Hiatus Kaiyote ink global publishing deal with Warner Chappell

Grammy-nominated Australian 'wondercore' band Hiatus Kaiyote have signed a global deal with Warner Music Group’s publishing arm Warner Chappell Music (WCM).

The administration agreement covers all past and future work, and came out of the US.

WCM co-chair and CEO, Guy Moot, said: “I’ve always been a big fan of Hiatus Kaiyote’s wonderful music from afar. Their unique sound and songs have also captivated top artists and music lovers alike around the world. 

“We’re proud to represent their work and partner with them as they prepare to release their highly anticipated new album.”

Ryan Press, president of A&R US and Brandra Ringo, senior director of A&R, added: “We’ve been following Hiatus Kaiyote’s journey as artists and songwriters for a while now, and when we first heard their music, both of us felt an instant connection with it.”

Hiatus Kaiyote shared: “It’s amazing to partner with Guy, Ryan and Brandra who are huge advocates of songwriters and really understand what we’re trying to do with our music.”

Naomi “Nai Palm” Saalfield (vocals, guitar), Paul Bender (bass, production), Simon Mavin (keyboard) and Perrin Moss (drums, percussion) met in Melbourne and officially formed Hiatus Kaiyote in 2011.

Their music ran the gamut from R&B to jazz to futuristic to electronica and fusion— and attracted praise from the likes of Prince, Pharrell Williams, Erykah Badu, Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, Q-Tip, Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors,  Common and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Their second album Choose Your Weapon entered the US Top 200, and its track ‘Breathing Underwater’ was nominated for a Grammy for best R&B performance.

In 2013, the band’s ‘Nakamarra (ft. Q-Tip)’ was also nominated in the same category.

Drake sampled their ‘Building a Ladder’ at the beginning of ‘Free Smoke’, the opening song for his album/hybrid playlist More Life. Singer Nai Palm later collaborated with Drake on his Scorpion in 2018.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z used a part of ‘The World It Softly Lulls’ on the single ‘713” from their joint album Everything Is Love. 

Featuring on the closing track on Kendrick Lamar's Damn, they also featured on cuts by Chance The Rapper, Anderson .Paak and Rhapsody.

Hiatus Kaiyote explains, “Every song we make is a little world and contains a multitude of influences. 

“Although some may refer to our songs as R&B in one moment, and electronica or proggy-tropicalia in another, we don’t think about sounds in terms of genres, but look at them more from a cinematic way. 

“We’re always trying to get to that moment where people are overwhelmed in joy, in confusion, in sadness, or in the magnitude of emotion or disbelief – as well as sometimes feeling all of these simultaneously. 

“We like to call this 'wondercore,' and that’s what we're always aiming for as a group.”

Hiatus Kaiyote’s new album is expected to be released later this year.