Chani confronts 'Casual' racism in powerful new single
Photo Credit: Rob Simeon
Known for her unflinching lyricism and fearless storytelling, West Australian hip hop powerhouse Chani returns with one of her most socially charged releases to date: Casual, a bold and thought-provoking track that takes aim at the subtle, and not-so-subtle, racism still embedded in Australian culture - out 21 November.
Featuring additional vocals and lyrics from one of Australia’s finest female MC’s Aysha Amani, produced by Bearhands (Eldin Hood) with additional production, recording, mixing and mastering by Rob Shaker at Shakedown Studios, Casual blends dark, militaristic beats with a reggae-infused chorus that draws listeners in while refusing to let them get too comfortable.
“This song is about the casual racism that still occurs in our community. It can be subtle or overt but is largely still an accepted part of the way we operate,” explains Chani. “The song opens with a quote from Adam Goodes who was vilified for calling out casual racism. The song also speaks to his forced retirement because of this - his AFL jersey number being 37. As a sign of solidarity, AFL players wore this number on their jerseys during one round.”
“The instrumental was chosen due to its military march sound and dark grimy elements. Shaker reworked the chorus to give it a reggae sound to lighten the mood and make it more accessible. Once we did this, we decided to get Perth reggae darling Aysha Amani in for the hook. Was a super fun time in the studio with Shaker, Aysha & I! Once we had the vocals down, we reworked the structure of the song. The end of the song took a little to get right. We decided to leave it a little unresolved, just as the issue is. We want the listener to be left with a slight feeling of uneasiness.”
Casual follows March’s single Magnetic, marking Chani’s return to music after a hiatus and rebrand from Seasta Chani. Previously, her WAM-nominated single Finding My Feet and crowdfunded debut album Life Sounds Like earned praise for their bold commentary and genre-bending sound. Her FringeWorld production Bows Don’t Go (nominated for Best New Music Act) showcased her versatility, while her live project Seasta Chani and the Twilight Heist cemented her reputation as one of WA’s most dynamic performers.
Drawing inspiration from Little Simz, Sampa the Great, Raye, and Rapsody, Chani continues to carve her own lane, fusing hard-hitting lyricism with soul, funk, and reggae influences to deliver music that moves both body and mind.
With Casual, Chani reclaims her place as one of Australia’s most fearless and distinctive voices that is unafraid to challenge, provoke, and uplift.
Chani’s new single, Casual, is out now.