The story behind Kanea is a partnership built on trust, growth and the courage to create honestly.
Some collaborations happen in the studio. Others are built long before the first song is recorded.
For Abrantie Simms and Ess Thee Legend, “Kanea”—the latest single from Finding My Rhythm EP 1—is the product of years of creative trust. While the song explores light and the people who brighten our lives, its foundation is the relationship the two artists built long before this project came together.
A Partnership Years in the Making
Ess has witnessed Abrantie’s journey as a producer from the beginning. During the years he was living in Ohio, she watched him grow through remote production sessions with Kuvie over Zoom, as ideas flowed between Ohio and Tori’s Lounge in Baatsona, Ghana.
She saw the late-night experimentation, the setbacks and the steady commitment to mastering his craft. By the time Finding My Rhythm began, she wasn’t simply working with a producer—she was working with someone whose evolution she had seen firsthand.
That earlier trust was reinforced through “Mpena,” the record Abrantie produced for $pacely, making this collaboration feel like a natural next step rather than a new beginning.
Two Different Strengths, One Shared Standard
What makes their chemistry work is that they bring different kinds of strength.
Ess has built her artistry around vulnerability, turning big and honest emotions into songs that feel deeply personal. Abrantie shares that emotional sensitivity, but expresses it differently. His relentless pursuit of excellence is driven by a desire to make people feel seen and heard, creating spaces where artists can be fully themselves.
That became one of Ess’s greatest strengths during the making of “Kanea.” Instead of directing her vulnerability, Abrantie protected it, allowing her songwriting and voice to lead while his production provided warmth, rhythm and atmosphere.
The Heart of “Kanea”
“Kanea” became the perfect meeting point for those instincts.
Built around the idea of light, the song captures the feeling of finding someone whose presence brings comfort, direction and hope. Ess gives the idea its emotional voice, while Abrantie’s production creates the space for it to breathe.
The result is a record that feels both intimate and universal—a reflection of two artists who share the same creative standard: keep pushing until the music tells the truth.
With Finding My Rhythm EP 1 arriving on 3 September 2026, followed by a listening event the same day and a live performance at The Red Room, Bella Dolce Vita on 4 September, “Kanea” stands as more than another single.
It is proof that the strongest collaborations are often built long before the spotlight arrives.
