A three-time Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and musician from Australia, Naomi Saalfield, professionally known as Nai Palm, is a composer, instrumentalist, producer, vocalist and poet who approaches all of these self-taught disciplines with an intuitive, infectious grace which sent her on a journey to sculpt songs that have been received and treasured across the world. It is a world she has traveled many times over as a solo artist as well as with her band Hiatus Kaiyote, who have become household names since they first began playing together in Melbourne in 2011.
After the independent release of their debut album Tawk Tomahawk, word of mouth caught on like wildfire and within months they were championed by a host of R&B and hip hop’s most respected tastemakers and icons (Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Jazzy Jeff, Erykah Badu, Prince). This eventually led to their signing with Salaam Remi’s new imprint Flying Buddha (on Sony Music Masterworks) in 2013, and a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance for their single ‘Nakamarra feat. Q-Tip.’ This Grammy nomination made them the first Australian artist ever to be recognized by the Grammys in an R&B category.
Kendra McKinley is a conduit of connection with a voice that sounds like tuned honey – creating a soundscape that braids sensuality, levity and ease. Her live show invites audiences to swerve and swoon to yummy grooves & drop into that blissful sensation of smoking weed with your bra off.
Kendra’s recorded catalog showcases a vivid depth and range of artistry, with her most recent LP, WHERE DOES A BODY BEGIN?, blending lush and seasoned sensibilities – reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark infused with the groove of D’Angelo’s Black Messiah. Her forthcoming EP, music for smoking weed with your bra off, is a floral and funky collection of songs both performed and produced solely by McKinley. The most romantic offering within her discography is The Henry Miller Memorial Library Sessions: written and recorded during a dreamy five-week residency at Big Sur’s iconic bookstore, music venue, and commemorative space dedicated to the late author.
Beyond her solo work, McKinley was also music director, bandleader, and performer in Ragnar Kjartansson’s piece Romantic Songs of the Patriarchy, presented at the Guggenheim Museum in New York (2021) and The Women’s Building in San Francisco (2018). Now based in New York’s Hudson Valley, she continues to nourish a vibrant community of fellow artists & collaborators, with a homegrown base of loyal fans.
