Levi’s® x COLORSxSTUDIOS EMERGENT with lordkes

lordkez: A vow to voice, a vow to colour

COLORSxSTUDIOS and Levi’s® announce South African singer‑songwriter lordkez as the next featured artist in EMERGENT, the multi‑year global program designed to spotlight rising voices at defining moments in their creative journeys. Marking the program’s focus on South Africa, lordkez’s A COLORS SHOW releases June 1, introducing her world to a global audience.

Born in Kimberley and shaped by life across borders, lordkez has become one of the most compelling voices in contemporary African R&B. Her 2023 album Testament — winner of the South African Music Award for Best RnB/Soul Album — and her chart‑topping single Aweh defined her as an artist of emotional depth, sonic range, and clear point of view. Collaborations with Bas, Shekhinah, Jelani Blackman, and Cassper Nyovest further positioned her as a standout voice in a new generation of globally minded African artists.

Her A COLORS SHOW performance, filmed in Brooklyn in partnership with Levi’s®, debuts a new song Wena Fela, offering a glimpse into her upcoming album. The performance is accompanied by two original profile films: Side A / Side B, a non‑linear portrait shaped by moods chosen by lordkez, and 5:01, a nod to Levi’s® iconic 501® fit, capturing intimate reflections on music, identity, and becoming.

“The journey in discovering my personal identity has happened through my greatest passion which is making music,” lordkez shares. “I found myself becoming more of myself with every new step I took. Being recognised within EMERGENT as a voice that represents where I come from on a global scale is a huge honour.”

Les Green, Senior Director of Collaborations and Music Partnerships Marketing at Levi’s®, adds: “lordkez, who moves on her own terms and meticulously crafts sounds that look forward and ahead, represents exactly the kind of artist EMERGENT was built for.”

Global Rollout

lordkez is part of a phased spotlight of six artists across Mexico, South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan. Each artist receives a dedicated window within EMERGENT, with additional voices from New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo to follow through 2026.

Follow the program on @COLORSxSTUDIOS YouTube and @Levi’s Instagram and TikTok.