There’s always something we dread as humans – be it not wanting to go home after a good party or the intimidating fans pressing you into the studio to release music, something always lies on the list. For Kaiit, it’s less about FOMO and more about discernment – standing on business in life and music.
Bringing together her Indigenous Papua New Guinean and Gunditjmara heritage with her background as a professional makeup artist, Kaiit channels the different facets of her identity into bespoke characters, consistently relaying depth throughout her evolution.
Her lyrics reflect that: from the raw vulnerability of “need to stop caring how strangers view me,” mentioned in her song “2000 n Somethin”, to the self-check accountability of “you know you got a session in the morning / You know you gotta” in her freshly released single, “Lil Mama Theme Song”, out now via Big Sis Energy Records.
It’s a boldness that feels almost Kendrick-esque, a refusal to compromise essence for trends. Since her breakout single “Natural Woman” in 2017, with its heartfelt mantra “I have enough love to share,” setting the tone of her path, Kaiit is ready to have more fun channeling new characters.
‘Lil Mama’ celebrates a new chapter for Kaiitt. “When I was coming up with the characters, I thought, ‘Okay, I need to learn how to tap dance now. They’re all just reflections of me, each one a different side of my journey,” she says, revealing that much of this creative flow came from a writing period during the pandemic. “I just wanted to create another world for myself to be in.”
Co-signed by musical legends Jill Scott and now Anderson .Paak, Kaiit joined Paak’s Jameson Distilled Sounds retreat in Ireland this August, where she delivered a captivating Australian-Malaysian seductive duo performance of her original song, “Draw Me”, with CLAUDIA.
Kaiit is a beacon of light, creating worlds where everyone feels seen and inspired. She’s now stepping into a new era with ‘Lil Mama’, a persona that promises to push boundaries even further; if her roots built the foundation, her evolution is proof she’s growing taller, stronger, and always on her terms.
Kaiit’s alter ego was first introduced in May at the Sydney Opera House, emerging from a vibrant tapestry of speakeasies and personal introspection. The show was a revelation. Performing as ‘Lil Mama’, she delivered an immersive experience incorporating tap dancing. “It’s all part of this new era,” she says, “drawing from the 1920s and ’30s while celebrating the beauty and Blackness of tap dance.”
Credit: Jade D’amico
Written during a family visit to Papua New Guinea, “Lil Mama Theme Song” is a powerful reminder to come back to yourself and your roots.
Kaiit draws deep inspiration from her family, particularly from the elders who shaped her musical career. “I’m just so happy because it’s a long time coming. I originally planned to get an elder out here, Uncle Jack Charles, an absolute icon, and we were getting everything sorted when he passed away. The whole community is such an icon,” she shares, recalling the profound loss. Her thoughts also turn to her grandpa, whose influence runs deep in her music. “I love his voice, and he’s inspired me so much musically. He’s a massive jazz head, and the music and vinyls he shared with me.”
Kaiit’s artistry isn’t only about revisiting the past; it’s about creating a unique, timeless space where old and new collide. “This world I’m building isn’t just the 1920s – it’s somewhere in the middle, somewhere else entirely,” she explains.
@kaiit_isshe For the real ones that watched the end of the music video, how’d you like this treat? 💚 #newmusic #tapdance
It’s all about ‘Lil Mama’ now. By day, she works at a barbershop; by night, she transforms into a jazz singer in a hidden speakeasy beneath a drive-in cinema.
“I want people to smell popcorn as they walk in, to feel transported by the music, and to hear the nostalgic announcements that bring them into the story,” Kaiit says. Even in her studio work, she layers sonic details like playful interludes and mosquito-themed countdowns to evoke vivid memories. Every element – from the sounds of jazz to the scent of popcorn – has been carefully crafted to teleport every listener into her cinematic universe. Welcome to the ‘Lil Mama’ era.
Kaiit’s “Lil Mama Theme Song” is out now via Big Sis Energy Records.
