2014-05-05
Kina Grannis began as a multi-talented folk pop musician. She made her
presence known to the world via YouTube in November 2007 with "Message From
Your Heart," an original song and video that has now reached over 1.1 million
views. She has since uploaded 113 cover videos, 66 original song videos, and 7
official music videos to YouTube, amassing over 890,000 subscribers. Her online
presence extends to 383,000 Facebook likes, 157,000 Twitter followers and
92,000 Instagram followers. Her first studio album, Stairwells, was released in 2010, and garnered immense support in
the US, Canada, the UK, and around the world. Grannis has been toured the world
to support her first album, having "meet and greets" with fans following nearly
every performance. Her music has been featured on TV shows, like "General
Hospital," "Pretty Little Liars," and "Gossip Girl." Grannis also performed
live on Ellen, after the success of
her stop-motion music video for "In Your Arms." Elements, Grannis' sophomore album, is released May 6, and features
12 original tracks from Grannis, performed and produced by Grannis and Matt
Hales (Aqualung). The all 8 shows of the album's initial supporting tour are
already sold out. The album opens with "Dear River," a song that bursts with
the ease of Grannis' voice and a simple, joyful instrumentation. "The Fire,"
the first single of the album, is exemplar of the musical and lyrical shift
that occurs on Elements. Grannis'
vocals taunt and dig deep as off-beat, yet driving electric guitar pulls the
song over thickening, layered back-up vocals, synth and percussion. Additional
vocals on "My Own," which was recorded in her sister's living room, are by
Grannis' sisters Misa and Emi. The album cuts into Grannis' emotional and
familial history, exposing beautiful melodies and organic instrumentation.
- Richard Martin
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