KAIRO & Bloody Civilian: It’s it rhetorical questions and big flexing in the ‘IS IT I?’ music video
I am always here for turning up but my goodness if the ‘IS IT I?’ music video doesn’t get you moving with the quickness. The newest drop from KAIRO and Bloody Civilian? Tough.
It’s dancing and flexing all at the same time. Completely embraced the energetic cinematic flex.
Nigerian-born, Texas-raised alt-pop duo KAIRO makes their 2026 debut with new uptempo single and video “IS IT I??” Feat. Bloody Civilian out now via Def Jam Recordings. Watch HERE.
“IS IT I?” is a buoyant yet emotionally incisive track that trembles at the center of romantic uncertainty where desire outpaces clarity and longing demands articulation. It’s animated by a pulsing beat filled with kinetic percussion, luminous synthwork, and the duo’s signature harmonic interplay. Bloody Civilian adds her special touch with her sharp cadence and tensile confidence while complicating the narrative with themes of autonomy, boundaries, and consequence. The new single is complimented with a stripped back visual of deliberate rapid cuts between AK, EJ, and Bloody Civilian mirroring the song’s restless momentum and emotional immediacy.
“[IS IT I?] marks our first collaboration with an international artist, and doing it alongside the visionary Bloody Civilian makes it even more meaningful. This record lives at the intersection of pop, R&B, and dance - three Nigerian artists stepping fully into global spaces without shrinking who we are. [IS IT I?] is both a tribute to that legacy and a statement of intent. We’re not confined to any single label. We’re here in every genre, on every stage. Naija to the world - and we’re just getting started.” - KAIRO
KAIRO is redefining what the next wave of pop looks and sounds like. They most recently released “PLACEHOLDER” featuring buzzing alt-pop artist Amelia Moore following the debut of their first studio album ARE WE THERE YET?’ which chronicles their journey as Nigerian-American immigrants carving their place in music. After viral momentum on TikTok in 2021, they formally debuted in 2022 with Love Letters From Houston, earning millions of streams and acclaim from the likes of Billboard and GRAMMY.com. Their subsequent EP, Return To Sender, featured the breakout track “Movie Star,” which surpassed 10 million global streams.
“Growing up, we didn’t always see ourselves reflected in these genres the way we imagined. This is the music we wished existed. We stand on the shoulders of the pioneers who refused to be boxed in, who pushed Nigerian music beyond borders and expectations. Nigeria has always shaped culture — not just in one lane, but across every sound.” - KAIRO
KAIRO’S landed their song “Meet The Eye”on the soundtrack of Sony Pictures GOAT Movie this February -currently the #1 movie in America - starring Steph Curry, Aaron Pierre, Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lewis, Caleb McLaughlin, among a bevy of other a-list stars and athletes. They are gearing up to join pop rock band, LANY this spring on the SOFT WORLD TOUR PART 1 making stops at major arenas in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Vancouver. Tickets on sale HERE.
With their kaleidoscopic blend of alt-pop urgency, R&B soul, and cinematic vocal layering, KAIRO continues to expand the contours of contemporary pop and carve a lane for a new wave of international pop stardom.
