Hiatus Kaiyote: 'Building A Ladder,' Live On Soundcheck

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Hiatus Kaiyote makes a sort of enigmatic, genre-defying music that the band calls "future soul," a fun blend of electronic sounds, African grooves, silky smooth neo-soul, and hip-hop beats. (Think Erykah Badu mixed with J Dilla mixed with Oumou Sangaré mixed with Flying Lotus.)

The band formed in 2011, and after a ton of SXSW showcases, touring in the U.S., and even a guest spot at Brooklyn Bowl during Questlove's DJ set, Hiatus Kaiyote self-released its debut Tawk Tomahawk in 2012 and re-released it this past July. The record is a progressive collection of R&B and jazz-infused songs -- like "Mobius Streak" and "Nakamarra" -- that showcases lovely instrumentation and singer Nai Palm's alluring, gorgeous voice soaring above the mix.

Watch the band play "Building A Ladder" in the Soundcheck studio.

For more, follow Soundcheck on Twitter at @Soundcheck.

[mzsarcastic]

CAN'T. STOP. LISTENING. TO. THEM. THEY HAVE TRANSFORMED MY LIFE I FEEL LIKE A MAGICAL FUCKING UNICORN WHEN I HEAR THEIR MUSIC IT IS EVERYTHING I'VE EVER WANTED THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING AWESOME MUSICIANS SERIOUSLY I CANNOT COMPLIMENT THE MUSICALITY AND TIME SIGNATURES ENOUGH. I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THIS BAND!

[dwightshumaker]

Hands down 100 if not the most underrated voices in music history

[jkoff]

She has great pipes but she also has the gift of unique phrasing.  Very rare and very hard to pull off.  Just sublime!

[himjohnson]

I've been listen to this song for over 2 months straight. And I'm still memorized by it.
My daughter was kidnapped as a child but I found her 18 months later. She is now 11 and this is our song that we sing to each other everyday after school now.
Nai, you made something sweet, even sweeter.
1 <3
respect.

[MegaCreamy]

Not gonna lie I thought she was black when I heard this song. Lots of soul in this one!

[EffDinero]

Nai Palm is easily 1 of the best new vocalists today...

[MrAVGNdude]

I'm glad Drake sampled this. He put me on to this amazing music. Her voice is beautiful.

[rvledbysaturn]

Theres something truly magic about this. my depression anxiety and stress is evaporating

[Girlforaction]

This band is hot. Pure hotness. This band should be getting more attention.

[alig]

she sounds like she listens to a lot of gospel music

[camzpinkful]

I've literally watched this about 4 times a day every day for the past 2 months

[Michael-gqcd]

Wheres the footage of the bass player?! Brother is laying it down

[shannongreene]

I still don’t see how this soul, pretty much beautiful, Philly neo soul; got here from down under. It’s a god move. Unite.

[MrLordofcoffee]

Man I keep getting recommended videos of these guys then just spend hours clicking on vid after vid...addictive sound.

Esperanza Spalding ..Gretchen Parlato.. and now her  YES!!   one of my new fav.. 

[siuta]

Damn them vocals and piano chord progressions are

[pennylicious]

I don't think I have ever been as obsessed with a group of artists as I am with them. Not only is she an exceptional voice/songrwriter, but her band is exceptional as well. creating music I can't stop listening to. I really want them to come to the US. She has a show coming up with Erykah Badu in Australia. Now that would be an amazing concert to attend <3

[christopherjackson]

just catching this vibe...fucking fire...!!! Where have I been...this girl is touching my

[mattmarshall]

Crying and laughing at once, stunning me with the brilliance... Love and Aloha to Paul, Nai, Perrin and Simon... 🙌

[WalkingLotus]

I knew this song before Drake and I was actually surprised he or whoever sampled them listened to Hiatus Kaiyote, but I respected him a little more for it