Miss Kaninna
{{short description|Black Indigenous Aboriginal musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Miss Kaninna, May 2025, Brighton UK.jpg
| birth_name = Kaninna Langford
| birth_place = Australia
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 2023-present
}}
Kaninna Langford (known professionally as Miss Kaninna) is an Australian singer and songwriter.{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/7807802/homecoming-for-indigenous-actress-as-production-visits-the-coast/|title= Touring production of The Sapphires visits Burnie Arts and Function Centre|website=The Advocate (Tasmania)|date= 5 July 2022|access-date=18 November 2024}}
Miss Kaninna released her self-titled debut EP in September 2024. In 2024, Australian Recording Industry Association announced that Miss Kaninna is the first independent Aboriginal woman to ever be nominated for a debut single at the ARIA Music Awards.{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/aria-confirms-miss-kaninna-as-first-independent-aboriginal-woman-nominated-for-a-debut-single/U4XpR0ZJSEs/18-11-24|title=ARIA Confirms Miss Kaninna As First Independent Aboriginal Woman Nominated For A Debut Single |website=The Music|date=18 November 2024|access-date=18 November 2024}}
Early life
Kaninna grew up on Bruny Island, Tasmania.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/miss-kaninna/ |title= Miss Kaninna|website=Triple J Unearthed|date= 14 August 2024|access-date=18 November 2024}} She had beginnings in musical theatre. At age 18, Kaninna was accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Feeling unsupported, Kaninna returned to Tasmania, telling The Music in 2023 "I was living away from home when I was 18 – like I'm from Bruny and then, all of a sudden, I moved to Perth, which is a massive jump. I just kind of fell out of love [with the course] and thought, 'Oh, this is not what I thought it was.'"{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/features/miss-kaninna-blak-women-have-always-been-at-the-bottom-but-if-you-give-us-the-chance-well-outshine-a/yxRx397BwMM/28-12-23|title=Miss Kaninna: 'Blak Women Have Always Been At The Bottom But If You Give Us The Chance, We'll Outshine All Of You' |website=The Music|date=28 December 2023|access-date=18 November 2024}}
In 2021, Miss Kaninna commencing singing backing vocals in community bands before meeting producer Finn Rees.
She was cast as Cynthia in the 2022 national theatre tour of The Sapphires.{{cite web|url=https://www.stagecenta.com/showid/7232/default.aspx|title= HIT Productions presents The Sapphires|website=Stage Centa|date=2022|access-date=18 November 2024}} In 2022, Miss Kaninna debuted her solo music at Dark Mofo before relocating to Melbourne later that year.
Career
=2023-present: ''Kaninna''=
In 2023, Miss Kaninna signed with Soul Has No Tempo and in April 2023, announced the release of debut single "Blak Britney" (4 May 2023), a song the artist described as "an anti-establishment anthem".{{cite web|url=https://www.soulhasnotempo.com/news/2023/04/20/miss-kaninna-announces-debut-single-blak-britney|title=Soul Has No Tempo welcomes Miss Kaninna, announces debut single 'Blak Britney' |website=Soul Has No Tempo|date=April 2023|access-date=18 November 2024}} The song received rotation on triple j.
In October 2024 Miss Kaninna released "Pinnacle Bitch".
In June 2024, Miss Kaninna released "Push Up", a song about moving from Tasmania to Melbourne.{{cite web|url=https://nit.com.au/28-06-2024/12146/rising-first-nations-star-miss-kaninna-releases-new-single|title=Rising First Nations star Miss Kaninna releases new single |website= National Indigenous Times|date=28 June 2024|access-date=18 November 2024}}
In September 2024, Miss Kaninna released her debut EP. Upon release Miss Kaninna said "It took me a while to finally name the EP Kaninna. I had other names circling in my head but none of them really felt right. This being my first body of work as an artist I wanted to name it something I can be proud of and look back at in years time and still feel a connection to it. That's when I realised it had to be my name. Since releasing music, people often ask me 'what my real name is' which is so funny because my name is so unique that people must think it's made up."{{cite web|url=https://nit.com.au/20-09-2024/13833/miss-kaninna-releases-new-ep-ahead-of-headline-tour|title=Miss Kaninna releases new EP ahead of headline tour |website=National Indigenous Times|date=20 September 2024|access-date=18 November 2024}}
Personal life
Langford is a Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Kalkadoon and Yirandhali woman.{{cite web|url=https://beat.com.au/im-in-the-prime-of-my-fucking-life-miss-kaninna-is-in-a-league-of-her-own/|title= 'I'm in the prime of my fucking life': Miss Kaninna is in a league of her own|website=Beat Magazine|date=6 September 2024|access-date=18 November 2024}}
Her grandmother, Rosalind Langford, was a famous painter and renowned activist. Rosalind played an important role in starting the Aboriginal Information Service in the 1970s, the first Aboriginal organisation in Tasmania, and was its first State Secretary.{{cite web|url=https://premierartists.com.au/artist/miss-kaninna/ |title=Miss Kaninna|website=Premier Artists|access-date=18 November 2024}}
Her mother, Ruth, work with the Indigenous Women's Legal Centre for women experiencing family violence. Ruth is the founder of Nayri Niara, an Aboriginal social enterprise that works to uplift local communities. Ruth also performed in a funk-reggae band.
