The award-winning Kenyan songstress known for her transcendental vocal power opens the year with an earnest record about a lover she vows she would always be available for.
The award-winning Kenyan songstress known for her transcendental vocal power opens the year with an earnest record about a lover she vows she would always be available for.
Following a relatively quiet 2025, Kenyan singer Nikita Kering’ has returned with her first release of the year. Dubbed “Dilly Darling,” the track reflects on a high school love story, with Nikita expressing affection and emotional openness toward her love interest.
The song is produced by fast-rising Kenyan producer Cap, with co-production from Nase.
I grew up watching a lot of Disney, Camp Rock, High School Musical and so I just wanted to tell a story of my high school lover in a way that emulates that
nikita kering
Crooning over a stripped-down instrumental anchored by guitar strums, she allows her vocals to take center stage, delivered in the blues-influenced style that has defined much of her career.
“I thought that a pop ballad with a guitar behind it can allow some space for storytelling in a way that people can hear and understand what I’m saying” she continues.
Following a year marked by just two official studio releases, “Kama Hauna” featuring Scar and Ndovu Kuu, and the Amapiano-leaning “Pendana Nawe,” she has kept a low profile while working on new material for her fans.
Her only other release came through a commissioned soundtrack for MTV’s series Shuga Mashariki, with her single “Haina Pressure” serving as the show’s official opening theme.
On “Dilly Darling,” she adopts a buoyant tone while exploring themes of love, intimacy, and warmth, elements that have become central to her music.
“Dilly Darling is about not wasting time and being available on call for the person that loves you and so given that when I used to be in primary school the teachers would say stop “dilly-dallying,” you need to do this and you need to do that.
For me it just reminded me about urgency and it was my one reference when it came to to being at the right place at the right time. For me being at the right place at the right time in the context of this song was just like when you call on me I’ll follow your lead without hesitation but Dilly Darling and for me that was a word play because Dilly Darling was like my Dilly Darling as in the person that I wouldn’t be late to see or to do this”
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