kia

Kia’s sensibility is shaped by a specific pool of memories, from formative experiences as a young punter at festivals like Labyrinth in Japan and Waking Life in Portugal, to Australia’s tastemaking Inner Varnika, Melbourne’s park party renaissance, and the local heroes who defined it. It was this illegal rave ecosystem that gave Kia her first gigs in the late 2010s, allowing her to showcase the niche shades of deep, bass-tinged techno psychedelia she had been cultivating.

It resonated, quickly catapulting her onto a circuit of dream bookings, including festivals such as Freerotation, Sustain-Release, and Draaimolen, and clubs like Bassiani, De School, and Nowadays, where she holds a residency. Along the way came recognition from Resident Advisor, who named her Dekmantel Podcast 2024 “Mix of the Year” and featured her in their “Breaking Through” series. She has also appeared in Mixmag’s “Top DJs” lists in 2024 and 2025, and DJ Mag’s “Ones to Watch” 2024 list.

Ever the facilitator filling in the gaps, Kia founded her label, mix series, and party imprint Animalia, as well as Cirrus, initially as a home for some of Melbourne’s finest unreleased talent. These platforms have since grown into some of the most respected spaces for pioneering a distinct sound. More recently, her focus has turned to un:send, an annual festival she co-runs as an exercise in dream programming, curation, and collaboration.

On the road, Kia values the discovery of different communities, spaces, and sounds, channeling these perspectives back into her local scene. Acting as an ambassador for Melbourne’s excellence has long been central to her work, conveyed in a way that feels both grounded and unmistakably world-class, oscillating between meaningful homecomings and curious escapades.

AGENT
Glyn Hill: glyn@watartists.com