Kayla Painter

About

Kayla Painter is an experimental musician, producer and keen field recorder.

Kayla Painter blends electronic basslines, fractured rhythms, ambient synths and environmental recordings into an intricate sound world that is all her own. With an equal aptitude for sonic experimentation and ear-worm melodies, the Bristol-based, Fijian-British musician has generated a huge following via a prolific run of independent releases and music on acclaimed labels like Castles in Space, Quiet Details and Brownswood Recordings. Her tracks are frequently played on Radio 6, Radio 1 and NTS, while Painter’s live show is a dazzling 3D audio-visual spectacle.“When I started writing music as a producer on my laptop, I always felt that it had a visual element before I was even playing live,” she says. 

Painter has graced stages all across the UK with her own headline shows, played live at Tate Modern, and performed at festivals such as Glastonbury, We Out Here, Simple Things, Bluedot, The Great Escape, Northern Ireland’s Stendhal and Peel Slowly and See in The Netherlands, while also supporting high profile acts like Clark, Rival Consoles, Carl Cox, Colin Stetson and Kelly Moran.

Painter began a new series of EPs in 2023, ‘Ambient Owl Core’. Leaning into her beatless atmospheric side, here she used field recordings she’d made in Bristol and in the surrounding countryside of owls calling in the night. Inspired by the thought that these wild birds could thrive in the city, she wanted to capture their sounds and spotlight them. Recordings drawn from her life experience have become an important part of her musical identity. 

‘Ambient Owl Core’, now on its fourth EP, has resonated with her fans and earned her plenty of new ones. “The fact it's been popular is such a gift to me, because it just gives me a purpose to go and be out in nature more, which is pretty cool.”

Painter shared her long-awaited debut album ‘Fractures’ in 2024. The record is an epic imagining of the voyage of NASA’s Europa Clipper space probe on its mission to one of Jupiter’s icy moons, which may harbour life. Exploring her techno side, the track ‘Clipper’ loops fragments of vocal over an addictive, unfurling synth bassline and spine-tingling melodies, while the tranquility of ‘Ice Shells’ crescendoes with hefty sub-bass and drum machine beats. Above all, Painter wanted the record to be timeless, something listeners could return to again and again.

Painter’s latest record, 2025’s ‘Tectonic Particles’, was released via the ambient Quiet Details label. Interpreting the label name and ethos, over eight tracks she weaves together found sounds with diaphanous piano loops and crackling textures. The tune ‘Pure White Stalactite’ imagines a stalactite forming over thousands of years, the glacial process mirrored by its abstract synth pads and skittering effects. 

“I was thinking in that kind of way – of small things in our planet and then how they can create big things over time.”

Kayla Painter has made music for Disney, Discovery and Channel 4, and transfers her knowledge to upcoming musicians as a visiting lecturer. She has taught at University of South Wales and Bath Spa University, and guest lectured at University of Gloucester, Kingston University and University of Arts London, while mentoring artists and running music workshops. She likes to encourage students to think beyond their perceived barriers, and enjoys music education as a way of learning herself.
“I find other people's creativity really interesting,” she says. “I think we all think about stuff slightly differently, so I get a lot from it, and see it as a mutual exchange.”

She has appeared on several music discussion panels, including one with Laurie Anderson and Hannah Peel, chaired by Bishi. In 2025 she was the keynote speaker at the international music research conference Innovation In Music. 
Painter also runs a Patreon and Bandcamp subscription service, which invites subscribers to see behind the scenes of her creative processes and provides support for upcoming musicians navigating the music industry.

Painter is currently resident artist at Bristol Beacon, and has plenty more projects coming up, including new music, production work for other artists and a venture into brand-new territory, writing a chapter for ‘Entrepreneurship in Music & Music Production’, a Routledge book. Asked why she thinks her music resonates with listeners so much, and she puts it down to its sense of space.

“I think my music has space in it enough for people to interpret it however they want, and maybe take it with them on a journey,” she says. “I’ve had a few people message me and say things like, ‘I listened to this while I was travelling across Japan and it was so helpful’. That’s really lovely.”

