Photo by Lydia Rui

Not a lot of artists stir up the same feelings as Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu did before them, but Melbourne jazz and soul queen Kaiit is one of them.

At just twenty years old, Kaiit is thriving right now. It’s no surprise to hear that she’s been singing for as long as she can remember, but it’s funny to think that she grew up listening to Pink Floyd – courtesy of her alternative music loving parents. Her foray into music is only a recent venture though.

Born in Papua New Guinea, Kaiit grew up between PNG and Australia, before eventually settling with her family in Melbourne – coincidentally, the largest hub for rnb and soul music in the country. She found her feet while participating in the hip hop and urban music mentoring program at Art Centre Melbourne, where Momo of Diafrix schooled her on the industry. Since, she’s gone on to support international heavyweights Joey Bada$$, Chance The Rapper and The Internet, plus local legend Sampa The Great.

Kaiit is one of the most exciting young talents in the country right now, and it’s her old soul voice and edgy aesthetic that commands your attention. Her buttery smooth vocals know no bounds, traversing honey-like sing-song and fire beats as casually as she pieces together her eclectic sartorial style (what, like it’s hard?). But it’s her lyricism and honest storytelling that set her apart.

Last year, her debut single Natural Woman and follow up 2000 n Somethin got Kaiit some early love and attention, but her most recent release OG Luv Kush pt.2 announces her as one to keep an eye on. She hits all the right spots about breaking up: going on a social media un-follow spree, but also really wanting to bump into them on a night out. The lush backing track and chill keys lull you so hard, it’s easy to miss Kaiit’s earnest confessions and the dissonance of missing someone but knowing you’re better off. And the flex to her ex in the hook is the ‘pow!’ leaving us eagerly anticipating her debut EP, Live From Her Room, in late July.

With all this commotion about Kaiit, check out why below.

WHO: KLUB KOORI with Electric Fields, Kaiit, Dwayne Broome, Chloe Grant-King, Kakyra Ocean
WHERE: Carriageworks, Redfern
WHEN: Saturday 14 July, 8pm
HOW MUCH: $15.26 – Tickets available here.

Tune into Up For It every monday to meet your new independent artist of the week!