Kaia Kater at Knox Hall

Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian Kaia Kater blends jazz-infused vocals with masterful songwriting, earning acclaim from NPR's Tiny Desk, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone. Her music reflects influences from Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, shaped by her ties to the Canadian folk scene, her father’s Grenadian roots, and her studies in West Virginia.

Her upcoming album, Strange Medicine (May 2024), co-produced with Joe Grass, expands her sound with cinematic arrangements and collaborations with Taj Mahal, Allison Russell, and Aoife O’Donovan. Throughout her career, Kaia has explored themes of identity and heritage, notably in Grenades (2018), which delves into her Caribbean ancestry.

Beyond her albums, Kaia has composed for film and TV, winning a Canadian Screen Award for her work on The Porter (BET+). She also scored the film My Dead Friend Zoe (2024).