Upcoming Shows

29-31 MAY - N WILTS Secret Show
4 JULY - DEVON - East Devon Soul Festival
24-26 JULY - DEER SHED FESTIVAL
21-23 AUG FIELD MANUEVERS FESTIVAL
5 SEPT KIRKGATE SHIPLEY

Past Shows

2026

31 JAN - STROUD - GOOD ON PAPER
15 APR - BRISTOL - BEACON support COLIN STETSON
17 APR - BRIGHTON - ACCA support COLIN STETSON
2 MAY - LONDON - BARBICAN support LUCRECIA DALT
15 MAY - ISLE OF SHEPPEY - CAUGHT BY THE RIVER

2025

19 MAR - LONDON - CORSICA STUDIOS
18 APR - BRISTOL - BEACON
11 MAY - BIRMINGHAM - CASTLE AND FALCON
14 JUN - GLASGOW - BLOC
20 JUN - BATH - BURDALLS YARD / Performance & Key Note Innovation in Music Conference
11 JUL - WELSHPOOL - FUNK IN THE FOREST FESTIVAL
29 SEP - EXETER - PHOENIX ARTS CENTRE
9 OCT - HEBDEN BRIDGE - TRADES CLUB
10 OCT - NOTTINGHAM - THE BOAT CLUB
11 OCT - MANCHESTER - STOLLER HALL
8 NOV - BRISTOL - SIMPLE THINGS FESTIVAL
27 NOV - BELFAST - BLACK BOX
28 NOV - DUBLIN - CURVEBALL

2024

25 JAN – LONDON – support Loki Live
24 FEB – BRISTOL – Simple Things Festival (main stage)
22 MAR – COVENTRY – support Just Dropped In Record Store
23 JUL - BIRKENHEAD BLOOM BUILDING
30 JUL - LANCASTER KANTEENA
5 AUG - LONDON THE SOCIAL
10 OCT - BRISTOL - CAFE KINO FRACTURES ALBUM LAUNCH
15 OCT - PORTSMOUTH - WEDGEWOOD ROOMS
16 OCT - BRIGHTON - ROSEHILL
3 NOV - LANCASTER - LANCASTER HM PRISON supporting Maxine Peak
16 NOV - COVENTRY - JUST DROPPED IN
23 NOV - BRISTOL - BEACON supporting CLARK

2023

15 APR – MANCHESTER – Halle St Peters
20 MAY – BRISTOL – Cafe Kino (headline)
21 SEP – BRISTOL – Nathan Fake (DJ)
28 SEP – BRISTOL – St. George
22 OCT – BRISTOL – Strangebrew documentary film feature live soundtrack
27 OCT – BRISTOL – Dareshack

2022

19 APR – LONDON – Paper Dress Vintage
23 APR – BRIGHTON – Rose Hill
24 APR – BRISTOL – The Wardrobe Theatre
27 APR – GLASGOW – SWG3 (Poetry Club)
28 APR – MANCHESTER – YES (Basement)
30 APR – NEWCASTLE – World Headquarters
2 JUL – FROME – Festival
22 OCT – LEEDS – O2 Academy with Carl Cox
4 NOV – WHITBY – Levitation Festival

2021

7 OCT – BRIGHTON – The Old Market
8 OCT – BRISTOL – Arnolfini
9 OCT – NORWICH – Arts Centre
10 OCT – MANCHESTER – Royal Northern College of Music
15 OCT – GLASGOW – Stereo
16 OCT – NEWCASTLE – Cluny 2
20 OCT – LONDON – Clapham Grand

2020

21 JAN – LONDON – Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards, KOKO Camden
22 FEB – NETHERLANDS – Peel Slowly and See Festival
28 FEB – BRISTOL – Loco Klub (headline)
30 APR – LONDON – Eat Your Own Ears presents Kayla Painter, The Waiting Room (headline)

2019

4 APR – MANCHESTER – Band on the Wall supporting Kelly Moran
19 APR – BRISTOL – Thekla supporting These New Puritans
11 MAY – BRIGHTON – The Great Escape
16 MAY – BRISTOL – The Louisiana supporting W.H. Lung
29 MAY – LONDON – Five Miles supporting Szun Waves
8 JUN – CARDIFF – Electric Soup (headline)
14–17 JUN – WALES – Camp Elsewhere
21 JUN – BRISTOL – The Cube (headline)
18–21 JUL – Bluedot Festival
15–18 AUG – We Out Here Festival
5 DEC – LONDON – Eat Your Own Ears Skate Lates, Somerset House (DJ)

