Kenya Grace Retains U.K. Chart Crown With ‘Strangers’

Lars Brandle
·2 min read

Kenya Grace is no stranger to the U.K. chart summit.

The South Africa-born, U.K.-based artist enters a second week at No. 1 with “Strangers” (via FFRR/Major Recordings/Warner Records), her breakthrough, drum ‘n’ bass-backed tune and first through a major label.

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“Strangers” is, once again, the most-streamed track in the U.K. with 4.8 million plays, the Official Charts Company reports, as it holds off the challenge of Cassö’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) featuring RAYE and D-Block Europe.

The leader at the midweek point, “Prada” finishes the week at No. 2, less than 800 chart units adrift.

As previously reported, Grace is just the second U.K. female artist ever to write, produce and record a No. 1 single entirely by herself, following Kate Bush whose “Running Up That Hill” completed a mission impossible last year, hitting the top some 37 years after its initial release.

Tate McRae’s “Greedy” (Ministry of Sound) rounds off an unchanged top 3.

Meanwhile, another South African artist is making her move on the Official U.K. Singles Chart — Tyla. Born and raised in Johannesburg, Tyla (full name: Tyla Laura Seethal) enjoys a new peak with her breakthrough “Water” (RCA), rising 7-4.

Close behind is Chase & Status, Bou, Flowdan, IRAH, Trigga and Takura’s “Baddadan” (EMI), up 11-5 for its peak position, while Sonny Fodera, MK and Clementine Douglas’ “Asking” (Solotoko) is up 10-7, a new high.

U.S. alternative pop artist Mitski enjoys her first U.K. top 10 single with “My Love Mine All Mine” (Dead Oceans), improving 13-8. Prior to her latest, viral number, Mitski had never even nudged the singles tally, though two of her seven studio albums have impacted the top 10.

Fred Again snags a second top 20 solo sentry with “Ten” (Atlantic), featuring U.S. artist and songwriter Jozzy. It’s new at No. 16, for the highest debut on the latest tally, published Friday, Oct. 20. That’s the fifth top 40 entry for the hot producer and artist, and the first appearance on the chart for Jozzy.

Finally, Troye Sivan enjoys a hattrick of top 40 appearance on the latest chart, led by “One Of Your Girls,” new at No. 17, followed by lead single “Rush” (34-28) and “Got Me Started” (reentering at No. 36), lifting his career tally to seven U.K. top 40 singles.

All three tracks appear on Sivan’s third and latest LP Something To Give Each Other (via Polydor), which debuts at No. 4 on the national albums tally, for a new career high.

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