The independent album of Kiana V., I Know Better, is finally here, nine tracks that explore the ups and downs of love in the modern age.
Los Angeles-based Filipina artist and songwriter Kiana V. released a new album, I Know Better, on October 7, 2026. The album has nine tracks that blend R&B, soul, and pop. Kiana explores the ups and downs of modern love – giving too much too soon, the unexpected return of someone from your past, the difference between words and actions, and finally seeing a situation for what it is. The album also sends the message that growth isn’t always linear.
I think we all wish that once we know better, we automatically do better. But sometimes you see the mess you’re creating and you still lean into it. That’s the human part of it, I guess.
I Know Better is Kiana’s first fully independent album. Her previous works were with Tarsier Records and 88rising’s Paradise Rising. But for this album, she made it made on her own terms, from the songwriting to the visuals.
Her latest song, “Got Away,” is a spin on the familiar “the one that got away” narrative. Instead of a sad and heartbreaking song, we get a new perspective on being unbothered and moving on.
The song is co-written by songwriter Rosemarie Tan and produced by Taydex and Wes Singerman. In an interview with Billboard Philippines, Kiana says that Rosemarie has been a longtime collaborator and mentor of hers, and they’ve worked on her previous songs like “Sana,” “Dare You,” and “Falling Out.”
When asked in the same interview how this latest single is different with her past releases, she says:
When I started working on “Got Away,” I was very intentional because I really wanted to release a full project, and “Got Away” is part of that project. I guess what made it different from some of my previous works is that I know it lives within a bigger story. So some of the lyrics are very specific because it adds details to a much larger story.
More about Kiana V.
Kiana V. was born and raised in the Philippines, the daughter of pop royalty Gary Valenciano. She has spent the past several years splitting her time between Los Angeles and Manila, developing a sound rooted in emotional storytelling, soulful melodies, and a love for nostalgia.
Kiana started releasing music 10 years ago, but she has not stopped evolving and learning in her craft. In the same interview with Billboard Philippines, she says that since she didn’t go to music school, she approaches her projects like a sponge – ready to learn and absorb everything that happens in that studio. When asked what can be expected of her from this new era, she says:
It’s a lot of, I think, just letting loose. Because for the past few years, I’ve just been overthinking everything. Right now, I just want to release what I have to release. These songs that are about to come out tell the story of someone who I used to be. I guess what my fans or my listeners can expect from this era is to just get to know me a little better.
Kiana is set to return to the Philippines to perform at PLUS63 Festival alongside Khalid, DENŸ, SHNTI, and more.
I Know Better is now available in all streaming platforms.
Sources: Press Release, Billboard Philippines
