music strengthened her belief in the project.
The process also required her to balance competing responsibilities. Alongside her music, Kimio was managing motherhood, daytime commitments and Road With Kimio, her business. Financing the album independently added another challenge.
“Doing it all on your own dime and your own time requires a level of stamina that tests you every single day,” she told RaptureStone.
Those pressures also influenced the recordings. Kimio said experiences with people who doubted or tested her became material for her songwriting, adding an edge to her delivery and performances.
Her approach to the business of music has evolved alongside her sound. She now takes an active role in directing visuals, planning releases and protecting her publishing, treating the development of her brand as an extension of her work as a musician.
“I’m not just an artist hoping for a break; I’m an executive building an empire,” Kimio told RaptureStone.
That emphasis on creative control extends to the album’s presentation. Kimio directs and edits her own music videos and says further visuals are planned following the album’s release. She also wanted KHAMELEON to introduce listeners to her songwriting, harmonies and sound without relying on prominent guest appearances.
Although her family’s musical heritage informs the project, Kimio’s intention was to put her own artistry front and centre.
She told RaptureStone that her approach has become less concerned with fitting into established categories or chasing industry trends. Instead, she wants to create music that reflects her experiences and artistic instincts.
“Self-doubt and the desire for outside validation” were among the things she wanted to leave behind when she began work on the album, she said.
Kimio’s plans extend beyond the release. She intends to travel to Jamaica to shoot new visuals and undertake further studio sessions, reconnecting with the island that forms part of her heritage. She is also preparing to expand Road With Kimio for Jamaica Carnival 2027.
Her upcoming plans include live performance videos, direct-to-camera vocal sessions, carnival appearances and potential collaborations developed during her time in Jamaica.
For Kimio, however, success will not be measured solely through streaming figures or commercial performance. She hopes listeners, particularly women, will connect with the album’s messages of confidence and resilience.
“Success is hearing women recite these lyrics back to me because it made them feel unstoppable,” she told RaptureStone.
With KHAMELEON, Kimio is presenting an artistic identity that accommodates several musical traditions without being confined to any one of them. Whether the album achieves the wider recognition she seeks remains to be seen, but its release marks a statement of intent from an artist determined to take greater ownership of her music and career.
Asked why now was the right time to release the project, Kimio said: “Because the preparation is done, the lessons have been learned, and I’m no longer playing small. The world is ready, and more importantly, I’m ready.”
