KIMIKO, SUMMER SONGBIRD

Kimiko Glenn of Stage and Screen is Breaking Into Music with Her Debut EP, Modern Dance, and Finding a New Era of Chic as the VALŪS June 2026 Digital Cover Star

Taken from VALŪS Issue 004 Summer 2026 print edition - pre-order your copies today!

Written by Alex Blynn

KIMIKO, aka Kimiko Glenn, has an acting portfolio longer than most people’s Netflix queues. There is her breakout role in Orange Is The New Black, of course, for which she and the cast won multiple awards and helped put that streaming network on the map. But KIMIKO has done so much since she first became a household name to millions around the globe.

To name but a few of her achievements, KIMIKO originated the role of Dawn on Broadway's Tony Award-winning Waitress and held roles in HBO’s High Maintenance, Comedy Central’s Broad City, ABC’s The Goldbergs, and even in Mel Brooks' History of The World, Part II. She’s acted alongside Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, and Alexandra Daddario. And her distinctive voice has made her a standout in animation as well, handily voicing lead roles in Nickelodeon's Baby Shark, Netflix’s Among Us, Lucasfilm Animation’s Star Wars: Visions, and the Academy Award-winning Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse.

KIMIKO wears a gown by LAQUAN SMITH, earrings and ring by LANORE FINE JEWELRY, arm cuff by MARC JACOBS, and shoes by MANOLO BLAHNIK

But for the past several months, KIMIKO has been releasing a steady stream of singles off her long-awaited debut EP, entitled Modern Dance. "Hang Out Forever?" appeared in October of 2025, a track all about a seemingly successful date which goes horribly wrong. Then came "Emotional Whiplash” in March of 2026, which shows the tumultuous time during the early stages of a doomed relationship. And finally, "Just Like That!” in May of 2026, a slower song about the world being on fire yet the concern remains: he hasn’t texted back.

“I want to do it all, ultimately,” Kimiko confides to VALŪS over virgin drinks at a hidden speakeasy on Melrose in Los Angeles. “But music is the most fun and natural and creatively fulfilling to me.” 

Each single from Modern Dance thus far has showcased KIMIKO’s vocals in different settings, proving her abilities as both singer and songwriter. 

“I don’t love to marry a sonic world, and so each track is different,” KIMIKO comments on Modern Dance. “But my voice is the throughline. Visceral dance is a big part of the energy of the EP. I also love worldbuilding in music, the personas I take on for each single and music video are special to me. As an actor, I feel we have a submissive job, as you usually help create someone else’s vision, not necessarily your own. Which can be great of course, I’m not going to stop acting and it’s one of my true loves. But, truth be told, I’m used to hiding behind a character.” Producing and putting out music can be a lot for anyone, even one as multi-talented as KIMIKO. “You have to be so real with yourself and your audience when it comes to music, so it can feel very exposing. But, I’ve found, music is an exercise in bravery.”

And who are KIMIKO’s own musical inspirations? “I love Celine Dion, she kind of taught me how to sing. I copied her a lot as a kid which I’m sure was so obnoxious to my parents. But I think that’s why they started driving me to theater practice. We theater kids have a lot of feelings.”

But by far KIMIKO’s favorite singer will always be “Regina Spektor! She is my main girl. She’s so raw and real and all she needs is a piano and a mic. It was a thrill to work on Orange because she sang the title track. I totally geeked out when I realized she was going to be at the premiere. I saw her in person and could barely handle it. She’s so cool, I’ve been obsessed with her forever. She has a brilliant mind. I’d love to collaborate with her one day.”

Be sure to stream KIMIKO’s Modern Dance out later this Summer, and get ready for the rest of her interview and photos in the upcoming Issue 004 Summer 2026 print edition, available worldwide this July!

TEAM

Photographer | SOPHIE MING

Wardrobe Stylist | GABRIEL HELD

Makeup Artist | ELAINA KARRAS

Hair Stylist | YUHI KIM

Lighting Assistant | BLAY WOMACK

Photo Assistant | JAEDYN TAYLOR