Some artists are introduced to the world through a defining moment. But those moments are almost always the culmination of countless small ones, stitched together by passion, patience, and an unwavering belief in yourself. Kiana Nadine’s journey has been shaped by exactly that. From finding refuge behind a drum kit as a kid to helping shape Nashville’s flourishing underground electronic scene, she’s quietly carved out a lane entirely her own. Today, that journey is reaching new audiences as her warm, groove-forward take on UKG and house continues to resonate far beyond Tennessee, introducing listeners to an artist whose music feels as genuine as the person behind it.
Electric Hawk sat down with Kiana Nadine to talk about the roots of her artistry, the community that continues to inspire her, the story behind her breakout release “Sundazed,” and the mindset that’s carried her from small-town dreamer to one of the most exciting names emerging from the American UKG movement. This conversation offers an honest look at one of electronic music’s brightest emerging voices.
In Conversation with Kiana Nadine
seradopa: For readers who are discovering you through Electric Hawk for the first time, who is Kiana Nadine? If someone walked away from one of your sets or listened to your music for the first time, what would you hope they remembered most about you?
Kiana Nadine: I’m just a regular girl who grew up loving music and always dreamed of making it a living. I started producing young, but ended up working in sales and living the everyday grind. Then I got tired of wondering what would happen if I went for it, so I finally said fuck fear and did.
I think you can hear a lot of who I am in the music I make and play. What I’ve listened to, what I’ve lived, what I love. I hope when people come to my shows, they see there’s a real person up there who really, really loves music, loves what she’s doing, and is just grateful to be doing it.
seradopa: We know your musical influences stretch across R&B, rap, pop, and rock, but what first pulled you into electronic music? Was there a particular artist, festival, or moment that completely changed the way you experienced music?
Kiana Nadine: Thinking back, Skrillex was really my introduction to electronic music outside of what was on the radio. That whole era of dubstep was easy to get into because it felt like electronic, hyped up rap with little to no lyrics. Eventually it kind of fizzled out for me though, and lead to trap tunes but more-so casual listening.
Then I discovered Disclosure, and I absolutely fell in love with the funky R&B elements in their music. They had a track with Mary J. Blige, one of my all-time favorites, and I became OBSESSED! Shortly after that, I found Flume, Hippie Sabotage, ODESZA, Hermitude, and Rudimental, and they all became regulars in my rotation alongside my rap playlists.
It wasn’t until around 2019 that I really started diving into the different subgenres of house and garage and made the pivot to try house styles of production.
seradopa: You’ve shared that pursuing music has been a dream since you were a kid. What first inspired that dream, and was there a defining moment where you realized you wanted to make this your career? Looking back now, what kept you believing in yourself enough to chase it?
Kiana Nadine: I was a band kid, haha. My grandmother signed me up for drums and bought me my first snare drum. I thought I was signing up for drum kit at first, but once I realized what it actually was, I stuck with it knowing that purchase was a lot. I ended up falling in love with percussion, which eventually led me to playing the drum kit and taking lessons.
Outside of that, I was always making little beats on keyboards we found at yard sales and eventually started messing around in GarageBand. Music became my outlet. Growing up, I’d gone through pretty crazy things, and creating music was a safe place for me to express my feelings and find fun through all the chaos. I literally only felt like myself in making music.
I think my grandmother saw that before I did. She encouraged me every step of the way, even looking into music colleges for me as early as seventh grade. Between her believing in me and music being the only thing I loved to do, pursuing it never really felt like a decision, I just did it haha.
seradopa: Tennessee has quietly become home to one of the most passionate and tight-knit electronic music communities in the underground scene. From your perspective, what makes that scene so special, and how has growing alongside that community shaped you as both an artist and a person?
Kiana Nadine: Man, Nashville is such a sick spot for electronic music right now! I think what makes it so special is that DJs, producers, and fans became the promoters creating the spaces they felt were missing. Like they didn’t wait for someone else to build the scene, they built it themselves, and that’s why it’s grown so organically.
I haven’t been here very long, but I’ve been amazed to see how much this community supports one another. People show up for each other, celebrate each other’s wins, and create space for everyone’s different sounds and ideas. Seeing that reinforced staying true to your art and vision matters. The right people will connect with it and show up eventually. Nashville has shown me what community means, and I’ll carry that forever.
seradopa: You were developing as a DJ and producer while simultaneously watching your local scene evolve around you. Looking back on those early years, what lessons did they teach you that you still carry into every performance and every release today?
Kiana Nadine: I think those early years really taught me to trust myself and not be afraid of being different. Growing alongside the scene showed me that everyone has their own path and their own timeline, and the things that make you feel like you might not fit in might be the things that people vibe with the most.
I also learned how important consistency, patience, and genuine relationships are. I hate the word “networking,” like we’re all just people, people who love music. The best connections I’ve made have come from simply showing up, supporting people, and being human. That’s what Nashville is all about.
