Iggy Azalea watch out – there's a new Aussie hip-hop darling slowly making her claim to the throne.
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Bursting onto the scene with catchy, prehistoric hit Brontosaurus in 2013, Tkay Maidza has barely slowed down since.
She has been announced as one of the headline acts at the brand-new Snowtunes music festival at Lake Jindabyne on August 15, which is an appearance she's looking forward to for more than just the tunes.
"I've never seen snow. That's why I'm really excited to go," she says.
It's hardly a surprising revelation. Born in Zimbabwe, Tkay moved to Australia with her family at age five. They then moved around living in typically hot locations, from Perth to Kalgoorlie, and Whyalla in South Australia before settling in Adelaide.
She did a short stint at the University of South Australia studying architecture, but discovered her true love was music. After Brontosaurus came an EP, appearances at Splendour in the Grass, Groovin The Moo, The Falls Music and Arts Festival, and then replacing Lykke Li at the 2015 St Jerome's Laneway Festival.
She's also one of the acts selected for MTV series and competition Brand New, which showcases 10 Australian and New Zealand emerging artists, with the public able to vote for their favourite, to be announced in September.
Then there was the international attention, overseas tours and the comparisons to Azealia Banks and M.I.A.
It's all pretty impressive for any musician, let alone someone who's yet to turn 20.
At Snowtunes she's sharing the line-up with Aussie acts Hermitude and Allday – "I've played with both of them before" – and is making a habit of sharing the stage with huge-name artists.
Earlier this year, she supported British singer Charlie XCX on her Australian tour. In July she heads back to Byron Bay to perform at Splendour in the Grass again. Also on the agenda is supporting Splendour headliner and record producer extraordinaire Mark Ronson.
"Mark Ronson's unbelievable. It was really weird 'cause I've known his music for – I'm one of those weird people that hear a lot of things but don't really register where it's from.
"And I know like most of his songs from 2006 but I was in year 6 – I was 10. But I didn't realise I knew all that stuff and I was like 'what? I know all these songs'. And then I obviously really like his new album so now I was like 'wow, this is gonna be cool'."
The pint-sized singer said she's working on new material, and doesn't have any plans to slow down her hip-hop domination.
"It's weird cause for me I'm just living every day kind of thing and then when people are like 'you must be working so hard' I'm like 'yeah I am but I love what I'm doing'. So I don't really know how hard it is."
What: Snowtunes music festival, featuring Tkay Maidza, Hermitude, Allday, Fortafy and more.
When: August 15, 5pm
Where: Open Air Stage, Lake Jindabyne
Tickets: $110 + bf from snowtunes.com.au.
