About

Hailing from lutruwita/Tasmania, Miss Kaninna is a proud Yorta Yorta, 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.

Miss Kaninna's 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, at a time when the state denied the existence of Aboriginal people despite accepting Commonwealth money for them. 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 communities.

In 2021, Miss Kaninna began singing BV’s in bands and collaborating with local producers, meeting Finn Rees (Close Counters, 30/70) who led production on her debut single. Her provocative lyricism and bold songwriting took shape in these sessions, resulting in a compelling live project that captivated audiences when she debuted new music with her band at 2022’s Dark Mofo festival. Without any 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.

Now Melbourne-based, Miss Kaninna arrives fully formed with debut music set for release May 2023.