Known publicly as a visual-conceptual artist and director/creative director, Kai is also a musician and has grown up being professionally trained in both fine art and music, among others such as filmmaking, performance, dance and more. Her life has taken her through many stages and sets, niche scenes, collaborations and creative projects, and she has evolved into a global nomad and explorer.

She is now experimenting with her own compositions via singing, songwriting and production. She aims to create her own unique vocabulary in the same way her art practice has done for many years, and to merge her worlds and projects together when possible.

Formerly stationed in New York, she is now globally nomadic with bases in Dubai and Mumbai/Goa, and extensions in Cairo/Dahab and Paris/Marseilles. She works in the SSWANA (South & Southwest Asia, North Africa) to Paris corridor, though she also feels connected to many other scenes, places and communities which have formed her.

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As a DJ, Hitashya has played parties throughout New York, Baltimore and various cities in the Europe to SSWANA corridor for years, having an active involvement in music scenes both big and small, and traveling through different cultural music zones.

Her DJ mixes, which flow between genres, languages and rhythms around the world, have always reflected this wide range of influence and love, with the “no rules” attitude of the DIY scenes she evolved in.

She is no stranger to the music industry, having collaborated with many now-famous musicians on visuals, videos, concepts, tours and live shows. She has scene overlap with artists like Grimes, MIA, Arca, Beach House, Kelela, Total Freedom, Nguzunguzu, Colin Self, Eartheater, Nick Weiss and others who were active in the east coast of the US during the 2010s. But she has also always felt part of a wider world and scene, which has been solidified by her move to global nomadism since 2017. Her list of influences and favorites has exponentially increased, and her current favs can be found in her NEW WORLD MUSIC Playlists on Youtube and Spotify, as well as in her dj sets.

Artists like Rema, Ali Sethi, Naïka, Manal, Aya Nakamura, Tshegue, Ayra Starr, Khalil Cherradi, TIF, Ghali, Rosalia, Lolo Zouaï, Zeyne, Marina Satti, Alewya, Alaa Al Hendi, Laylow, Shay, MHD and others are regulars in her New World Music collection and major influences, just to name a few.

She identifies with “New World” music and culture, coming from many re-blossoming Post Western and DIY hot spots. She also loves artists she grew up with and artists from every era, culture and generation—with an encyclopedic knowledge of different genres and styles. She particularly loves making comparisons and links between them in shocking ways, which is where her DJ practice lives. She always has the aux.

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As a visual artist Hitashya aka Kai has created installations and performances around the world, and designs her own custom stages, garments, jewelry, music videos, props and media, especially for her Hitashya identity. She is known for intercultural projects and knowledge, as well as a deep understanding of ritual, aesthetics and charm.

She is the music curator for her editorial platform, XLE.LIFE.
She is also the curator of the New World playlist on Spotify and Youtube.

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