Kaiit

Kaiit is the performance name of Kaiit Bellamia Waup (born 29 October 1997, Papua New Guinea), who is a neo soul singer-songwriter based in Australia. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, they won the inaugural Best Soul/R&B Release category for the single, "Miss Shiney".

Biography

Kaiit was born as Kaiit Bellamia Waup, in 1997 in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to a Papua New Guinean father and Indigenous Australian mother of Gunditjmara and Torres Strait Islander heritage.

Kaiit's first single, "Natural Woman", was issued in mid-2017. Sonny Thomas of Purple Sneakers praised the song, "Jam-packed with soul and seemingly effortless cool, she shines on her new single and film clip." It is included on their five-track debut extended play, Live from Her Room, which was issued in September 2018. Gloria Brancatisano of Beat rated it at 8.5 out-of 10, "Kaiit paints a picture of a woman who understands her worth, appreciating those who come into her life to improve it while carefully removing those who are toxic." It won the inaugural Best Soul/R&B Release category at the ARIA Music Awards of 2019.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the artist turned to crowdfunding to maintain their independence from major record labels. They performed new material in February 2023 at Nocturnal x Midsumma held at Melbourne Museum. In March 2024 the singer supported Zambian-born Sampa the Great at Supreme Court Gardens, Melbourne. Kaiit performed new songs, "2000 n Somethin'" and "Dumb Sis Juice", by "Combining fluid jazz sounds with wavy, celestial vocals, Kaiit delivered a quirky, intimate performance that left listeners feeling giddy and euphoric."

Personal life Kaiit is non-binary, and uses she/her, he/him, and they/them pronouns. Their partner in life is fellow singer Adrian Eagle, who was also nominated for Best Soul/R&B Release in 2019 for his single "AOK". Label: Alt Music Group Formats: digital download, streaming

Singles + List of singles as lead artist Title Year Album "Natural Woman" 2017 Live from Her Room "2000 N Somethin" "OG Luv Kush p2" 2018 Live from Her Room "Miss Shiney" 2019 "Space"

As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist Title Year Album "Warning" 2018 Lab Experiments Vol. 2

Awards and nominations APRA Awards The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". 2019 "OG Luv Kush Pt 2" by Kaiit (Kaiit Waup, Michael Chan, Anthony Douglas, Mohamed Komba, Jaydean Miranda, Damian Smith) Song of the Year 2020 "Miss Shiney" by Kaiit (Kaiit Waup, Vincent Goodyer, Nicholas Martin) Song of the Year 2025

Most Performed R&B / Soul Work

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. 2019 "Miss Shiney" Best Soul/R&B Release

Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

herself Best Hip Hop Act

herself Breakthrough Act herself Archie Roach Award for Emerging Talent 2019 herself Best Hip Hop Act

"Space" Best Song or Track

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009. 2019 "Miss Shiney" Unpublished prize