2018

24 MAR – BRISTOL – The Exchange
21 APR – SWINDON – Darkroom Espresso
6 MAY – SALFORD – Sounds from the Other City
12 MAY – FALMOUTH – The Poly
26 MAY – CARDIFF – Psych and Noise Fest
7 JUN – ALDERSHOT – West End Arts Centre
26 JUL – LONDON – Pickle Factory, Future Bubblers
21 SEP – LONDON – Hackney Arts Centre, Worldwide FM 2nd Birthday Party

Cannibals at Sea EP Headline Tour

17 OCT – GUILDFORD – West End Arts Centre
18 OCT – BRISTOL – Rough Trade
21 OCT – LEEDS – Wharf Chambers
25 OCT – MANCHESTER – The Soup Kitchen
14 NOV – CARDIFF – The Moon
15 NOV – LONDON – Corsica Studios supporting W.H. Lung

2017

27 JAN – BRISTOL – Independent Venue Week, The Exchange
30 MAR – BRISTOL – The Lantern, Colston Hall with Kate Simko
8 APR – CARDIFF – Cam Fest
4 JUN – BRISTOL – The Old England
10 JUN – BRISTOL – St Stephens Church
16 JUN – BRISTOL – The Love Inn (DJ Set)
22 JUN – CHELTENHAM – Wilson Art Gallery
30 JUN – BRISTOL – Cafe Kino
7 JUL – BRISTOL – Roll for the Soul
21 JUL – BRISTOL – Harbour Fest (DJ Set)
25 AUG – GLOUCESTER – SoMac
26 AUG – CARDIFF – Hub Fest
15 SEP – BRISTOL – The Cube (DJ Set)
3 OCT – BRISTOL – The Crofters Rights
8 OCT – CARDIFF – The Future Is Female
11 NOV – BRISTOL – The Salfe Cafe
23 NOV – BRISTOL – IMAX

2016

15 JAN – BRISTOL – Howling Owl, New Year New Noise (AV Show) at Arnolfini
21 JAN – CARDIFF – Headline show with Accu and Ani Glass at Clwb Ifor Bach (AV Show)
6 FEB – BRISTOL – Robert Clouth + Applescal
15 FEB – BRISTOL – BBC 6Music Festival, The Fleece
15 FEB – BRISTOL – BBC 6Music Festival, Start The Bus
29 FEB – BRISTOL – Emancipator, The Marble Factory
6 MAR – MANCHESTER – Band on the Wall
12 MAR – DJ Set
22 APR – BRISTOL – Take 5
7 MAY – BRISTOL – Old Market Assembly (Dual Screen Show)
22–26 JUN – SOMERSET – Glastonbury Festival
29–30 JUL – SOMERSET – Farmfest
21–23 OCT – CARDIFF – Sŵn Festival

2015

7 FEB – BRISTOL – Ga Ga single + video release launch party, The Crofters Rights
16–20 FEB – MANCHESTER – Artistic Director Series residency led by Beth Orton
24 FEB – BRISTOL – Screening of documentary Guns in the House, The Tobacco Factory
25 FEB – LONDON – Support for Jape at Electrowerkz
27 FEB – BRISTOL – I Hear Colours Man screening + live set
8 MAR – BRISTOL – International Women’s Day panel at Rise Record Store
10 MAR – BRISTOL – Support for R. Seiliog, The Crofters Rights
11 MAR – LONDON – Support for R. Seiliog, Sebright Arms
29 MAR – ZamZam Zone opening night
11 APR – BRISTOL – The Crofters Rights with Edapollo + LTO
17 APR – OXFORD – Support for Maiians, The Bullingdon
29 MAY – BRISTOL – Plaid + Luke Abbott, The Lantern Colston Hall
30 JUL – BRISTOL – The Golden Lion with LTO
15 AUG – Private wedding reception
29 SEP – BRISTOL – Support for Phaeleh, Louisiana
29 OCT–21 NOV – BRISTOL – Theaster Gates secret gig, Temple Church / Sanctum
10 NOV – BRISTOL – Support for Hidden Orchestra, The Marble Factory
29 NOV – BRISTOL – Support for Elderbrook, Start The Bus

