Why Rising Aussie Hip Hop Artist Kaiit Is So Refreshing

I’ve been vibing to this girl since early last year and so many adjectives come to mind - charismatic, captivating, soulful, vibrant, vivaciously enigmatic (I could go on)... She’s a damn powerhouse! This week I hit up homegirl Kaiit to chat about her new single OG Luv Kush P2.

“The song is actually an addition to a track that’s going to be on my EP called OG Luv Kush, and I wanted to put part two out first. Part two is an overcoming or reflection of a relationship, it’s about moving on from something that isn’t particularly good or healthy for you. Just learning from what happened and allowing yourself to move on and grow you know? It’s about realising your worth, so the narrative between the two tracks is kind of like the development of being in it [the relationship] to moving on and not giving that part of yourself away anymore.”

I felt like I was being cheeky but I wondered if OG Luv Kush P2 related to what we think it might be related to...

“People say that love is a drug so I guess I put it into literal terms... It’s my kind of love strain,” she chuckles.

I love that in this day and age artists are still unapologetically addressing drug use, it’s dope! That’s not to say she’s condoning it by any means, and nor I, but it’s important to have language and conversation around the topic. Recreation or otherwise, they’re here and part of all our lives in some way or another.

At the age of 19, Kaiit burst onto the scene with banging single Natural Woman, a velvety cover of OG herself, Aretha Franklin. So here’s the 411 on the woman behind the incredible neo-soul voice.

“I think writing is my sort of go to. When I was in that specific circumstance, or relationship, I didn’t feel I could talk to people about it and I also didn’t want to put it on them you know? So writing it out enabled me to be sort of be vulnerable and honest with myself. To actually sit with the discomfort then try to work it all out.”

I’m constantly asking artists about their creative process. Whether they pick up a pen and the ink bleeds creativity or if it’s actually a time-consuming process they stress over. The way Kaiit speaks she just makes the whole thing sound like we all have a lion's roar inside of us.

“I think I’m always going to be working on the process of writing!” she giggles. “I mean, you have people around you supporting and wanting you to succeed but at the end of the day you’re your own drive. If you’re not wanting to give it 100%, then you lose the spark of creating. I try not to push my writing, I want to be able to make it an ongoing thing where I’m writing all the time because you never know when you’re going to feel emotion or particular expression.”

The conversion from creative imagination to a musical final product is something that always amazes me. When I write a song in my head and think about how I want it to sound, how do you explain it to a band that will accurately perform your instruction? I struggle at drawing in Pictionary let alone performing someone else’s creative conception!

“I don’t play an instrument... I mean, I’m bomb on the tambourine but that’s not that recognised as an instrument!” she retorts.

“The band members I work with are amazing; all I can do is count bars! I can’t read music or sight read or anything like that, it stresses me out! But they listen to me, they offer advice and guidance and while we’re all individuals, we really unify in that process.”

The warm visuals that accompany the dreamy track are beautifully simplistic yet drenched in charisma. You can see how much Kaiit is enjoying herself with her crew (she tells me her brother is actually in the clip, plus a cheeky cameo from REMI). In an industry that’s riddled with negative stigma, it’s so inspiring to see how family comes together. It makes me feel like you really can choose your family.

“It’s so important! Community. Representation. Representation of people that look like me, representation of the youth, it’s SO important! Representation of all backgrounds, different nationalities and personalities. I wanted that unifying togetherness in the video, it means so much to me. The music and art community really support me and I’m so grateful. Artists are so willing to help and support, it’s a beautiful thing about Melbourne because it’s not competition you know? If they’re growing, I’m growing and vice versa, we’re all in it together.”

Every now and then, hip hop conceives an artist that is effortlessly unique in appearance. Iconic Missy Elliott, enigmatic Andre 3000 or Tupac’s 'Thug Life' tattoo. There’s simply no one like them and if you’ve ever caught a photo of Kaiit you’ll know what I’m talking about.

“Well, my parents were artists. Growing up in the south-east of Melbourne I didn’t feel like it was anything like the city and the crazy styles you can see there. Everyone looks the same and that didn’t connect with me. I didn’t feel unique and special... So when my parents took me to Brunswick or Fitzroy art galleries I was like, 'WHOOAAAH! There’s green hair dye, that’s crazy!' I realised I was allowed to be different and appearance is a form of expression, I love to express myself.”

Go ahead and check her Instagram, it’s dope.

But on the social media tip it’s incredibly sad to say (but important none the less) our current social climate is pretty depressing. You’ve no doubt noticed your own newsfeeds blowing up with social commentary on how we all should be improving our lives. I’ve seen so much “...We should...” and not a lot of “...I will...” When you’re an artist social media is so incredibly important yet I’m sure there must be some real pressure too.

“I love Instagram! In a matter of seconds I can see how people express themselves, from all over the world. It also acts as a bridge for me and the people that listen to my music, it’s beautiful. Adversely, the instant access is also frightening. I have a little sister and it really concerns me that she can so easily be subjected to horrendous material... I’m not really sure what the answer is, but there really doesn’t seem to be a filter at all!

“It’s also so easy to spend so much time on socials. You can get so lost in comments, for example. It’s beautiful to receive supportive or appreciative comments, you get a little burst of... Like a high! But when those comments stop, you question yourself, doubt yourself, even critique yourself, which I think can be dangerous. Then there’s the anonymity, it’s so easy to spread hate! When you read such spiteful comments I’m just like, ‘Brah... Go look after your family or something, you shouldn’t be on here.’”

After the release of her third track, I also looked back at her previous singles, 2000 N Somethin and debut track Natural Woman. I tell Kaiit her debut single has almost a million Spotify hits when she cuts me off...

“WHAATTT!!! Oh my God! NO WAY, that’s so crazy!” When she laughs off her excitement she continues, “The response was hectic. I thought it would just be my aunties and cousins going ‘yay nice song’, so I couldn’t believe so many people were feeling it. When I think about it, if it healed even one person then I’ve done what I needed to do.”

And apparently, it’s not just females loving the joint. Sounds like people, however they identify, love the cut. I saw it when she killed her set at Golden Plains festival earlier this year (and several times since).

“Oh my God there was a lot of sista love. But there was all kinds of people love! I had homeboys coming out showing how they felt in their own way. With the latest track I’ve had random guys sending me videos of them singing to my jam. I love it!”

She’s so bright and positive, it’s refreshing. I feel as though the industry is being pushed and pulled for further recognition of women’s incredible talents and achievements and it’s not a quick movement, certainly not quick enough. At a time when speaking about equality has never been so prevalent, it’s exhausting to see such little change.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate, I haven’t experienced much backlash or [been] treated unjustly based on me being female. But I’ve heard so many stories otherwise! So many women that have been making music much longer than I have, they’ve told me stories and I know it’s out there. When I was part of Her Sound Her Story [big ups to Michelle Grace Hunder and Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore!] one of the things I was made aware of was that there are so many women going to uni and studying music, but there’s barely any females running management, or labels you know? I want to see those women, I know they’re out there and I want to celebrate them!”

What’s next for Kaiit, you ask?

"I’m soon to release my debut EP, Live From Her Room, it’s almost done and I’m so excited! I’ma tour... Places [she laughs]... And I am so excited, I can’t believe music is taking me to places I never imagined I’d go, I just can’t wait to share the music with everyone."