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There is something so naturally captivating about the way Canisha explores emotion and the humanness behind even the most confronting of those: pain, inner turmoil and grief, all channeled through the perspective of a young woman who is at home within herself, and has seen the joy and happiness that is found in embracing her art.

 

Recent years have seen Canisha’s artistic vision solidify – a vision that will be beautifully realised in 2024 with the release of her debut EP, DON’T BE SCARED.

 

To be released via Bad Apples Music January 31st, the EP is a fitting statement of intent and introduction from Canisha – a debut that has been in the works for some time, but its arrival has been more than worth the wait.

 

Unafraid to lean into her love for pop music, from song construction to delivery, Canisha’s debut record is a confident and lush display. It’s evident from listening to the music that this is an artform that Canisha found herself and a clear grasp on identity through – this is a sense of relatability that listeners can connect with.

 

“Each song is very different; when I was writing this EP, I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself,” she explains. “I really wanted to explore different kinds of music and sounds.”

 

It is music that is textured and rich in arrangement, while Canisha’s vocals are inviting and warm. It’s a culmination of experiences that has led the artist to flourish off the back of a standout debut year in 2022.

 

Quickly establishing a reputation for herself as a dynamic vocalist and engaging artist; Canisha’s potential was glimpsed early, courtesy of a stand out performance alongside artists like Kobie Dee, Briggs and Chasing Ghosts at the Bad Apples House Party.

 

That appearance at the Bad Apples House Party broke open doors for Canisha, whose confidence as a performer grew exponentially as ‘Take You Home’ and subsequent releases ‘Art’ and ‘Nowhere’ brought her larger audiences and additional performance exposure at the likes of Yirramboi Festival, St. Kilda Music Festival and BIGSOUND. 

 

Unsurprisingly, the industry didn’t take long in turning their attention to Canisha’s brand of artistry; early support via both triple j and Triple J Unearthed, as well as community radio stations extensively throughout 2023 has ensured the young artist’s presence on airwaves, while behind the scenes, Canisha has been taking continued strides forward in becoming a formidable and in-demand fresh voice.

 

Inspired by a range of dynamic musical personalities including Adele and more recently, Harry Styles, Canisha credits her growth in confidence and purpose as an artist with thinking deeply about the impact her music can perhaps have on people; in a similar way to how the music by such artists has hit her when it has needed to.

 

“Growing up, I loved Adele. I used to sing Adele all the time,” Canisha remembers. 

 

“A couple of years ago, I started to become a Harry Styles fan. Harry Styles has probably been one of the biggest influences on me, in terms of growing confidence and being a little more out there. I was really shy, I had a bit of social anxiety when I was growing up, and even in my early twenties. Music has helped me with that.”

 

“When I first started, I was so terrified of making mistakes, that I would work myself up and then make mistakes. I was making myself anxious. As I’ve gotten more confident, I tend to just have fun on stage and really interact with the crowd. Be really personable and try to build rapport with the audience. Being more myself on stage has been a massive achievement for me.”

 

Including tracks like ‘Take You Home’, ‘Art’ and ‘Nowhere’, the full collection is a beautiful presentation of music that blended pop sensibilities with flecks of soul and R&B flavour – ultimately marked by Canisha’s refreshingly raw sense of lyricism and storytelling. 

 

“For me, growing up with music, the songs that I got attached to were the ones I could relate to,” Canisha explains. “Some of my songs, I’ve drawn from a particular event that has happened; but I try to make it a little broader, so people can relate to it.”

 

Growing past phases of self-doubt and over-analysing her every artistic and musical choice, the Canisha the wider public meets with this EP is a vibrant and naturally engaging woman whose creative horizons shine bright for 2024.

 

“I had to realise that I’m doing the music for me, and I’m not doing it to make others happy. If people find joy and happiness in my music, that makes me happy. But at the end of the day, I’m doing it for me. That’s what made me comfortable, and made me stop over-analysing things.” 

 

In bringing DON’T BE SCARED to life, Canisha reached a point where she can look back on a formative period of her life with an energy of contentment for the journey so far; with added excitement for where it is still to take her next.

 

“It’s taken a while to get myself to the point where I’m confident and happy in getting my work out,” she admits.

 

“When I first started writing, I was very much like, “This is what the song means,” But then I was like, if someone else interprets a song in a way that has meaning for them and in a way that helps them, then that’s fantastic.”

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For all media and bookings:

canisha.music@gmail.com

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