iKeda Arrives With Certainty in Maximalist Sophomore EP ‘Bangs N Braces’ [Q&A]
Photos by Erika Kamano
In a world where artists are expected to appear on our screens perfect and polished, arriving can be a lifelong process. London-based electropop dance artist iKeda won’t let that stop her from showing up exactly as she is. After being hand-selected by PinkPantheress to support her UK and European tour dates, she’s been gearing up to release her sophomore EP. Bangs N Braces is brash, genre-blending, ear candy from start to finish, cementing iKeda as one of the most exciting artists in a space that’s constantly changing and challenging pop’s boldest listeners. The vision doesn’t end with the music itself, but continues through iKeda’s mesmerizing videos, hands on cover art, and ultra-feminine fashion. We chatted about the irreplaceable bond shared with her creative director, favorite 2000’s music videos, and why the future of pop is freedom.
OnesToWatch: This is your second EP, what did you learn making the first one that informed the creation of Bangs N Braces?
iKeda: Probably just trusting my ideas. I discovered that my strong point is definitely writing melodies and toplining. When I was making Pretty Little Problem, I didn't appreciate how important toplining is in my writing. A lot of people have told me that what they love most about my music is the melodies. I remember being in the studio for the first EP and not feeling as confident about my melodies, thinking they sounded a bit silly or too much like a nursery rhyme. But after hearing that feedback, I actually embrace it.
Where did the EP title come from?
When I started making Bangs N Braces, I had a pretty thick bang and I was obsessed with wearing braces. Not for your teeth, but what you call suspenders in America. The music is super loud and in your face, so “bangs” also has a double meaning for bangers. Pretty Little Problem was me testing the waters, and Bangs N Braces is my arrival.
When in the recording process did you come up with the title?
It was a long time after I made the first track on the EP, which is “pyramids,” that I started making the rest of the songs. I was debating on what kind of sound I want to use. Then “RED RED” was made. After that, I knew [the EP] would be Bangs N Braces.
Did choosing the title so early in the process affect the rest of the songs?
Reflecting back, yeah it did. All the songs are quite punchy, so that definitely influenced it. Pretty Little Problem had more melodic songs like “rapunzel,” for example. I don't really have a “rapunzel” on this [project]. The closest one is probably “Mapz”. It’s softer, but paired with a super heavy bass.
You mentioned the relationship you have with your creative director, Erika Kamano. How long have you been working together and how did you know it was right?
Erika and I met like 7 or 8 years ago, but we didn't really start hanging out until 6 years ago. I've always been a fan of her work because she's a photographer before anything else. She was also so iconic on Tumblr. She might get mad at me for mentioning it, but it’s her history! Her roots!
Everyone’s trying to tap into that, but you can’t do it well unless you were actually there.
Exactly. She’s always been an inspiring figure to me. I met her when I was modeling and doing art, like painting. We started hanging out after I went to LA for the first time in 2020. She started shooting me for some personal projects of hers and would help me when I started making and airbrushing clothes. She's so generous, she would always shoot my stuff for free because she cared about me. We don't have the same taste, but they definitely harmonize with each other. I'll have an idea and she'll organize and structure it. Sometimes I can go a bit overboard, but she helps me keep things one step at a time. When I started doing music, she shot the cover for Pretty Little Problem and then I photoshopped it. One day I was like, “Why don't we just make this like an actual role? As my creative director?”
Fashion is such an important part of your artistry. Have you always seen it as a form of expression?
For sure. I love dressing up and dressing super feminine because I’ve always felt like I looked quite masculine. Dressing feminine has been a way to affirm myself. I have such a love for vintage clothes, and so does Erika. I love pin-up fashion because the possibilities are endless. There are so many different cuts, you can dress it up in so many ways, there are different eras from the 80s, 90s, 2000s. It's so timeless. I'm really inspired by nostalgia, and fashion is such a big part of that. I love becoming a hyper-feminine version of myself.
I love to ask about tracklisting because how an artist puts a project together is a choice. Whether it’s intentional or not, it says a lot about the music. What was the process for Bangs N Braces?
