MISS KANINNA
Hailing from lutruwita/Tasmania, Miss Kaninna is a proud Yorta Yorta, Djadja Wurrung, Kalkadoon and
Yirendali woman who grew up on the shores of Bruny Island.
From a young age, Miss Kaninna has been commanding stages, carrying forward the powerful storytelling of her ancestors and fearlessly bringing them into the present.
With beginnings in musical theatre, Miss Kaninna’s talent was evident early. Growing up side of stage
and touring with her Mother – musician, activist and facilitator Ruth Langford – live music and
performance was a formative part of her life and childhood.
Accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) for Aboriginal Theatre after school, she later went on to be cast as
Cynthia, one of the lead characters in the Australian theatre tour of The Sapphires.
Her art is a powerful expression of her experiences as a young Blak woman in so-called Australia,
drawing from the rich cultural heritage and paths laid before her by her Matriarchs.
Her grandmother, Rosalind Langford, was a famous painter and renowned activist who played a pivotal role in starting the
Aboriginal Information Service (AIS) in the 70s, the first Aboriginal organisation in Tasmania.
Her mother Ruth engages in work with the Indigenous Women’s Legal Centre for women experiencing violence in
the family and is the founder of ‘Nayri Niara’, an Aboriginal social enterprise that works to uplift local
communities.
In 2021, Miss Kaninna began singing BV’s in community bands and collaborating with local producers,
meeting Finn Rees (Close Counters and 30/70) who led production on her debut single ‘Blak Britney’.
Her provocative lyricism and bold songwriting took shape in these sessions, resulting in a compelling live
solo project that captivated audiences when she debuted new music with her band at 2022’s Dark Mofo
festival.
Without any official music released, Miss Kaninna’s potent live energy alone earned her slots at
Tasmania’s top festivals, including Pangaea, Party In The Paddock, Mona Foma, The Great Escape, and
A Festival Called Panama.
Her debut single, ‘Blak Britney’ – an anti-establishment anthem aimed at amplifying the voices of Blak
women – was released to critical acclaim in May 2023 landing full rotation on triple j, features across
national community radio and media which led to two Music Victoria Award nominations for ‘Best Song’
and The Archie Roach Foundation award for ‘Emerging First Nations Talent’.
Taking her unrivalled and electrifying live show to this summer’s premier festivals – Meredith Music Festival, Beyond The Valley,
Sun Cycle, Wildlands and Laneway – Miss Kaninna firmly cements her arrival in Australian music and
beyond
