Naomi "Nai Palm" Saalfield — known best as the lead vocalist/guitarist of Australian future soul outfit Hiatus Kaiyote — has shared alarming news that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Saalfield first revealed a scare with the condition on Instagram last week (October 11) following an October 8 performance in Santa Ana, CA, calling the show "one of the hardest gigs I have ever done."
"To perform and remain open in the face of great vulnerability and psychological unrest has never been easy. It's not the first time I've had to do this," she wrote. "I write this to let you know that you must look your fear dead in the eye and move forward. I am currently in a waiting room for an ultra sound to see what's really going on. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do."
Saalfield urged followers to "Please get your self checked even if it riddles you with anxiety. Please when you go to a show remember artists are giving of themselves even when they are broken. Practice gratitude it will liberate you."
In a separate post made today, Saalfield confirmed her diagnosis, adding, "I am a strong mother fucker but I feel everything deeply."
Saalfield wrote that she is "still been touring performing sometimes to people talking over me or inappropriately stealing my shit or sneaking into my green room," in reference to a woman stealing a sentimental tiger rug from the stage during her October 2 solo show at the Brooklyn Bowl.
"I am riddled with anxiety while trying to practice courage and patience daily in the face of the scariest and most emotionally triggering shit I've ever had to endure," Saalfield continued. "I need love and respect and often I have to go out of my way to make people feel comfortable around me because of their projections or own internal battles when confronted by me. I need to be selfish in this time. I cannot babysit anyone's emotions anymore."
She concluded, "Let my music comfort you, this is what it's for. My job ends there I am not a therapist. Please give my family there [sic] space. I will delete this account if I hear otherwise. Thank you for your love and support always."
You can see both her recent posts below.
Saalfield delivered her debut solo album Needle Paw last year. Hiatus Kaiyote last delivered their Choose Your Weapon LP in 2015, preceded by Tawk Tomahawk in 2012.
Saalfield has also contributed to a pair of Drake albums, with the Canadian rap icon first sampling Hiatus Kaiyote's "Building a Ladder" on More Life's opening track "Free Smoke."
More recently, she appeared on Drake's Scorpion LP, interpolating Aaliyah's 2001 track "More Than a Woman" at the end of "Is There More."
Saalfield first revealed a scare with the condition on Instagram last week (October 11) following an October 8 performance in Santa Ana, CA, calling the show "one of the hardest gigs I have ever done."
"To perform and remain open in the face of great vulnerability and psychological unrest has never been easy. It's not the first time I've had to do this," she wrote. "I write this to let you know that you must look your fear dead in the eye and move forward. I am currently in a waiting room for an ultra sound to see what's really going on. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do."
Saalfield urged followers to "Please get your self checked even if it riddles you with anxiety. Please when you go to a show remember artists are giving of themselves even when they are broken. Practice gratitude it will liberate you."
In a separate post made today, Saalfield confirmed her diagnosis, adding, "I am a strong mother fucker but I feel everything deeply."
Saalfield wrote that she is "still been touring performing sometimes to people talking over me or inappropriately stealing my shit or sneaking into my green room," in reference to a woman stealing a sentimental tiger rug from the stage during her October 2 solo show at the Brooklyn Bowl.
"I am riddled with anxiety while trying to practice courage and patience daily in the face of the scariest and most emotionally triggering shit I've ever had to endure," Saalfield continued. "I need love and respect and often I have to go out of my way to make people feel comfortable around me because of their projections or own internal battles when confronted by me. I need to be selfish in this time. I cannot babysit anyone's emotions anymore."
She concluded, "Let my music comfort you, this is what it's for. My job ends there I am not a therapist. Please give my family there [sic] space. I will delete this account if I hear otherwise. Thank you for your love and support always."
You can see both her recent posts below.
Saalfield delivered her debut solo album Needle Paw last year. Hiatus Kaiyote last delivered their Choose Your Weapon LP in 2015, preceded by Tawk Tomahawk in 2012.
Saalfield has also contributed to a pair of Drake albums, with the Canadian rap icon first sampling Hiatus Kaiyote's "Building a Ladder" on More Life's opening track "Free Smoke."
More recently, she appeared on Drake's Scorpion LP, interpolating Aaliyah's 2001 track "More Than a Woman" at the end of "Is There More."