Nikita 雅涵 (Ya-Han) Tu-Bryant is a Taiwan-born Aotearoa Artist who has been working as a multidisciplinary artist for over 10 years. She has spent the last decade between acting roles and music, poetry and visual arts, making work and serving her communities with vision, intelligence and strength. Through her roles as a performing musician, a film/theatre actor and director, visual artist, facilitator, band manager and producer, she has collaborated with artists from all over the world.
In film and screen she is known for her acting as "Hui" in NZ TV show Far North, and appearances in Avatar 2: The Way of Water. Nikita was cast as the lead role in 2 New Zealand Film Commission funded projects - "The Whole Thing" directed by Calvin Sang, and "Beast Mode" directed by Chye-Ling Huang.
Recently in her music endeavours, Tu-Bryant was part of the small collective who won Best Sound/Score at the Doc Edge Festival with Serena Stevenson's 3 DAYS IN FEBRUARY documentary, debuting it at the Auckland Civic Theatre with live score.
With her Pōneke based band •KITA• she has performed in WOMAD, mainstage at Splore and completed several Aotearoa wide tours, most recently with their third EP release, ‘Love Lives Here’ with Grammy-award winning Italian Producer Tomasso Colliva (MUSE).
Tu-Bryant released her first release as a solo artist since 2016, having been awarded a NZ ON AIR grant for her bilingual single ‘Chasing Summer’, a collaboration with producer ‘An Ogre’, and in 2025 she released a TV Commissioned theme tune for award-winning film director, Jack Woon's "Sik Fan Lah!" with a song and music video titled "This is Me Now".
Nikita was invited to the Auckland Cabaret Festival to resurrect an acoustic album from 2016 [ Before & After, JOSHUA } which she reincarnated into a 60minute cabaret show with music and poetry, joining her was Dave Khan (Marlon Williams, Reb Fountain) and Arahi Whaanga (Te Tokotoru, Troy Kingi). This is a show she is currently touring.
Tu-Bryant is one of 2 Artists in Residence at The Hannah in Wellington for 2026, finishing the most ambitious work of her career to date, a 4-part film turned cinema-live experience titled [ LOVE LIVES HERE: 愛住在這 ] inspired by her band’s KITA's latest EP.
This project is intended to be finished by end of 2026 to be toured at Film, Art and Music Festivals.
Nikita 雅涵 (Ya-Han) Tu-Bryant is a Taiwan-born Aotearoa Artist who has been working as a multidisciplinary artist for over 10 years. She has spent the last decade between acting roles and music, poetry and visual arts, making and producing work, directing and serving her communities with vision, intelligence and strength.
Through her roles as a performing musician, a film/theatre actor and director, visual artist, consultant, band manager and producer, she has collaborated with artists from all over the world. Recently, with her Pōneke based band •KITA• she has performed in WOMAD, Splore and completed a Aotearoa wide tour with their third EP release, ‘Love Lives Here’.
Tu-Bryant released her first release as a solo artist since 2016, having been awarded a NZ ON AIR grant for her bilingual single ‘Chasing Summer’, a collaboration with producer ‘An Ogre’. Tu-Bryant was also one of the main composers/poets that won Best Sound at the Doc Edge Festival 2025 for Serena Stevenson's film THREE DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
Nikita was invited to be a part of Auckland's Cabaret Festival in June 2025, where she resurrected an old album [ Before & After, JOSHUA ] turning it into a 60minute show with scripted narration, joined by musicians Dave Khan (Marlon Williams, Reb Fountain) and Arahi (Troy Kingi, Te Tokotoru) - WORKS TAB #1
Tu-Bryant is currently finishing the most ambitious work of her career to date, a 4-part film titled [ LOVE LIVES HERE: 愛住在這 ], inspired by the band’s latest EP. This project is intended to be finished by 2026 to be toured with live band and chorus at Film, Art and Music Festivals: WORKS TAB #2
Organisation/Company
Name: KITASOUNDZ LTD (also known as • KITA • )
My Role: Director / Artist / Producer
Melding inspirations of folk, soul, pop and psychedelia with the guitar and spirited storytelling of musician-actor Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant (Avatar 2, Far North); the thick lushness of Moog synth and Fender Rhodes from Ed Zuccollo (Zuke); and the filthy drive and barking drums of Rick Cranson (Little Bushman), KITA have long-since solidified themselves as a must-see live band with a massive sound.Hot off a summer jam-packed with festival shows, including main-stage sets at SPLORE and WOMAD, KITA are currently touring their EP LOVE LIVES HERE produced by Tommaso Colliva (MUSE, Razorlight) with their first headline tour since 2021.
“KITA are a vision straight from a synth-pop dream…the self-titled album KITA is a masterpiece ” - Muzic.net.nz
“KITA, have firmly established a reputation for their exceptional live performances, and their ability to connect people through music and storytelling.” - Ambient Light
"KITA...Songs that Speak" - M2WOMAN
An exciting 4 part-filmic experience that shares the narrative of the EP LOVE LIVES HERE is also in the making; led by front-wāhine actor and poet, Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant, to be screened in 2026 domestically and abroad.
