Hiatus Kaiyote

Hiatus Kaiyote

Hiatus Kaiyote in 2013
Background information
Also known as HK
Origin Melbourne, Australia
Genres Neo-soul, future soul, jazz-funk
Years active 2011 (2011)–present
Labels Flying Buddha Equinox Recordings, Sony Masterworks
Associated acts The Bamboos, Q-Tip
Members
  • Naomi "Nai Palm" Saalfield
  • Paul Bender
  • Perrin Moss
  • Simon Mavin

Hiatus Kaiyote (/hˈtəs kˈjti/) is a future-soul quartet formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2011.[1] The members are Naomi "Nai Palm" Saalfield[2][3][4] (vocals, guitar), Paul Bender (bass), Simon Mavin (keyboards) and Perrin Moss (drums, percussion). In 2013, they were nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Performance for their song "Nakamarra", performed with Q-Tip, but lost out to Snarky Puppy and Lalah Hathaway's recording "Something".[5] The song appears on their debut album, Tawk Tomahawk, released by Flying Buddha.

In 2014, the band joined forces with hip hop artist Remi, the multi-faceted Kirkis, producer Silent Jay and vocalist Jace XL to embark on an Australia-wide tour titled "The Sonic Architects National Conference".[6] Three additional backing vocalists, Jace Excell, Loreli, and Alejandro Jay Abapo were added for this tour.[7]

The band released their second album, Choose Your Weapon, on 1 May 2015. The review aggregator Metacritic has given the album a normalized rating of 88 out of 100, based on 6 reviews, indicating 'universal acclaim'.[8] On 9 May 2015, Choose Your Weapon debuted at number 22 on the Australian albums chart.[9]

The song "Breathing Underwater" from their second album Choose Your Weapon was nominated for Best R&B Performance at the 58th Grammy Awards, but lost out to The Weeknd's recording of "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Gray)".[10]

History

2012-14: Debut

“Kaiyote” is not a word. It’s a made up word, but it kind of sounds like peyote and coyote – it’s a word that involved the listeners creativity as to how they perceive it. So it reminds you of things but it’s nothing specific. When I looked it up on online it was like a bird appreciation society around the world, so for me that was a great omen, because I’m a bird lady. A hiatus is essentially a pause, it’s a moment in time. So, to me, a hiatus is taking a pause in your life to take in your surroundings, have a full panoramic view of your experiences and absorbing, and “kaiyote” is expressing them in a way involves the listeners creativity.

— Nai Palm, explaining the band's name.[11]

The four band members met in their native Melbourne, Australia.[12] Singer songwriter Nai Palm stated she had a vision for Hiatus Kaiyote’s brand of future soul. “I always knew I wanted to be in a band, but I never knew it could be my own conversation.”[12] Following a performance by Palm, bass player Paul Bender decided to seek her out; one year later, the two began to collaborate on compositions that felt intuitive.[12] Bender brought multi-instrumentalists Perrin Moss and keyboardist Simon Mavin into the equation, which led to Hiatus Kaiyote playing their first gig at the Bohemian Masquerade Ball among sword swallowers, fire twirlers and gypsy death core bands.[12] Gilles Peterson named them the Breakthrough Artist of 2013.[12]

The band released their debut album Tawk Tomahawk independently in 2012, which was noticed by numerous musicians including Q-Tip, Animal Collective, The Dirty Projectors, and Erykah Badu.[11][13] Shortly after, the band was noticed by Salaam Remi. Remi had been working in A&R for Sony, who had given him the opportunity to start up his own label, titled Flying Buddha.[11] The band signed to Remi's label shortly after, who distributed their debut album worldwide. Remi later introduced the band to Q-Tip, which led to him featuring on a remix of "Nakamarra" which was included on the re-release of their debut.[11] Following the release of "Nakamarra" the band received public endorsements from both Prince and Questlove via Twitter who urged their followers to listen to the song.[14]

The band began receiving attention in 2013, when they were nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Performance for their song "Nakamarra", performed with Q-Tip, but lost out to Snarky Puppy and Lalah Hathaway's recording "Something".[15] In 2014, the band joined forces with hip hop artist Remi, the multi-faceted Kirkis, producer Silent Jay and vocalist Jace XL to embark on an Australia-wide tour titled 'The Sonic Architects National Conference'.[16] Three additional backing vocalists: Jace, Loreli, and Jay Jay were added for this tour.[17] During the tour Hiatus Kayiote met Taylor McFerrin, whom they credit for bringing them international attention after catching the last part of Hiatus' set in January 2014.[18][19]

2015: Choose Your Weapon

The band released their second album, Choose Your Weapon, on 1 May 2015. Lead vocalist Nai Palm described the album as an "extension" of their debut, and stated she and the band had no intention to make a one genre body of work. During the recording the band wanted to pay tribute to the format of a mixtape, so they incorporated a range of interludes.[20] The review aggregator Metacritic has given the album a normalized rating of 88 out of 100, based on 6 reviews, indicating 'universal acclaim'.[21] On 9 May 2015, Choose Your Weapon debuted at number 22 on the Australian albums chart.[22] The album also became the band's first release, to chart in the US, parking at one hundred and twenty seven on the US Billboard 200,[23] and number eleven on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[24]

The song "Breathing Underwater" from their second album Choose Your Weapon was nominated for Best R&B Performance at the 58th Grammy Awards, but lost out to The Weeknd's recording of "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Gray)".[10]

Discography

Albums

Title Details
Tawk Tomahawk
Choose Your Weapon

EPs

Singles

Music videos

References

  1. Andy Kellman. "Hiatus Kaiyote | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  2. True, Everett. "Hiatus Kaiyote: Choose Your Weapon review – psychedelic adventure land". theguardian.com. Guardian News And Media Limited. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  3. Todd, Bella. "Premiere: Listen to Hiatus Kaiyote's New EP". redbull.com. Red Bull. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  4. Fusilli, Jim. "Hiatus Kaiyote's Musical Mosaic". wsj.com. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  5. Michael Dwyer. "Independent Melbourne band Hiatus Kaiyote gets Grammy nod". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  6. "Hiatus Kaiyote, Remi and friends unite for national tour". abc.net.au. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  7. "Hiatus Kaiyote at Federation Square". thedwarf.com. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. "Reviews for Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote - Metacritic". metacritic.com. Retrieved 2015-05-11.
  9. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  10. 1 2 "2016 Grammy Awards: Complete list of winners and nominees". latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "what a kaiyote is". Okayplayer. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Biography". Billboard (magazine). Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  13. "Interview: Hiatus Kaiyote - ACCLAIM". Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  14. "Hiatus Kaiyote get a tweet of approval from Prince". Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  15. Michael Dwyer. "Independent Melbourne band Hiatus Kaiyote gets Grammy nod". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  16. "Hiatus Kaiyote, Remi and friends unite for national tour". abc.net.au. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  17. "Hiatus Kaiyote at Federation Square". thedwarf.com. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  18. "Taylor McFerrin (US), Hiatus Kaiyote & The Gentlemen Of Liesure". allevents.in. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  19. "Interview: Hiatus Kaiyote - ACCLAIM". Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  20. DanMichael (2015-04-27). "Interview: Nai Palm Discusses 'Choose Your Weapon'". Revive-music.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  21. "Reviews for Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote - Metacritic". metacritic.com. Retrieved 2015-05-11.
  22. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  23. "Hiatus Kaiyote - Chart history". Billboard.com. 2015-05-23. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  24. "Hiatus Kaiyote - Chart history". Billboard.com. 2015-05-23. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
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