From the opening quavering strings of KAINA’s new album It Was a Home, it’s evident that the ensuing 40-plus minutes will be a soothing listen, with the Chicago-based songwriter’s instrumentals traditionally landing somewhere between psych-touched R&B and neo-soul. On this album, though, she matches that sense of instrumental calm with reassuring lyrics fondly looking back on childhood memories and the journey that led her to the sense of self-love and assuredness she’s reached at this point in her life. Enlisting recent tourmates Sleater-Kinney, fellow neo-Latin-psych progenitor Helado Negro, and Chicago pal Sen Morimoto on Home, you can almost feel that love extending out to those in her immediate circle.
With the record dropping last Friday, we asked KAINA to put together a playlist that reflects her new album’s sense of openness, sincerity, and gentleness. “Vulnerability and honesty are always the intent and center of my work,” she shares. “I choose these songs not only because the artists are incredibly inspiring and innovative, but I feel like you really get to hear exactly who they are, their emotions, and sincerity in these songs. Of course, had to slip myself in there too!”
Check out It Was a Home here, and hear her playlist below.