In November 2023, Miss Kaninna appeared on an episode of Triple J's Hip Hop Show and delivered pro-Palestine comments, prompting complaints. On 13 December 2023, ABC Ombudsman Fiona Cameron found the Australian Broadcasting Corporation had breached its impartiality standards.{{cite web |url=https://about.abc.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Ombudsmans-Investigation-Report-Hip-Hop-Show-24-November-2023-1.pdf|title=Ombudsman Investigation Report – 13 December 2023: triple j - Hip Hop Show – 24 November 2023|last=Cameron|first=Fiona|date=13 December 2023|website=ABC Ombudsman|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=15 December 2023|quote=}}{{cite news|last=Brook|first=Benedict|date=15 December 2023|title=Pro-Palestine statement on Triple J by hip hop artist Miss Kaninna breached ABC standards, broadcaster finds|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/radio/propalestine-statement-on-triple-j-by-hip-hop-artist-miss-kaninna-breached-abc-standards-broadcaster-finds/news-story/a31a7f420a08ec84a9f28b35dafdb233|work=news.com.au|location= |access-date=15 December 2023}}
Discography
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of extended plays ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:25em;"| EP details ! scope="col" colspan="1" style="width:5em;"| Peak chart |
| scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|AUS |
|---|
| scope="row" | Kaninna
| | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Kaninna did not enter the top 100 ARIA Album Charts, but peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Australian Artist HipHop/R&B Album Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/0BBF2730D86B07B8057B5D006AA13E01217CB4530528BFA09DC465DDF2F2D180/ARIA%20Australian%20Artist%20HIP%20HOP_RandB%20Albums%20Chart.pdf?seq=42 |title= ARIA Australian Artist HipHop/R&B Album Chart|date= 30 September 2024|access-date=18 November 2024}}}} |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles ! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Album / EP |
| scope="row"| "Blak Britney"
|rowspan="2"| 2023 |rowspan="4"| Kaninna |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Pinnacle Bitch"{{Cite web|url=https://www.soulhasnotempo.com/news/2023/10/20/miss-kaninna-shares-new-single-pinnacle-bitch|title= Miss Kaninna shares new single 'Pinnacle Bitch', signs with Premier Artists|website=Soul Has No Tempo|date=20 October 2023|access-date=18 November 2024}} |
| scope="row"| "Push Up"{{cite web|url=https://purplesneakers.tv/news/this-week-s-best-new-music-miss-kaninna-becca-hatch-sophie-more/laIriYiLio0/28-06-24|title=This Week's Best New Music: Miss Kaninna, Becca Hatch, SOPHIE & More |website=Happy Mag|date=28 June 2024|access-date=18 November 2024}}
|rowspan="2"| 2024 |
| scope="row"| "Dawg in Me" |
=Notes=
{{notelist-ua}}
Awards and nominations
=AIR Awards=
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2025
| Miss Kaninna
| Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| Kaninna
| Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP
| {{nom}}
|-
| Nick Herrera for Kaninna
| Independent Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
|}
= APRA Music Awards =
The APRA Music Awards were established by the Australasian Performing Right Association in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers, and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2025
| Miss Kaninna
| Emerging Songwriter of the Year
| {{nominated}}
|-
{{end}}
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry. They commenced in 1987.
{{Awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2024
|rowspan="2"| "Blak Britney"
| {{nom}}
|rowspan="3"| {{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-26/aria-awards-2024-nominations-royel-otis-kylie-minogue-dom-dolla/104398174|title= ARIA Awards 2024 nominations — everything you need to know|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 September 2024|access-date=29 September 2024}}
|-
| {{nom}}
|-
| Will Hamilton-Coates for "Blak Britney"
| {{nom}}
|}
=J Awards=
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2023
| Miss Kaninna
| Unearthed Artist of the Year
| {{won}}
| {{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/all-the-j-award-nominees-2023/103046248|title=Check out all the nominees for the 2023 J Awards|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=1 November 2023|access-date=18 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/industry/g-flip-genesis-owusu-more-crowned-2023-j-award-winners/vdID0dDT0tU/13-11-23|title=G Flip, Genesis Owusu & More Crowned 2023 J Award Winners|website=The Music|date=13 November 2023|access-date=18 November 2024}}
|}
=Music Victoria Awards=
The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2023
| "Blak Britney"
| Best Song or Track
| {{nom}}
|rowspan="2"|{{cite web|url= https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/music-victoria-awards-nominees-2023/ | title=Nominees, Hall of Fame Inductees Announced for 2023 Music Victoria Awards|website=Music Feeds|date=14 September 2023|access-date=18 November 2024}}
|-
| Miss Kaninna
| The Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent
| {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="1"| 2024
| "Pinnacle Bitch"
| Best Song or Track
| {{nom}}
{{end}}
=National Indigenous Music Awards=
The National Indigenous Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music.
{{Awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="1"| 2025
| Miss Kaninna
| Best New Artist
| {{nominated}}
| rowspan="1"| {{cite web|url= https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/national-indigenous-music-awards-nimas-2025-nominations/105502724 |title= 3%, BARKAA and Emily Wurramara lead the 2025 NIMAs nominations|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date= 7 July 2025|access-date= 9 July 2025 }}
|}
=Rolling Stone Australia Awards=
The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2025
| Miss Kaninna
| Best New Artist
| {{shortlist}}
| {{cite web|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rolling-stone-australia-awards-longlist-revealed-73101/|title= 2025 Rolling Stone Australia Awards: Longlist Revealed|publisher=Rolling Stone Australia|date=5 March 2025|access-date=6 March 2025}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:21st-century Australian women singers
Category:Musicians from Tasmania
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century Australian singers
Category:Indigenous Australian musicians
Category:Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts alumni