Many methodologies and theories such as The Musicology of Production (e.g. Which of the possible methodologies will help to explore and pinpoint the analytic factors that make ‘Nakamarra’ a more sophisticated song in the realms of Popular Music? When choosing which are appropriate, the context of the question being asked is key. The question of which methodologies to use is an important one. This perhaps suggests that the level of compositional excellent the band have achieved makes it challenging for the average Popular Music transcriber. Interestingly, Nakamarra was one of the few Hiatus Kaiyote’s songs found to have be transcribed. Nakamarra, taken from Hiatus Kaiyote’s first album ‘Tawk Tomahawk’ is of particular interest due to it’s more complex choices of harmonic and melodic arrangement and its lyrical phrasing and content. Therefore, it seems advisable to study what Hiatus Kaiyote do beyond a more common description of Popular Music to take their songs to a more sophisticated and yet still popular level of composition. This band seem to have a level of sophistication in their song arrangements. As a whole, they far exceed the sum of their parts - though Nai Palm's abundant charisma and talent often take center stage.The aim of this case study is to find and apply methodologies suitable for study with regards to analysing one of Hiatus Kaiyote’s songs, with particular reference to sophistication in Popular Music. But each musician, as we explore in this episode, wields their own superpower. Maybe one reason for this is they are fundamentally a democratic unit. Somehow, this band has solved the riddle of being a favorite among hip-hop enthusiasts, R&B heads and jazz aficionados alike. We don't know exactly where their music fits, and don't particularly care. Hiatus Kaiyote should be celebrated as one of the great bands working today, a modern day equivalent to Steely Dan. The album features an intoxicating mix of original compositions which includes Colombian gaita flutes, singing bats, and the howl of a lone dog owned by the band's drummer.

So we made the decision not to go there in this episode of The Checkout, focusing only on the music. Guitarist and lead vocalist Nai Palm, didn't even think she would be alive for release of the band's third album, Mood Valiant.Īs reported in NME, Hiatus Kaiyote doesn't like to speak about her medical condition, a cancer battle that started well before the pandemic, in 2019.

It’s been a brutal few years for the genre-agnostic band from the still-shut-down Melbourne, Australia. As the world opens up, Hiatus Kaiyote continues to patiently wait for their album release party.

Hiatus kaiyote genre