Kaleena Zanders Named Billboard's Rising Dance Artist for April 2026

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Kaleena Zanders, once aspiring to be the lead singer of a rock band, found a new path in dance music thanks to a part-time job at a Trader Joe’s located at Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles.

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“My friend there was like, ‘Yo, I have a friend who’s a DJ and he’s looking for a vocalist,’” Zanders recalls. “‘Do you ever do dance music?’”

Initially, she had not. Born in San Jose, California, Zanders grew up engaged in musical theater while also playing basketball and jamming in rock bands. Influenced by bands such as Primus, Korn, Insane Clown Posse, and Rage Against the Machine, she once dreamed of emulating Lenny Kravitz. In college, she and friends formed a band called Molder’s Lounge, named after their dorm’s lounge, which gained traction in the Bay Area and even led to a gig at The Roxy in Los Angeles.

“We opened for some metal band, and it was a packed show,” Zanders says, reflecting on her time as the group’s vocalist, sporting a red mohawk. “They had big hair, and it was like, Hot Topic to the max. It was nuts. After I was like, ‘You guys, we have to move to L.A.’”

Despite relocating, the band disbanded as personal circumstances evolved. Determined to continue her musical journey, she enrolled in the Musicians Institute’s vocal program. However, financial concerns and doubts about the necessity of formal education led her to withdraw. Zanders then took a hiatus from music, becoming a yoga instructor while working at Trader Joe’s, where her dance music career took flight.

A coworker introduced her to the producer SNBRN, who invited Zanders to his downtown L.A. apartment to record vocals. The resulting track, “California,” released in 2015, quickly amassed streams and gained even more popularity after remixes by Chris Lake and Matroda.

“When I was feeling broken about music and thinking I was going to quit, that happened,” Zanders recalls during an interview at a bustling Hollywood café. “In 2015 that became the biggest song, and I was like, ‘Wow, okay. This is cool. This is new.’”

Zanders found herself in uncharted territory, unfamiliar with the dance music scene that suddenly craved her talents. “At first it was overwhelming, because suddenly there were all these DJs hitting me up to work, but I didn’t know them,” she explains. “Even the big ones, I had no clue who they were.” This lack of experience led to discomfort when producers sought “the belty, soulful, churchy” vocals she felt unprepared to deliver.

“Sometimes women with my voice who are Black… how they were treated at that time, if I had known, there’s no way I would have done it,” she notes. Overwhelmed by the influx of requests and feeling disrespected by certain producers, she built a barrier to those reaching out.

Simultaneously, Zanders began to relish the dance music community. After performing with SNBRN at various festivals and attending her first EDC Las Vegas in 2016, she grew fond of the supportive environment. “I wasn’t used to people just being nice to each other and sharing space and enjoying music together, celebrating it, dressing up. I was like, ‘This is amazing.’”

However, the music industry remained difficult for her, as she struggled with unfavorable royalty agreements. The casual attitude of some DJs, seeing her merely as a provider of vocals, took a toll on her. “I’m just like, ‘Okay, but I’m a whole human,’” she expressed.

Her frustration peaked when an artist she collaborated with released a track featuring her vocals, providing credit but no payment. “I was outraged,” she declares, recognizing this event was part of a broader struggle faced by vocalists in the industry. “All these vocalists often make the tracks and make them big, and, at least at that time, weren’t able to have careers the same way DJs do.”

The onset of the pandemic brought a crucial turning point for Zanders. “I’m actually really thankful for that reset,” she reflects. “It made me look at myself and be like, ‘Hey, I think I have the power to do this on my own.’”

Why Kaleena Zanders Is an Up-and-Coming Dance Artist

During the pandemic, Zanders taught herself to DJ, developing a performance style where she played behind the decks while singing elements of her guest spots. This approach paid off when she secured her first solo gig opening for the Australian duo Nervo at Avalon in Los Angeles in early 2022. She also performed at EDC Las Vegas 2022 as part of a Femme House art car takeover alongside notable artists like LP Giobbi and Sam Divine.

“I had just started DJing for s–ts and giggles,” she notes. “And then I was like, ‘Oh, I’m playing real shows.’”

Amid these performances, she found her creative community. Giobbi became a frequent collaborator, with their partnership producing the track “Carry Us” in 2021. Zanders later signed with The Team and began working with manager Travis Alexander, who shares her rock roots. Playing bass house music in the spirit of her friend AC Slater’s Night Bass parties, she discovered that her frustrations had transformed into empowerment. Zanders felt “reborn” during a performance with Griz at the Seven Stars Festival in Virginia, appreciating the openness of the bass music scene.

Now, Zanders is poised to release her debut album, Anything Goes, on May 15 through Helix Records. The seven-track project features collaborations with Bi-Polar Sunshine, Shift K3Y, and Hayley May, offering a mix of confessional lyrics and catchy melodies. This follows her headlining tour that began on April 23 at Public Records in New York, with additional North American dates planned in cities like Toronto, Chicago, and San Diego.

“I’m just thankful for the clarity of this year,” she says, “and that I’m doing this album so that I can tour.”

Best Songs to Start With

Released in February, “Can You Imagine” serves as the lead single from Zanders’ debut album, Anything Goes.

“Nobody Else” debuted in December 2025, two months after Zanders performed with Griz at the Seven Stars Festival.

Zanders’ powerful vocals shine on “Carry Us,” her 2021 collaboration with LP Giobbi.

The latest single from Anything Goes, “Stronger Than Machines,” was released this week.

What’s Next for Zanders

Zanders has recently performed at high-profile events, sharing the stage with Diplo and Calvin Harris during Super Bowl weekend in San Francisco and appearing at EDC Mexico. In addition to her ongoing headlining tour, her upcoming summer and fall schedule includes appearances at festivals like Wisconsin’s Force Fields Festival, Michigan’s Electric Forest, Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge in Washington, and Seven Stars Music Festival in Virginia.