Brooklyn-based artist Mikaela Straus, better known by her stage name King Princess, is making a bold return with her third studio album, Girl Violence, set to release on September 12, 2025. This album marks her first release under the Section1 label and comes after a period of personal upheaval and transformation for the singer-songwriter, who has also been gaining attention as an actor.
King Princess unveiled the lead single, "RIP KP," on June 5, 2025, with a captivating live performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The single is accompanied by a striking music video directed by Warren Fu, which places Straus in a vividly surreal, demonic, and unapologetically queer afterlife limbo. The song itself is a potent blend of erotic euphoria and raw lust, pushing boundaries and challenging conventional norms around desire and identity.
Reflecting on "RIP KP," King Princess explained, "'RIP KP' is about the sexy side of girl violence – when love takes over your brain like a cordyceps and suddenly you’re getting fucked all over your house, acting a fool. It’s the perfect way to open the record: dramatic, unhinged, and a little tongue-in-cheek. I wrote it during a full ego death – leaving LA, my label, my old life – and somehow landed back in NYC making the music I would’ve obsessed over at 15. It’s a slutty anthem for the lesbians. We need debauchery this summer." This statement encapsulates the album's spirit: a fierce, unapologetic declaration of self and sexuality, framed by a period of reinvention.
The album was crafted in collaboration with notable producers Jake Portrait, known for his work with Lil Yachty, Alex G, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Aire Atlantica, who previously contributed to SZA’s breakthrough hit "Low." Their combined efforts helped shape Girl Violence into a record that channels the emotional aftermath of Straus’s personal struggles — including a breakup, stepping back from the major label system, relocating, and ultimately returning to her hometown of New York City.
King Princess previewed the album in its entirety for a sold-out crowd at Brooklyn's Market Hotel on June 4, 2025, an intimate event that gave fans an early taste of what’s to come. This exclusive show was a prelude to a global tour launching in October 2025, beginning with two dates at Austin City Limits in Texas.
The extensive North American tour includes stops in major cities such as Nashville, Atlanta, Richmond, Brooklyn, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Denver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. Notably, the Richmond, Virginia show on October 28 will feature support from artist SASAMI, adding to the tour's diverse lineup.
Following the U.S. leg, King Princess will continue her journey across the Atlantic, performing in several key European cities in December 2025. The UK and European dates include Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, London, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Tickets for all tour dates go on sale at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, June 13, 2025.
The album's tracklist features 13 songs, including titles like "Girl Violence," "Jaime," "Origin: :", "I Feel Pretty," "Cry Cry Cry," "Get Your Heart Broken," "Girls," "Covers," "Say What You Will," "RIP KP," "Alone Again," "Slow Down and Shut Up," and "Serena." This collection promises a rich blend of themes exploring identity, love, heartbreak, and self-empowerment.
In addition to her musical pursuits, Mikaela Straus has been making waves in the acting world. She stars in the current season of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, sharing the screen with Nicole Kidman. Later this year, she will make her feature film debut in Song Sung Blue, an upcoming movie featuring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. These ventures highlight Straus's multifaceted talents and growing presence in entertainment beyond music.
King Princess’s journey to this point has been marked by resilience and reinvention. As she steps into this new chapter with Girl Violence, she embraces a more autonomous creative path, shedding the constraints of her previous major label experience. Her music now reflects a raw and unfiltered expression of her experiences and identity, resonating deeply with fans who have followed her evolution from the beginning.
Her announcement and the release of "RIP KP" have already generated significant buzz, with critics and fans alike praising the song’s boldness and the album’s promise of emotional depth and sonic innovation. The Warren Fu-directed video adds a visually compelling layer to the single, reinforcing its themes of liberation and the complexities of desire.
As King Princess embarks on her 2025 tour, fans can expect a dynamic live experience that brings the energy and emotion of Girl Violence to life. The tour’s broad itinerary ensures that her music will reach a wide audience across North America and Europe, cementing her status as a defining voice of her generation.
Tickets for the tour will be available starting June 13, and given the quick sell-out of her Brooklyn preview show, demand is expected to be high. This album and tour represent not just a career milestone for King Princess but a cultural moment that celebrates queer identity, artistic freedom, and the power of music to heal and transform.
With Girl Violence, King Princess invites listeners into her world — one that is fierce, vulnerable, and unapologetically authentic. It’s an album born from chaos and rebirth, promising to make a lasting impact on the music landscape as 2025 unfolds.