I like to think I had some thought behind the practice. After this I want to make a mixtape, which will be a bigger body of work. That’s when the real thought of tracklists will appear because I obviously don't have that much room to play with in Bangs N Braces. “Mapz” is a good entry point into the story that I'm trying to tell, this game of cat and mouse. When I have more songs for a future project, I want to do interludes. My producer Tailtiu is so amazing and really good at movie score type of production. I would love to do that in a future project.
Speaking of score, is making a short film or a visual album a goal for you?
Definitely. For the mixtape, I'm definitely going to explore that. The visualizers Erika and I make already feel like mini short films. I’d love to properly expand on it.
I love the production of “Meoww,” which literally sounds like a cat. Did that already exist and you toplined?
“RED RED” and “Meoww” were 2 songs where Tailtiu had only the hook produced and sent them to me. The meows were already there. At first I wanted to get my cat to record on it, but she wasn't compliant. [Laughs] She wouldn’t meow on the microphone.
I read that you love watching music videos. What are some of your favorites that you go back to?
Oh my god, it’s so hard to choose. The video for “Go!” was really inspired by Rihanna “Who's That Chick?”, especially the color grading. I love bright colors. I’m such a maximalist with my visuals and it's really hard to not go crazy. That’s why Erika is so helpful, because she’s like “Girl, I love it. But let’s save some of this.” Rihanna is such big inspo and I watch that video all the time. Gwen Stefani “What You Waiting For?” also comes to mind. It's mostly music videos from the 2000s, to be honest. I'm not really moved by a lot of music videos nowadays.
It's definitely scarce. There’s not much of a reason to make music videos anymore, which is why it’s exciting when artists do it anyway and put their all into it.
I like Addison Rae’s, though. I think Addison Rae is very creative. I'm such a stan. Her music video for “Arcamarine” inspired me and Erika to shoot more on iPhone because we realized you can just make a movie on it.
Pop music is moving in such an interesting direction as electronic/experimental pop becomes mainstream. Do you ever think about the current and future state of pop music?
Definitely. Things go out of fashion and come back really quickly. The turnover is crazy. I'm happy with that, though, because hyperpop and underground electronic music has been overlooked for very long because it's been pioneered by queer artists. One thing that does annoy me is that since straight people are doing hyperpop, it's being taken [more] seriously. But, I'm really happy that pop is so diverse now and not just one thing. It's accessible, which means anything's possible. It shouldn't be gate kept, to do music and make popular music. Charli xcx and PinkPantheress have opened the gates. You can really go places doing this sort of music.
The future…I don't even know. The scary thing is how people don't let artists grow naturally anymore. I really liked what Kelela said about how you don't have to get it all now. Sometimes I would spiral, thinking if I started music at 18 years old I would be further along now. But we need to let go of that. It would be nice if people could be more patient and not so quick to drag someone when they're going through a journey of figuring out their sound. Ignore the noise and just make whatever you want. Nowadays, people want to be convinced. I think the future [of pop] is very exciting.
And since you toured with PinkPantheress, what did you learn from that experience?
It was so scary. I was so imposter syndrome about it because I'd never opened for anyone before. I kinda opened for Babymorocco, but it wasn’t really official because he’s just my friend. Opening for PinkPantheress at the peak of her career with thousands of people in the crowd was very humbling. Not everyone knew my music, not everyone is into the style of music I do, so it was just crazy.
PinkPantheress has been very open about having stage fright. Was that comforting for you?
Her fans know that she’s gone through that, so I think they're a bit more sympathetic to a new artist. It taught me to keep going. I used to be scared about traveling around different cities because I thought I was going to get really homesick, but I discovered that I really liked living that way. I don't need to have a home base, I can kind of just float around. I’m more adventurous than I thought I was.
I felt quite privileged on that tour. Some openers really struggle because they're supporting artists that don't care as much. Her team is very lovely, supportive and sweet, and so is she. I felt very looked after. It was just kind of a dream, to be honest.
She clearly gets you! And is a fan of your music.
Exactly! She didn't set me up. [Laughs] It made sense.
Who are your OnesToWatch?
Tailtiu. She produces all of my music. She's making an album and it's really amazing. She's such a good songwriter and deserves more attention. That's who I want to watch.
Listen to Bangs N Braces below:
August 28, 2026
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