What do you need to do to make a dance party a place where people feel comfortable freely expressing themselves? Enter Kinah Studios, which, since 2022, has succeeded in connecting individuals from diverse cultures and identities through the simple joys of good music and dance.
The Canberra-born event collective tours the country throwing parties, and is driven by best friends Rinz and Karani. As a collective, Kinah embodies experimental expression, breaking boundaries and providing a platform through events and parties that allow artists and visionaries to create and connect.
Whether through their stylised event teasers or striking visual flyers, Kinah goes beyond the typical party format. There’s depth and artistic intention in every part of the process, stretching from pre- to post-event.
While a Kinah event is a place where people of every kind are encouraged to be uniquely themselves, they've made it a point to try and push the Black community forward in their own way, seeing Kinah as a way to spotlight Black creativity and Black expression.
“Everything we do now and in future isn’t for us, but for the next generations to come,” says Mitch.
As part of their Adidas Climacool campaign with JD Sports, Mitch and Jordan sat down with Complex AU to talk about Kinah Studios and the music and moments that bind them as friends and creatives.
For each of you, where did your love for music start?
Karani: I’ve always loved listening to music from a young age, but the first moment I realised I truly loved it was during piano lessons with my cousin when I was eight. We started competing over who could make the best riddim.
Rinz: Music has always been in my family. My parents would always make me listen to their favourite artists like James Brown, Fela Kuti, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson. After seeing how much joy it brought them, I knew I loved music too.
How did you two first meet?
Karani: As cliché as it sounds, like every best friend’s story, I can't pinpoint an exact moment or date. But I do know we’ve been locked in for a solid eight years. That’s my brother fr.
Rinz: To be honest, I can't remember a specific moment either, but we used to hang out with mutual friends. One day, we started talking about music and it’s been up ever since. That’s my twizzy.
How did Kinah Studios come together?
Karani: It was originally my sister’s idea—her goal was to create creative studios in cities around the world. But I jacked the Instagram from her and started throwing events where like-minded people could meet and feel safe to express themselves on a dancefloor. It became a platform where Rinz and I could really showcase our love for music and community.
Rinz: From the jump, Mitch and I wanted to create a space for people to express themselves in any creative way possible. It was, for real, a safe place where people could come together and be free through music and multiple avenues of expression.
What do you feel makes a Kinah event unique?
Karani: I'm not too sure what to pin it down to, but I think it comes down to the curation of people and music. We always say we’d rather have 100 people who actually want to listen and dance to real music than 500 people just standing there not interacting with it.
Rinz: Honestly, you really can’t nail it to anything, which is why it’s unique. When you come to a Kinah event, it makes you feel free—with the power of curation and music.
Where do you two differ musically, and what is similar about your taste?
Karani: I think musically we’re both really open and can listen to the whole spectrum of #realmusic, but we can go niche in different bags. I love to get into some deep percussive stuff—like old-school Mozambique drums—but I’m sure Rinz would mess with it too.
Rinz: Mitch and I are similar in how we’re very open to new and diverse music. But we also differ in the bags we go into. With me, you can catch me in a more dark and trap bag—complicated, rhythmic drums over cinematic melodies. And I already know Karan can tap into that sound too. It’s all about realness, and that’s something we both can hear.
Who are some Australian artists/DJs that you’re fans of right now?
Karani: This list could go on forever because I’m truly a fan of so many artists and DJs in Australia. But imma keep the list tight-knit. For DJs, I love Cedar, Maz, Attu, DB Mercury, and Tarisayi—he’s the now and the future. These DJs are truly the most authentic versions of themselves. They’re fearless, inspiring, and also the flyest.
As for artists, I love Nasty Mars, CD, Khya, Xmunashe, and Chef Chung—those are the first that come to mind. There’s a feeling when I hear these artists, no matter the setting—it’s real.
This Climacool campaign throws back to a really specific time and place (mid-2000s soccer aesthetic, 2006 World Cup in particular). Was there nostalgia for that time that drew you to this campaign?
Karani: On the shoot, I was literally saying how it reminded me of watching football with my dad when I was younger—especially young [Lionel] Messi, the number 19 one for Argentina. Or the Zidane headbutt. But yeah, the Climacool gear just feels iconic.
Rinz: Yeah, as soon as I saw the tracksuit and merch I was like, “Yooo, this reminds me of some crazy nostalgic football tracksuit from the early 2000s.” Having it be Climacool made it even more nostalgic because I remember how big it was in football kits and training wear—so flexible and comfortable.
How was it working with JD on this campaign?
Karani: It was a really great experience, especially seeing how the most talented people produce great content. Shoutout to Andpeople and AW Studios.
Rinz: The overall campaign, in my opinion, was very well executed. Having AW Studios and Andpeople nail the vision and bring it to life was amazing. I also think having a whole bunch of talent involved made the campaign feel even more wholesome.
What do you see for Kinah in the future—both short-term and long-term?
Karani & Rinz: In the short term, we’re focused on growing our community—bringing more people together through the power of music, dance, and shared experiences. We want our events to feel like home for creatives, dancers, and music lovers alike.
Long-term, we’re aiming to elevate the quality of our work on all fronts—from the production value of our events to the collaborations we foster. We’re also working toward releasing original music that reflects the energy and spirit of our dance parties, expanding our creative reach beyond the event space.
Parties will always be the essence of what we do, but it’s also so important for us to start spotlighting Black Australia—some of the amazing individuals in our community—and tell their stories. Because everything we do now, and in the near future, isn’t for us, but for the next generations to come.
This is just the beginning—we’re building something with real intention and soul.
Discover and shop JD's exclusive Adidas Climacool collection here or at your nearest JD store.