What do you do when you release one of the best debut singles in Australian music in recent memory? You casually drop one of the best debut EPs this country’s ever heard.
That’s exactly what Miss Kaninna did last year, releasing her first EP, KANINNA, which opened with – what else – the ecstatically confident “Blak Britney”.
The EP showcased the music Miss Kaninna grew up listening to and loving, from hip-hop to rap, R&B to pop, with flourishes of Afrobeats, Amapiano, and more global musical influences thrown in for good measure.
The quality of KANINNA was rewarded when Miss Kaninna became the first Independent Aboriginal woman to ever be nominated for a debut single at the ARIA Awards.
“My name be filling their mouth / And I’m a threat to the rest / I work hard, invest / I’m not lucky, I’m blessed,” she fires in the middle of “Blak Britney”. A superstar in the making, Miss Kaninna already knows her worth. —Conor Lochrie
Read an exclusive interview with Miss Kaninna below. Check out the full Future of Music 2025 list here.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: How was 2024 for you? What were your biggest achievements and favourite moments?
Miss Kaninna: 2024 was a crazy year for me. Not only in my professional life but also in my personal. I had a lot of ups and downs last year but am grateful for the journey. One of my highlights of 2024 was going on my own headline tour of so-called “Australia” and I got to bring my family along with me and have them be a part of the show which was really special.
Another highlight would have to definitely be the release of my debut EP, KANINNA. It took a lot of work, time, energy, and teamwork to bring that together and I am so proud of the work. I felt like it was a step forward in being a recording artist.
Music is an increasingly crowded and competitive field. What’s one thing that makes you stand out from other artists?
I am an artist. As long as I make art that represents who I am and I am proud of it I don’t concern myself with what everyone else is doing or what my “competitors” are doing. For me, music is an expression of my identity and a place for me to feel safe and escape the very real struggles in my life and community. Truth-telling and freedom music is under threat right now. Musicians who tell it like it is and aren’t afraid to stand up against the machine are not my “competitors,” they are my colleagues.
What’s coming up for you in 2025 and beyond? Any big shows, notable releases?
My 2025 calendar is already nearly fully booked out so I know this year will be full of experiences and learning! I will be releasing new music this year with features from some of my favourite collaborators so I am very excited to share what I have been working on. I will also be going to Aotearoa and the UK for the first time, for my own headline shows which is a dream come true.
