Kehlani Drops Highly-Anticipated Single, “After Hours”

Kehlani is back with their vibrant new single, “After Hours.”

The sultry dance anthem samples Cordel “Scatta” Burrell’s classic, “Coolie Dance Rhythm,” which was famously heard in Nina Sky‘s “Move Ya Body.” However, the lyrical theme juxtaposes the pulsating melody. “We don’t gotta take it slow/ I’ma hit the gas if you’re ready to go/ I wanna feel the sweat, breathin’ through your clothes/ The way you touch my neck got me ready to fold,” they sing in the opening verse, reminding us of that feeling of falling in love on the dance floor.

Kehlani wanted to make their comeback with something that felt like freedom. The Bay Area native explained to Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, “Coming out of this pandemic to global tragedy to global tragedy to global tragedy, I was like I’m not really in a space to make something that feels super jarring or super sad. I’m very outspoken about these things, but I want my art to provide some kind of life and fun. I wanna hear this outside and I wanna feel good.”

Of making the record, they reflected, “One of my favorite songs of all time, but also just like to be outside […] and everybody just moves is —no pun intended—is ‘Move Ya Body’ by Nina Sky and I remember walking around the house like ‘Why has nobody sampled [this]?’ Because those drums are so recognizable and everybody just loses it.”

“After Hours” is their first solo single since 2022’s blue water road. In regards to this next musical chapter, Kehlani shared that they didn’t want to make something that felt “reminiscent.”

“For once, I’m not attached to some story, some public thing, some trauma, or [something needing a] deep explanation,” they confessed. “I have nothing but joyful things to say to you. I’m in such a happy place. I’m ready to be outside.”

“After Hours” is the lead single from Kehlani’s upcoming new album.