Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the single artwork for ‘MOB TIES’ contains the images of Indigenous people who have died.
Miss Kaninna’s first single of 2026 has arrived.
The groundbreaking ARIA nominee has dropped “MOB TIES”, a typically unrelenting single which she describes as a “homage to hip-hop and my people in the struggle.”
“I wanted to show the strength of mob and solidarity between all Black people. I want Blackfullas and immigrants to feel the sense of belonging they deserve and to give a very clear message to racist white supremacist groups, you and your rhetoric are not welcome here,” Kaninna shares.
“I’m Black on both my parents sides and growing up we made connections over the whole of the country with different mobs. I know who I am and know I come from a very proud staunch family line on both my fathers and mothers sides. My identity is not based on a trend or a “feeling”, my identity is a reflection of my strong bloodline.
“‘MOB TIES’ also touches on my perspective of white supremacy in this country. Not only am I Aboriginal but I also have Mauritian, Scottish heritage on my mothers’ side and Chinese on my fathers’, which reflects the immigration of the 1800s.
“It’s an observation of British colonialism, claiming rights over this land when sovereignty was never ceded. If you’re not Aboriginal, Torres Strait islander or Micronesian you are an immigrant. It always was Black land and it’s always going to be Black land.”
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In one particularly thrilling section, Kaninna unexpectedly spits the familiar local refrain, “Aussie Aussie Aussie / Oi Oi Oi,” before adding, “Fuck you and your Southern Cross / To all you Aussie boys.”
Listen to the searing song below.
“MOB TIES” follows 2025 single “BACKSTREETS”, which found Kaninna entering more pop/R&B territory.
“When I was in my early 20s I had a few boyfriends that were really… really white and it was hard to communicate, we have just lived such different lives and grew up with different values and ways of being,” she explained of that song.
“They were also in a much higher class bracket to me so it was very dystopian to live what seemed like double life. I was put into a lot of really vulnerable situations and had to compromise my cultural safety for the benefit of them and their families. I was conditioned for a very long time to be quiet about my experiences and to put others’ needs before my own.”
Kaninna’s breakout hit “Blak Britney” made it into our Best Australian & New Zealand Songs of the 21st Century So Far list last year.
“A star was born the moment ‘Blak Britney’ hit Australian music like a bolt of lightning,” we wrote.
“Blak Britney” helped Kaninna earn three ARIA Award nominations, and she made history as the first Independent Aboriginal woman to be nominated for a debut single.
Kaninna was also chosen as one of 25 Australian and Aotearoa acts for our Future of Music series last year.
In an attached interview for the series, she reflected on the “crazy year” that was 2024 for the rising star.
“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,” she told us.
“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.”
Looking ahead, Kaninna is one of the headliners at the final edition of Splore Festival, taking place in Aotearoa tomorrow (February 20th). Following that headline slot, she’ll cross the ditch again to support the legendary De La Soul in several cities.
Miss Kaninna’s “MOB TIES” is out now via Soul Has No Tempo / AWAL Recordings.
