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Okay Kaya

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Okay Kaya
A woman in a blue dress singing into a microphone.
Okay Kaya performing in November 2022
Born
Kaya Wilkins

(1990-08-14) August 14, 1990 (age 35)
New Jersey, United States
OccupationSinger
Years active2015–present

Kaya Wilkins (born August 14, 1990), better known as Okay Kaya, is a Norwegian-American musician born in New Jersey.

Biography

[edit]

Wilkins was born in New Jersey and raised in Nesoddtangen, four miles outside of Oslo. Raised by her mother along with five brothers, she has both Scandinavian and African-American roots.[1]

Wilkins' first release under the moniker of Okay Kaya was the song "Damn, Gravity", which was released in 2015.[2][3] Three years later, she released her first full-length album, Both.[4][5][6] The album was recorded with her boyfriend Aaron Maine of the band Porches.[3] In 2020, Wilkins released her second full-length album as Okay Kaya, titled Watch This Liquid Pour Itself, via Jagjaguwar.[7][8] The album received three out of five stars from The Guardian.[7] Her cover of Cher's Believe was featured in the HBO show Industry.[9]

Wilkins acted her first role in the Norwegian drama Thelma. In August 2020, she released her mixtape Surviving is the New Living.[10]

Wilkins has collaborated with the musical artist Baba Stiltz. In 2025 they released their collaborative album, Blurb.[11]

Personal Life

[edit]

Wilkins is married to the British musician Oli Burslem.[12] Toegther they form the alternative rock band, Beguiling Junior.[13] After spending time living in the United States and Germany, Wilkins currently resides in Norway.[14]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details
Both
Watch This Liquid Pour Itself
SAP
  • Released: 4 November 2022[17]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming, cassette
Oh My God - That’s So Me
  • Released: 6 September 2024[18]
  • Label: OneRPM

Mixtapes

[edit]
Title Details
Mix Vol. One
  • Released: 28 October 2014[19][20]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: streaming
Surviving Is the New Living
The Incompatible Okay Kaya
  • Released: 22 October 2021[21]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Damn Gravity"[22] 2015 Non-album singles
"Clenched Teeth"[23]
"I'm Stupid (But I Love You)"[24]
"Durer"[25] 2016
"Keep On Pushin'"[25]
"IUD"[26] 2018 Both
"Dance Like You"[27]
"Believe"[28] 2019 Non-album single
"Ascend and Try Again"[29] Watch This Liquid Pour Itself
"Baby Little Tween"[16]
"Asexual Wellbeing"[30]
"Psych Ward"[31] 2020
"You're Still the One"[32] Non-album single
[edit]
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Falling"[33]
(Vera featuring Okay Kaya) 		2017 Good Job No Conversation
"Almost Nothing"[34]
(Silent Poets featuring Okay Kaya) 		2019 Death Stranding (Songs from the Video Game)
"Getting to Know You"[35]
(Onyx Collective featuring Okay Kaya & Julian Soto) 		2020 Manhattan Special
"Jonas Said"[36]
(Aerial East featuring Okay Kaya) 		2021 Try Harder
"Wife Wife"[37]
(Deem Spencer featuring Okay Kaya) 		2021 Wife Wife
"Win Some"[38]
(LEYA featuring Okay Kaya) 		2022 Eyeline

Promotional singles

[edit]
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Vampire"[39] 2018 Both
"Habitual Love"[40]

Guest appearances

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Title Year Other artists Album
"Slush Puppy"[41] 2017 King Krule The Ooz
"Åkeren"[42] 2018 Porches The House
"Getting to Know You"[43] 2020 Onyx Collective, Julian Soto Manhattan Special
"One Last Time"[44] Hess Is More Suicide Tourist (Original Score)
"Nightswimming"[45] 2021 N/a Join the Ritual

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2017 Thelma Anja Credited as Kaya Wilkins[46]
2019 Exit Plan Mia Credited as Kaya Wilkins