That’s the same energy I bring into my releases and performances. I don’t want to create something just because I think it’s what people want from me. I want every song I make and every set I play to just feel like me, 100%. I’m okay with being patient with the process because I know that if I keep showing up, staying authentic, and continuing to create what I like, everything will work out.
seradopa: Over the past year, you’ve shared stages with artists like Daniel Allan, Bushbaby, Silva Bumpa, Jigitz, Oppidan, and most recently Kettama. As those opportunities continue to grow, what goes through your mind before stepping onstage? Has that feeling changed since your first major booking?
Kiana Nadine: I still get the same extreme nervousness as the first time I ever stepped on a stage! I have a moment of “holy shit this is actually happening right now!” hahaha. I’m just in disbelief and shock like every single time, but once I start a song or two I’m like “okay I know what I’m doing” haha
seradopa: This year you released “Sundazed,” a track that immediately caught our Hawk Eye. We loved hearing the story of rediscovering an old project after experiencing a creative block, sharing a snippet online, and ultimately trusting your instincts and releasing it. What makes “Sundazed” such a special milestone in your journey, and why did this track feel like the right one to finally share with the world?
Kiana Nadine: “Sundazed” was definitely an ode to putting something out simply because you love it. When I uploaded a clip to test the waters, I did NOT expect the reaction it got at ALL! Seeing people connect with it was such a cool reminder to trust my own instincts.
The encouragement from everyone is what made me realize, “okay, yep, I definitely need to release this one!” You just never know what’s gonna resonate with people, but I’m glad it did, and I’m glad I uploaded that clip haha.
seradopa: “Sundazed” feels like a snapshot of where you are creatively today. Do you see it as the beginning of a new chapter for your sound, or more as a continuation of the artistic direction you’ve been quietly building toward over the years?
Kiana Nadine: I see it more as a continuation. For the people who know me as a person and know my music, “Sundazed” just made sense. It felt like a natural reflection of the music I’d been creating, but I’m excited for people to hear more sides of my artistry as I continue to grow.
seradopa: If someone had never heard a Kiana Nadine record before, how would you describe your sound? More importantly, what emotions or experiences are you hoping listeners walk away with after spending time in your musical world?
Kiana Nadine: I’d describe my sound as fun, uplifting, and groovy. I love making music that makes you wanna move, but also gives you that little boost of happiness or nostalgia. More than anything, I just want people to feel good, and I hope someday one of my songs can be a soundtrack to a core memory in your life. That’s like my ultimate goal!
seradopa: You’re beginning to take your music beyond Tennessee, with recent performances in Chicago and your upcoming Denver debut. What has it been like introducing yourself to entirely new audiences, and what excites you about getting to travel to share your art?
Kiana Nadine: It’s so scary, but so exciting all at the same time! It’s been fun seeing how different audiences react to certain sounds, moments, and pacing in my sets. These are people who have never heard my music before, and getting to experience that first connection with them in real time is special.
Being able to travel to places I’ve never been and share something that I’ve created is still pretty mind-blowing haha. It reminds me of why I started doing this in the first place and makes me even more stoked for what’s ahead.
seradopa: Looking back now, what do you think younger Kiana, the kid who dreamed about a life in music, would say if she could see where you are today?
Kiana Nadine: She’d probably say, “holy fuckin shit, bub!” hahaha. Honestly, I think she’d just be in complete disbelief. Growing up as a small town kid dreaming about making music, I don’t think I could’ve imagined getting to experience the things I’m experiencing now.
Life threw a lot at me at such a young age, so being able to create music and share it with people is like beating the odds. It’s all I ever wanted. I think she’d be so proud that I kept chasing that dream.
seradopa: Beyond the music itself, how do you hope to continue growing over the next few years? Whether that’s as an artist, a creative, or simply as a person, what excites you most about this next chapter?
Kiana Nadine: I’m just excited to see what happens! I can’t wait to hear the music I’m making in a couple years, continue growing a community of people who genuinely connect with it, and find ways to give back to the people who support me.
I’m excited to keep growing as an artist and as a person, and to see how the vision I have continues to come together. Having the opportunity to actually make that vision a reality is something I’m really grateful for.
seradopa: As you’ve continued turning a childhood dream into reality, what advice would you give to someone reading this who has been afraid to take that first step toward chasing their own dreams?
Kiana Nadine: It’s gonna be scary, it’s gonna be messy, and it’s gonna be hard, but it’s also going to be rewarding, exciting, and beautiful. The first step is always the hardest one, but you just have to take it and figure things out along the way.
DO SHIT SCARED! You don’t have to have everything planned out before you start. You just have to trust yourself, take that first step, and let the journey teach you what comes next. High hopes, low expectations. We all want things to go a certain way, but when you detach from outcomes and stop putting so much pressure on every moment, you’re able to appreciate and celebrate the journey!
seradopa: Finally, what’s next for Kiana Nadine? Whether it’s new music, upcoming performances, or personal goals, what should our readers be keeping their Hawk Eye on over the coming months?
Kiana Nadine: I’m really excited for the new music to come out! I’ve been having a lot of fun finding that balance between the more club-focused, harder side of my sound and the warm, feel-good side that people have connected with.
I’m excited to keep exploring that balance and show more sides of my artistry moving forward!
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