A Quick Chat with Chani

Can you tell us what Spice means to you as a body of work, and what you want listeners to take away from it?

Spice is a creative piece about transformation and embracing your true self. It touches on emotional turmoil & mental health, morals & beliefs, and love & lust - all the things that make us humans in this era. I want listeners to connect with the feelings and thoughts I’m sharing and find common ground, whilst enjoying the musicality of my word play and hooks.

The lead single ‘High’ has a playful, energetic vibe. What inspired that track, and how does it fit into the EP’s story?

This track was both the most fun and the most tricky to bring together. It is about a passionate situationship that turned my world upside down! The song acted like a way to process big, complex feelings for me, and you can feel the energy of the content in the song itself. I knew I wanted a male to sing the chorus which actually proved quite hard to get right. A few thought the content was too spicy! This is where the EP title came from. We knew we wanted it to be called something hot because there are a few adult themes in the songs, and we settled on Spice after exploring this song.

You’ve recently rebranded from Seasta Chani and launched Spice after a hiatus. How has your creative approach changed in this new era?

The break from writing helped me channel my skills and become more serious about my lyrical work. A couple of the tracks step away from a traditional hip hop structure as well, which happens when you step out of your comfort box. I think I am allowing myself to be more vulnerable in my music and lean into my growth.

How did collaborating with Just Kane on ‘High’ come about, and what did their contribution bring to the song?

I was very lucky to find the perfect fit for ‘High’, getting Just Kane to nail the additional vocals. I looked around for quite a while for someone to write and sing the chorus. I went in and out of wanting to touch this song too, wanting to forget about the heart turmoil but also wanting to finish the song and move on from it. Both the producer Rob Shaker (SBX) & I knew we wanted a male vocalist. Too often women only feature in hip hop songs to sing a catchy hook and soften the content – we wanted to flip this on its head. After one of the production hiatuses, my friend posted some of Just Kane’s music on social media and got in touch about maybe doing a gig with him. I instantly vibed with his music and thought he would be a perfect fit. Funnily enough, when Kane & I spoke in depth about the track, he could completely relate to the narrative and had been through something similar which had inspired his recent releases. We were instantly on the same page & he came up with the perfect vocals to compliment my raps. I love his lyrics and the energy that he brings to the song.

Your music blends hip-hop with soul, funk, reggae and EDM influences. What artists or life experiences have shaped that eclectic sound?

I listen to a wide range of genres but am always drawn to music I can dance to. This is a big part of the way I experience music. My older sister of 6 years was a massive hip hop head as a teenager and used to import vinyl from the US back in the early 90s, before you would ever heard Australian hip hop. These early songs would use a lot of soul & funk samples and I would listen to a lot of RnB as a teenager. Me & my friends were very big into the trance Doof scene before we were old enough to go to clubs, which then led to us embracing the huge DnB scene in Perth. Groups like The Fugees, Portishead, Jurassic 5 & Jill Scott were always on high repeat, as were classic reggae albums. I’ve spent a lot of time travelling and living overseas and these genres of music can be found everywhere. Jam sessions were always an easy way to find my people and connect.

You have a strong history in the WA music scene — from FringeWorld shows to live band projects. How does your live performance energy inform your recorded music?

I used to only perform my music live. It took me quite a long time as a musician to actually record my songs. I love performing so that was always my focus. Writing Spice has been quite different as I recorded all of the songs before I ever performed them. I think I’m quite expressive in my delivery which comes from years of connecting with live audiences.

Is there a track on Spice that feels most personal or vulnerable to you? Why does that one stand out?

I think Inside & High are the most personal. I’ve spoken about High - this allows the listener into my personal life and bedroom! Inside is very heartfelt and emotive. This song is about a very difficult time in my life - leaving the father of my children and the future I’d imagined. It is a bit of a stream of consciousness and was written very quickly and easily. I feel my heart is poured into this one for everyone to feel.

What’s next for you after this EP? Visuals, touring, collaborations or something unexpected?

I have some more music in the works with some exciting collaborations. Spice was very self-focused so I’m looking forward to working with some talented artists and continuing to push myself musically. I think I still have a lot of room to expand creatively in the hip hop genre.

Finally, as someone rooted in Scarborough (Western Australia) and launching locally at the Indian Ocean Hotel, what does it mean to bring this project home?

Scarborough itself had a huge influence on the sound and themes of Spice. I’m very active in the local micro communities in Scarborough and they held me through a very difficult time in my life. Spice will always be intertwined with my life living on Scarborough beach, it's the perfect place to share my work with the people who influenced it.

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Spice will be celebrated with a launch on the 7th February at the Indian Ocean Hotel with special guests POW!Negro, Veronikka, Optimystic MC, Mike Slade and DJ Benben. More information and tickets via: Oztix

Chani’s EP, Spice, is out 12 February, 2026 - PRE-SAVE