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kjølberg, Tor (4 December 2018). "The Norwegian Musician, Model and Actress Okay Kaya". Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. ^ "premiere: okay kaya, 'damn, gravity'". Vice. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b Corrigan, Graham. "Who Is Okay Kaya?". Complex. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  4. ^ Slater, Maya-Roisin. "Okay Kaya: Both". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  5. ^ Valenti, Lauren (13 June 2018). "This Rising Artist is Getting Startlingly Honest About Depression—One Album and Instagram at a Time". Vogue. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  6. ^ Jackson, Reed (12 April 2018). "Is Okay Kaya Living in Pop Music's Future?". Vice. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (24 January 2020). "Okay Kaya: Watch This Liquid Pour Itself review – strange dream-pop tales of thwarted lust". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  8. ^ Madden, Emma. "Okay Kaya Makes Sex Jams For People With Depression And Yeast Infections". MTV. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  9. ^ Topham, Michelle (24 December 2020). "Listen to Okay Kaya's 'Believe' from Industry, Season 1, Ep. 7 — it's mesmerizing and mysterious". Leo Sigh. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b Afoa, Holly (14 August 2020). "Okay Kaya releases new mixtape Surviving is The New Living". The Label. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  11. ^ Chick, Stevie (13 January 2025). "Musical duo Baba Stiltz and Okay Kaya: 'Basically our music's for losers'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Norwegian artist Okay Kaya on performing at the Oslo Opera House". Vogue Scandinavia. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Norwegian artist Okay Kaya on performing at the Oslo Opera House". Vogue Scandinavia. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Norwegian artist Okay Kaya on performing at the Oslo Opera House". Vogue Scandinavia. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  15. ^ Guzman, Ivan (11 April 2018). "The Duality of Okay Kaya". Office Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  16. ^ a b Goodridge, Hayden (12 November 2019). "Okay Kaya Announces New Album, Shares Dreamy Single "Baby Little Tween"". Paste. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  17. ^ Geiger, Amy (4 August 2022). "Okay Kaya announces new album 'SAP,' shares video for new single "Spinal Tap"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  18. ^ Hussain, Shahzaib (6 September 2024). "Okay Kaya Unveils New Album 'Oh My God – That's So Me'". Clash. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  19. ^ "OKAY-KAYA / MIX VOL. ONE". Soundcloud. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Next: Okay Kaya". Dummy. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  21. ^ Elder, Sajae (13 September 2021). "Okay Kaya announces upcoming mixtape The Incompatible Okay Kaya, shares new song". The Fader. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  22. ^ Douglas, Rikihana (29 March 2015). "OKAY KAYA 'Damn Gravity'". Sniffers. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  23. ^ "OKAY KAYA PASSEIA PELAS RUAS DE TÓQUIO NO CLIPE "CLENCHED TEETH"". Teco Apple (in Portuguese). 4 May 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  24. ^ Bayet, Pierre (31 October 2015). "Okay-Kaya – I'm Stupid (But I Love You)". High Clouds. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  25. ^ a b Corrigan, Graham (5 August 2016). "Watch Okay Kaya Capture NYC's Pokémon in the Video for "Keep On Pushin'"". Complex. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  26. ^ Corrigan, Graham (20 January 2018). "Watch Okay Kaya's Riveting Video for "IUD"". Complex. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  27. ^ Farrell, Margaret (11 March 2018). "Okay Kaya "Dance Like You"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  28. ^ Russ, Waveney (28 March 2019). "Okay Kaya Signs to Jagjaguwar, Listen to New Single 'Believe' (Cher Cover)". The Label. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  29. ^ "Okay Kaya Drops New Stand Alone Single & Video". Closed Captioned. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Okay Kaya Drops New Single & Video". Closed Captioned. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  31. ^ Russ, Waveney (16 January 2020). "Okay Kaya Shares New Single/Video 'Psych Ward'". The Label. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  32. ^ "OKAY KAYA REVELA COVER PARA "YOU'RE STILL THE ONE" DE SHANIA TWAIN". Teco Apple (in Portuguese). 19 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  33. ^ Murray, Robin (29 August 2017). "Vera Combines With Okay Kaya On Chilled New Single 'Falling'". Clash Music. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  34. ^ "Almost Nothing (feat. Okay Kaya) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  35. ^ "Manhattan Special". iTunes. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  36. ^ "Try Harder". iTunes. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  37. ^ Farrell, Margaret (28 May 2021). "Deem Spencer and Okay Kaya Hope for a Bright Future on New Song "Wife Wife"". Flood Magazine. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Leya Bandcamp: EYELINE".
  39. ^ "OKAY KAYA CONFRONTA UM CLONE E DIRIGE O IMPIEDOSO VIDEOCLIPE DE "VAMPIRE"". Teco Apple (in Portuguese). 5 June 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  40. ^ "OKAY KAYA LANÇA O VIDEOCLIPE DE "HABITUAL LOVE", O ÚLTIMO DE UMA SAGA DE AMOR E TRAUMAS". Teco Apple (in Portuguese). 24 July 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  41. ^ Peters, Micah (12 October 2017). "King Krule's Rhythm and 'Ooz'". The Ringer. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  42. ^ Hahn, Rachel (25 January 2018). "Porches and Okay Kaya, Music's Latest It Couple, on Making Downtown Cool Look Better Together". Vogue. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  43. ^ Blistein, Jon (23 April 2020). "Onyx Collective Turn Rodgers and Hart's 'Manhattan' Into a Jazz Age Dreamscape". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  44. ^ "Suicide Tourist (Original Score)". iTunes. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  45. ^ Helman, Peter (1 September 2021). "Spencer Krug – "Red Dress" (Jad Fair Cover) & Okay Kaya – Nightswimming (R.E.M. Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  46. ^ Gore, Sydney (6 March 2018). "Okay Kaya Is One of the Most Honest Artists of Our Generation". V. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
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