FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Music

Tap Into Kaiit’s Natural Soul Energy

Ahead of her performance at Off the Grid festival, we caught up with the rising neo-soul artist.

Kaiit is a soul singer who is as comfortable singing about picking up a McDonald’s Happy Meal as she is about running from love. The 19-year-old is an exciting new voice in Australia’s rising neo-soul scene and following a couple of singles, all ears are turned towards her debut EP that is due in early 2018.

Born in Papua New Guinea, Kaiit bounced between Port Moresby and Australia before her family settled in Melbourne’s southeast suburbs. She has since shined. As well as singles “Natural Woman” and “2000 n Somethin”, the young performer has been involved in Dig Deep, a hip-hop and urban music mentoring program where she worked with Momo from Melbourne hip-hip duo Diafrix.

Advertisement

While there's no doubt of her natural vocal talent, Kaiit says that her Papuan background has influenced her stylistically rather than musically. Check the Free West Papua shirt in the "2000 n Somethin" video. “Naturally I always wear something that represents the culture, whether it be a piece of jewellery or a handmade woven bag” she explains via email.

Kaiit performs this Friday at Off the Grid, a solar-powered arts, music and environmental festival that’s dedicated to transforming energy and urban centres' use of resources. Performances by Jay Daniel, Chee Shimzu, Ben Fester, Dianas, Jaala vs Man, Krakatau, Toni Yotzi, and Two Steps on the Water will be from a sound systems that runs through a battery bank and solar panels.

Noisey: In “2000 n Somethin” you reference 1962. Is that a year you'd prefer to be living?Kaiit: A lot was going on around those years. I love the fashion and photography from that era. Maybe I'd like to visit but not live. I am where I need to be.

Melbourne has a growing neo soul scene. Are you feeling a revitalised energy?
It's hard for me to view music in genres. I don't even know what category I would personally put myself in, but there is definitely a lot of amazing things coming out of Melbourne and it makes me so excited and motivated to keep creating more and trying to incorporate new things into my music.

Speaking of energy, you are playing Off the Grid, a festival that champions environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
I'm so excited to be playing Off The Grid. It's been created with a really great and important incentive. I think there are so many small things that we can do as individuals to work towards a better environment for today and the future.

What’s been your favourite album of 2017?
I feel like I'm always listening to the same music but this year I fell back in love with Amy Winehouse's Lioness. It is legendary. If I had to choose one from this year it would have to be SZA's CTRL. It's so beautiful seeing SZA's growth as an artist and she is such a huge inspiration for me.

Kaiit plays Off the Grid in Melbourne December 22 at Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.