KITANA
Before the room fills, and before anyone decides what they expect to hear, there’s Kitana.
WHO IS
KITANA?
Kitana grew up in Southeast San Diego, in a house with music in every room. She calls herself shy, introverted in a lot of ways. But what people remember is how comfortable she makes them feel, whether she’s in the crowd or behind the decks.
Is the Kitana that people meet behind the decks different from the one they meet anywhere else?
There aren’t many differences. I just feel like the setting is what changes the interaction.
What I hope people experience is the warmth that I exude. That’s something that’s really important to me, making people feel comfortable and safe around me.
I would hope that even in the spaces that I DJ, I give that same energy right back.
Before the Decks
Do you remember the first experience that made music feel like yours?
My dad, we were listening to OutKast and E-40. We had this big Bose sound system throughout the whole crib.
My mom worked nights. One day she came home early and was like, “We don’t want to listen to that.” She puts on Uncle Luke.
My dad was so in love with my mom. She could have done anything and he was just entranced; it was like they were having a Verzuz.
Just to bear witness to that, and to see both of their love for music, that was so important to me.
I was born from love.
“I was born from love.”
Kitana
On Expectation
Have people ever expected you to sound a certain way?
I think people are surprised sometimes by the music.
People will come up like, “Girl, what do you know about X, Y and Z?” or “I haven’t heard that song in years.”
I love having that experience with people.
For starters, music is political. I’m going to say that first and foremost.
I know people have preconceived notions about the music they might hear from me, and then they turn around and realize they were wrong.
I love being a surprise for people.
On Being Seen
What has this life required from you?
The biggest thing I’ve given to this lifestyle is security.
Doing something creative, you have to bank on yourself. It’s a big risk.
Unless you’ve been up there behind the deck, you almost feel naked.
You have to really relinquish all reservations you have about being in the spotlight.
Whether people know it or not, I’m a very shy person. I’m actually pretty introverted in a lot of ways.
You have to be okay with being seen. You have to accept yourself first.
On Belonging
How do you pour back into yourself?
I really value my chosen family.
The people around me and the love that they give me, the love and consideration, I have never in my life felt so taken care of emotionally by my community.
I’m born and raised in Southeast San Diego.
I’ve never felt like I was from San Diego for real.
This is the first time in my life I’ve felt like, damn, I was supposed to be in this city, around the people from this city who are doing things in this city.
I would not be who I am without the people around me. Period.
The People Who Know Her
“Kitana is a sleep tech at a hospital, so when she’s not DJing, making people move, and helping people release and reset their nervous systems through music, she’s literally monitoring people and making sure they’re able to rest peacefully. She genuinely cares about people.”
“A lot of who she is, she had to intentionally become. She took initiative in building herself rather than allowing her upbringing or circumstances to determine who she would be. I think that strength can be easy to miss because she carries it with so much humility.”
“When Kitana is at her best, there’s something grounding about having her in a room. She creates space for people to be themselves alongside her, whether she realizes she’s doing it or not.”
Jordan Kai
Friend + Stylist
