Mi-kaisha Unveils Photo Diary Of Her Time Spent At New York City's Prestigious Music School

Proud Darumbal and Tongan woman, Mi-kaisha, recently made history as the first Aboriginal student to be accepted into the prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University.

On her May-released single, Lean On You, she utilised gospel-inspired R&B music in a tribute to all her loved ones who have supported her music career. The single saw Mi-kaisha team up with producer Billy Davis (Wafia, Jessica Mauboy, 3%, Ruel, Noname, Anderson .Paak), in an exploration of lush musical production.

She explained upon the single’s release, “I wrote Lean On You while living in NYC away from family, my community & ultimately everything familiar to me. This song was a dedication to the people in my life who had sacrificed so much for me, who had brought so much joy into my life and ultimately who I knew I could always lean on.”

To commemorate her experience at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, Mi-kaisha has created a photo diary for The Music, highlighting her time in New York City. All photos have been shared courtesy of Mi-kaisha.

My first gig in NYC. A very glamorous start to my time in the city.

Brooklyn.

Brooklyn has my whole heart; I’m pretty sure it did before I even landed in the city. I moved here in my junior year, and I immediately felt a sense of home I hadn’t felt while living in Manhattan. It has a heart like no other place I’ve ever visited before.

Repping the flag.

This was from my first Brooklyn Nets game, supporting Patty Mills. Reflecting back on my time, I love that I was able to stay connected to and rep my culture even on the other side of the planet.

YES March.

In late 2023, we marched from Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge to Dumbo in support of the Voice to Parliament. It was difficult being away from home and my community at this time, as it was an extremely turbulent and ambivalent time in history. The day was heavy with anticipation, and I’m grateful to all of the First Nations mob who were present that day.

Graduation Day.

The whole day I couldn’t stop thinking about younger Mi-kaisha, and how overwhelmed she would be knowing that we did it. A childhood dream come true.

Subway chronicles. Always something happening, never a dull moment.

Very on-brand of me to start taking photos on film while living here.

My favourite spot in the city to clear my mind and have a reset. It’s wild to think my camera roll consisted of many shots like this one for a couple of years.

Ryan Beatty. My time in NYC was one of the richest musical times of my life. Countless live shows, incredible storytellers. 

Home bound. This is one of the last pictures I took of my apartment before packing my little life in NYC up and moving back to Sydney.