Photo Credit: Kiana Valenciano
October 9th, 2026 - Philippines — Los Angeles-based Filipina artist and songwriter Kiana V returns with her new album, 'I KNOW BETTER', a reflection on the messiness of knowing what you should do but choosing differently anyway. Fans can listen to the album HERE.
A nine-track project blending R&B, soul, and pop, 'I KNOW BETTER' explores the ups and downs of modern love – giving too much too soon, the unexpected return of someone from your past, the difference between words and actions, and finally seeing a situation for what it is. The album is about learning that growth isn't always linear. "I think we all wish that once we know better, we automatically do better," Kiana says. "But sometimes you see the mess you're creating and you still lean into it. That's the human part of it, I guess."
'I KNOW BETTER' is Kiana's first fully independent album, released after previous work with Tarsier Records and 88rising's Paradise Rising. It's a record made on her own terms, from the songwriting through the visuals.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Kiana has spent the past several years splitting her time between Los Angeles and Manila, developing a sound rooted in emotional storytelling, soulful melodies, and a love for nostalgia. As she enters a more internationally oriented phase in 2026, marking her 10-year career milestone with a new album, her momentum continues to build across APAC and beyond. While the Philippines remains her #1 audience market, where she has earned an Awit Award for Favorite Female Artist and a PMPC Award for Best R&B Artist of the Year, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong also rank among her Top 10 markets, highlighting the growing cross-border appeal of her R&B sound. With the US and Australia now ranking within her top audience market, Kiana's reach is extending well beyond Asia, signaling a significant step forward in her international trajectory.
Following the album's release, Kiana is set to return to the Philippines to perform at PLUS63 Festival on November 28th alongside Khalid, DENỸ, SHNTI, and more.
'I KNOW BETTER' Tracklisting:
1. Too Much Too Soon
2. Got Away
3. Forget About You
4. Swear You Won't
5. Push and Pull Interlude
6. Masquerade
7. Falling Out
8. I Know Better
9. Lover Girl
Stream 'I KNOW BETTER' here
About Kiana V
Filipina singer/songwriter Kiana V is a powerhouse, possessing a quiet intensity that strikes bone deep and a knack for undeniable melody. Her music is a delectable confection of R&B and pop that never overdoes its pace, instead luxuriating in wispy synth soundscapes and Kiana's feather light vocals. Kiana has already made a name for herself in her native Philippines and is now poised to bring her R&B/Soul sound to the rest of the world.
"Music hits the heart in ways other art forms don't," Kiana shares. "People who have never met can feel the same way and connect over lyrics or a melody or a few notes played on an instrument." She counts Janet Jackson, Brandy, Jojo, Solange, and fellow API artist Jhene Aiko as some of her influences.
Her 2016 single, "Does She Know", has garnered over 36 million Spotify streams to date. In 2018, Kiana released her debut EP, 'Grey', which was nominated for the 2019 Awit Awards (Philippines) for Best Performance by a Female Artist. Kiana continued her relentless pace and put out her first full-length album, 'See Me', later that same year. Her exhaustive output and penchant for writing heartrending music was acknowledged in 2019 when she received the McMillan Woods Global Award (Malaysia) for Most Promising Female Recording Artist of the Year. In 2020, Kiana was then recognised in the Philippines by the Awit Awards where she won Favorite Female Artist.
Soon after, the world outside Southeast Asia began to open up to Kiana, with 88rising taking notice and including her on their very first compilation under their 'PARADISE RISING' banner. Her track "Safe Place" was featured among songs by fellow Filipino artists like Fern., Massiah, Leila Alcasid, and Jason Dhakal. Additionally, the song earned a placement in the second season of CW's 'Kung Fu'.
In 2021, Kiana released her 'DAZED' EP, which earned praise from SPIN, NME, HYPEBAE, Office Magazine, Paper Magazine, and more. She maintained a steady stream of compelling music throughout 2023 and 2024, further showcasing her evolution as a songwriter and performer. Looking ahead, 'I KNOW BETTER' marks a significant step forward in her burgeoning international career.
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