Ascending: SAILORR

SoundCloud’s Ascending series spotlights emerging artists who are on the verge of breaking through. This year, so far, we’ve highlighted the journeys of rapper 1900Rugrat, indie-pop sensation Erin LeCount, genre-defying honestav, and now, rising alternative R&B artist SAILORR joins our 2025 class.

Born Kayla Le, SAILORR is an emerging Vietnamese-American artist from Jacksonville, Florida. Raised by immigrant parents who emigrated to the states before she was born, SAILORR weaves her layered story into her sound, authentically turning her personal challenges into unapologetic art that resonates. From soulful vocals that reference her upbringing and Vietnamese heritage to putting a modern take on Southeast Asian beauty customs via her now-signature blackened grillz, SAILORR pays homage to her cultural roots through her lyricism, creativity and visual aesthetic alike.

First getting her start on SoundCloud, SAILORR is building a name for herself with her contemporary R&B sound, which pulls inspiration from ‘90s R&B, hip-hop and dream pop influences. Crediting her older sister for putting her onto acts like Destiny’s Child, some of SAILORR’s formative influences also includes Lauryn Hill, André 3000, Erykah Badu and Chief Keef, to name a few. Growing up, SAILORR had dreams of performing on Broadway, but after auditioning for conservatories across the country, she came to the personal realization that musical theater and acting wasn’t worth getting into debt for.

“Literally on the way to the callback, I was like, ‘I kind of hate this. I don't want to do musical theater anymore,’” she recalls. “I was not going into debt for acting, bro, that sounds stupid. So then I literally took a flight home, and was like, ‘Yeah, let me just graduate high school, stack up this bread and just figure it out. That's when I discovered music production.”

Before she found her rhythm as a recording artist and producer, she worked as a florist and lash tech, uploading indie R&B demos and DJ mixes to SoundCloud under the name Sailor Goon — a nod to her favorite childhood anime, “Sailor Moon.” She built her creative circle from the ground up, learning production from local “gear nerds” and collaborating with other SoundCloud artists like Adam Kain and AJ Roth of Cruza, who eventually introduced her to her manager, Zach Migdal.

While finding her footing on SoundCloud and experimenting with her sound, SAILORR relocated to Los Angeles, ready to level up her career in music. In 2024, her infectious track, “Pookie’s Requiem” kicked off a new chapter, with the quintessential breakup anthem experiencing viral success and helping solidify that her decision to focus on music (over musical theater) was clearly destined. 

Fast forward to today, SAILORR’s DIY approach continues to pay off. Her track “Cut Up,” a bass-heavy ballad from her debut album ‘FROM FLORIDA’S FINEST,’ was recently named SoundCloud’s Track of the Day, a curated spotlight for tracks gaining momentum on the platform. She also recently celebrated her first-ever Times Square billboard, another milestone achieved through her artistry and SoundCloud’s support, showcasing her ability to sustain and grow her success beyond the virality of her breakout track, “Pookie’s Requiem.”

“My fans on SoundCloud are so beautiful,” she says, earnestly. “They’ve got the fattest wallets, the fattest booties, the longest hair, the best music taste, and they’re just so self-assured and intelligent.”

SAILORR’s journey proves that staying grounded in your experiences, embracing diverse musical roots and cultivating a real community can pave the way for lasting success. Drawn to her honest blend of alternative R&B, her fans SoundCloud have rallied behind ‘FROM FLORIDA’S FINEST,’ which she describes as “a girls’ road trip up the coast of Florida.”

Now, as she takes the album on her headlining tour, SAILORR continues to show that authenticity, humor and a deep appreciation of your audience can carry you far beyond what you thought was possible when hitting the “upload” button for the first time.

“SoundCloud changed my life by connecting me with the people who are still making it happen — the listeners, my team, everyone,” she says. “I’ve been on there for 10 years. So, thank you.”

We can’t wait to see what SAILORR does next. Follow her on SoundCloud to keep up with her journey.

LISTEN TO ‘FROM FLORIDA’S FINEST’ BY SAILORR ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW

CHECK OUT WHAT’S NEXT IN MUSIC WITH THE ASCENDING PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW