PANIA Explores UK Garage Music On New Track 'BURNA FONE'

West Melbourne’s PANIA (real name Pania Hika) has received considerable acclaim and attention since (and before) releasing her debut EP, last year’s burnt ur clothes & changed the addy.

Dubbed a trailblazer in Australian R&B and pop, Pania represents a new voice – someone mining a different kind of 90s music.

Going back to the era when UK garage music was king, Pania has released her new single, BURNA FONE, a slick, assured statement from Australia’s latest R&B star.

Burna Fone, produced by music legend Toddla T (Stormzy, Headie One, Craig David, Burna Boy, Celeste, Lady Leshurr, Skepta, Aitch), follows Pania’s sold-out Sydney Opera House gig from last month, opening for Kehlani across Australia, and recent appearances at Live Nation and Warner Music Australia showcase events.

Toddla T’s genre-bending production, which cleverly incorporates Polynesian drums, provides the ultimate sonic bed for Pania to explore her vocal delivery.

Pania divulged about the new track, “BURNA FONE was written on my recent writing trip in London with UK legend Toddla T. I went into the studio knowing I wanted to make something different and fun, and to bridge the gap between Melbourne and the UK. BURNA FONE was what we came out with.”

In a recent The Music cover story that spanned her debut EP and her beginnings as a singer, Pania pondered the differences between Melbourne and Sydney music cultures. "I definitely see the Sydney focus, 100 percent," she said. "I think it's just [a] faster pace – like there's more hustle there. People are really hungry for it there. That's what I've seen when I go there.

“That's why I love being there – 'cause I'm always in a work mode. Whereas when I'm in Melbourne, it's very chill… I'll hit someone up [to collab], and they'll be like, 'Oh, maybe, I don't know….' But, if I'm in Sydney, it's like, 'Yeah, let's do it today.' So I think it's [a] different lifestyle; different culture."

You can check out BURNA FONE below.