2014

28 JAN – Club Quiet – Kayla Painter + Jilk live collaboration
30 JAN – BRISTOL – Independent Venue Week
1 FEB – BRISTOL – The Birdcage with Stantz
22 FEB – BRISTOL – The Oxford Totterdown with T-Toe + The Crisis Project
5 MAR – LONDON – Proud Camden supporting Barbara Morgenstern
14 MAR – Railway Lines single release
21 MAR – BRISTOL – Ascent Club, Start The Bus
25 MAR – BRISTOL – Cafe Kino with MXLX + Microdeform
19 APR – BRISTOL – The Old Crown Courts with Patten / Ape / Giant Swan
10 MAY – BRISTOL – The Birdcage with Jilk + T-Toe
23–25 MAY – SOUTHAMPTON – Pulse Festival
10 JUN – BATH – The Nest (double screen live AV show)
26 JUN – BRISTOL – The Canteen with Jilk
11 JUL – BRISTOL – Bristol Live Magazine Party
27 JUL – BRISTOL – Howling Owl 3rd Birthday Party
19 SEP – BRISTOL – Convex presents at The Fleece (DJ Set)
27 SEP – LONDON – Cat Lovers London, Queen of Hoxton (double screen AV show)
16 OCT – LONDON – Support for The/Das at Sebright Arms
1 NOV – LONDON – Racket 808 Launch Party, The Old Blue Last
17 NOV – BRISTOL – Support for Tim Hecker at Thekla
26 NOV – BRISTOL – The Canteen with Barnaby Carter

2013

26 FEB – LONDON – One Little Indian Records presents HK119 + Krista Papista at Babble Jar
17 APR – BRISTOL – A/V Night at Start Space
11 MAY – SOUTHAMPTON – Pulse Festival
25 MAY – BRISTOL – Dot to Dot Festival
4 JUN – BRISTOL – Kaya Festival presents Afrika Bambaataa at Start The Bus
23 AUG – BRISTOL – No Need To Shout at Start The Bus
26 AUG – Kayla Painter EP 2012 re-release, Bit Phalanx
5 SEP – BRISTOL – NNTS presents Chrome Sparks + Stantz
21 SEP – BRISTOL – The Birdcage 1st Birthday
4 OCT – BRISTOL – Coppe’ / Kettel / Jilk at The Cube Cinema Microplex
5 OCT – BRISTOL – Henry Collins Presents at The Island
5 OCT – BRISTOL – Launch Party with Coloquix, The Looking Glass
14 OCT – A Very New Everything EP digital release
2 NOV – BRISTOL – The Crisis Project release party at Cafe Kino
14 DEC – BRISTOL – Audiophiles End of Year Party, The Louisiana

2012

2 FEB – BRISTOL – Drawn Recordings presents at Mr Wolfs
16 FEB – NEWPORT – The Salon at Meze Lounge
29 FEB – BRISTOL – Support for Mr Fogg at The Croft
23 MAR – EP Launch with Nova Robotics and That Hidden Promise
19 APR – BRISTOL – Support for Uh Huh Her at Thekla
6 MAY – BRISTOL – Simple Things Festival
4 JUN – BRISTOL – Drawn Recordings Bank Holiday All Dayer
8 JUN – BRISTOL – Ilkin presents Eliphino at Timbuk2
10 JUN – BRISTOL – The Croft presents electronic music evening
11 JUL – BRISTOL – No Need To Shout: Nite Jewel at Start The Bus
2 AUG – BRISTOL – Drawn Recordings presents at Mr Wolfs
4 OCT – BRISTOL – Maps as Mirrors presents at The Exchange
1 NOV – BRISTOL – Drawn Recordings presents Stantz + Kayla Painter at Mr Wolfs
7 DEC – BRISTOL – Vibratronic + Deejay Orange at The Golden Lion

2011

1 MAY – Simple Things Festival
28 MAY – Dot to Dot Festival
21 AUG – Supernormal Festival