[ Before & After, JOSHUA ]
Artform: Live music / Scripted Narration / Direct address / Autobiographical
Development Status: Tour Ready (Tour Ready)
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
"One day, a young girl boarded a flight and unexpectedly collided with a boy with kind eyes." - This is Our Story and Ours alone.
Step into a world where love lingers in melody and memory.
Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant, the captivating force behind Wellington based band KITA, revisits [ Before & After, JOSHUA ], her soul baring breakup album recorded in the back of a van, born from a love story that unfolded on a flight between Phoenix and Santa Barbara.
First staged in 2016, the award-winning Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant now breathes new life into this deeply personal work, revisiting her journals to tell this true story.
Joined by Dave Khan (Marlon Williams, The Veils, Reb Fountain) and Arahi Whaanga (Te Tokotoru, Troy Kingi), together they offer a sublime blend of music, poetic storytelling, and raw emotion.
A profoundly moving performance.
Creative Team and Crew
3x Musicians
1x Sound Engineer
1x Production Manager
1x Lighting Engineer
Number of People in the Touring Party
4-6
Previous Seasons
2016 // Flowers Manuela // WGTN // ONE OFF SECRET SHOW
2025 // Auckland Civic Wintergarden // TWO SHOW SEASON // AKLD CABARET FESTIVAL
Reviews and Quotes
"exquisite...completely engaging story-telling, to the music, composition, sound and lighting designs – it was a work of sophistication and style, full of heart and vulnerability"
- Director, Performing Arts, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
"As romantic as it is heartbreaking, [ Before, & After, JOSHUA ] perfectly melds the power of song and performance. Nikita’s willingness to share her personal story anchors us in a live experience so intimate that by the end, it somehow feels like it belongs to us...you can’t help but relive your own experiences of love - the highs, the lows, the longing, the trust, all in the safe hands of a masterful and delicate storyteller."
- Kenneth Chapman, Writer/Director
"Nikita's recent show [ Before & After, JOSHUA ] at The Civic is a perfect example of the absolute top class artistry and craft that Nikita brings to all of her work.
[ Before & After, JOSHUA ] is a beautiful, impacting work. A natural storyteller; she had the audience in the palm of her hand as a nuanced actor, talented musician and an intuitive director. The show was mysterious and warm, with rich dynamics across the music and story arc. Delivered simply, this show is perfect for touring, as its charm lies in its stunning performance and genuine warmth. An absolute tonic in this current climate, I left feeling my heart was revived."
- Chye-Ling Huang Writer/Director, PROUDLY ASIAN THEATRE
"She approached this work in a stark, stripped back and minimalist fashion. Like Springsteen and his Nebraska. Lo-fi, acoustic guitar, naked and unadorned." - Rev. Orange Peel, Red Raven News
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
[ LOVE LIVES HERE / 愛住在這裡 ]
Artform: Multi-disciplinary / Cinema-Live Experience with live band and chorus of performers
Development Status: 1 is tour ready, the other 2 tier options for the show are currently in development
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
KITASOUNDZ presents:
[ LOVE LIVES HERE / 愛住在這裡 ] a Cinema-Live Experience is currently in development to be toured in three different tiers depending on venue and budget:
1. Currently Touring / Tour Ready:
3 piece live band performing with excerpts of the film augmented into live projections
2. Currently In Development at The Hannah Playhouse under Nikita's AIR for 2026:
A 3 piece live band performing the entire original score alongside the 57 minute medium feature film projected, with moments of theatre and action echoed by the band.
3. Currently In Development at The Hannah under Nikita's AIR for 2026:
A 3 piece live band performing the entire score of the 57minute alongside medium feature film projected surrounding the audience with moments of theatre and action echoed by the band as well as 5-7 chorus members / performers
Creative Team and Crew
1. Tour ready version:
3x band memebrs
1x sound technicial
1x Vjay
1x lighting operator
2. In development Version 1:
3x band memebrs
1x sound technicial
1-2 Vjays
1x lighting operator
3. In development Version 2:
3x band memebrs
1x sound technicial
1-2 Vjays
1x lighting operator
5-7 Chorus / Performers
Number of People in the Touring Party
6 - 14
Previous Seasons
Version 1:
Premiered at Moon in Newtown, Wellington (sold out show) DEC 11 2025
Deville, Nelson DEC 28 2025
Twisted Frequency (headliner act Band Stage) JAN 1 2026
Reviews and Quotes
“To experience a KITA gig is to witness a stellar example of 3 strong musical identities ... fusing together to create a synergy and oneness unparalleled on the scene today.”
— Adam Page (WizardTone Studios AUSTRALIA)
"Power Pop trio from Wellington with a heart full of Soul. Nikita is the songwriter and focal point. Taiwanese Kiwi, she has the air of a Joan Jett and plays judicious lead guitar. Add some Northern Soul and Debbie Harry New Wave Pop vocals and you have some idea of her sound and their stage presence...A perfectly executed set from a sophisticated Pop Dance band. With a distinct debt to the classic Sixties Hard Soul of the House of Stax." - 13th Floor Concert Review
"A must-see live trio with a massive sound." - The People
