Kaina (singer)

Kaina
Born
Kaina Castillo

(1996-01-22) January 22, 1996 (age 28)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2016–present
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Websitekaina.live

Kaina Castillo (born January 22, 1996), known simply as, KAINA (stylized in all caps), is an American singer-songwriter. On July 12, 2019, she released her debut album, Next to the Sun. In 2022, she released her second studio album, It Was a Home.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early life

[edit]

Castillo was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to a Venezuelan mother and Guatemalan father. She started discovering music at the age of nine, such as Stevie Wonder, Celia Cruz, and Oscar D'León. She also performed with The Happiness Club, a nonprofit that offers diverse youth a space to explore music, dance, and visual arts.[6][7]

She studied public relations and advertising at DePaul University for two years.[8]

Career

[edit]

2019–2020: Next to the Sun

[edit]

In early 2019, she released the single "Green". The music video gives a glimpse into her life in Chicago, with a visual of a family dinner.[9]

On July 12, 2019, Castillo released her debut album, Next to The Sun, through Sooper Records.[10]

2021–present: It Was a Home

[edit]

On August 9, 2021, Castillo did a cover of "Come Back as a Flower" by Stevie Wonder, along with a music video.[11] This cover served as the first single of Castillo's second studio album. A second single was released, "Casita", on November 2, 2021. The third single, "Anybody Can Be In Love", was released with the announcement of her second studio album. Castillo revealed a tour for the second album was in the works, which will occur in North America and Europe. On January 9, 2022, "Apple" was released as the fourth single.[12]

On March 4, 2022, It Was a Home was released through City Slang. The second album includes collaborations with Sen Morimoto, Sleater-Kinney, and Helado Negro. Two days after the release of the album, the single "Golden Mirror" was released. In April 2022, Castillo announced the official American tour dates for the It Was a Home Tour. For the European tour dates, it ended up postponed or cancelled due to unknown reasons. The North American tour have commenced on March 16 and is set to conclude on July 17, 2022.[13]

Discography

[edit]
Kaina discography
Studio albums2
EPs2
Live albums1
Singles6

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Ref.
Next to the Sun
  • Released: July 12, 2019
  • Label: Sooper
  • Format: Vinyl, streaming, digital download
[14]
It Was a Home
  • Released: March 4, 2022
  • Label: City Slang
  • Format: Vinyl, streaming, digital download
[15]

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details Ref.
Sweet Asl.
  • Released: August 9, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
[16]
4U
  • Released: March 16, 2018
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
[17]

Live albums

[edit]
Title Details Ref.
KAINA on Audiotree Live
  • Released: October 2, 2019
  • Label: Audiotree Music
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
[18]

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Album
"Love in a Crowd"
(ft. Sen Morimoto)
2017
"F*cked Up" 2018
"Green" Sweet Asl.
"Comeback as a Flower" 2021 It Was a Home
"Casita"
"Anybody Can Be In Love"
"Apple" 2022
"Golden Mirror"

Music videos

[edit]
Title Year Album Director(s)
"Happy" 2018 4U Dennis Larance
"Green" 2019 Next to the Sun Jean Deaux
"Come Back As A Flower" 2021 It Was a Home Carolina Aguirre
"Anybody Can Be In Love" Weird Life Films
"Apple" 2022
"Golden Mirror"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "KAINA and Helado Negro Are Making Music for Each Other". Interview Magazine. March 17, 2022.
  2. ^ "Kaina's 'It Was A Home' samples the mood and music of her childhood". NPR.org.
  3. ^ "This Musician Wants To Be "A Latina Mr. Rogers"". Bustle. February 20, 2024.
  4. ^ MTV News Staff. "Kaina Built Her Own Community". MTV News. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Meet KAINA, the Soulful Singer-Songwriter Repping Chicago's Thriving DIY Scene".
  6. ^ "How I Made It: KAINA". NPR.org. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "KAINA Is a Restless R&B Healer Charting a Course to Self-Acceptance". Pitchfork. November 7, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "KAINA is a Restless R&B Healer Charting a Course to Self-Acceptance". Pitchfork. November 7, 2019.
  9. ^ "KAINA's "Green" music video is a love-filled family affair". The FADER. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Rindner, Grant (July 12, 2019). "KAINA Has Been Chicago's Best-Kept Musical Secret—But Now The Secret's Out". Nylon. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  11. ^ "Meet KAINA, the Soulful Singer-Songwriter Repping Chicago's Thriving DIY Scene".
  12. ^ "New Mix: PUP, Kaina, Uwade, More : All Songs Considered". NPR.org. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  13. ^ "Kaina Announces New Album It Was a Home, Shares New Video". Pitchfork. November 2, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  14. ^ "7 Albums Out Today You Should Listen to Now: Purple Mountains, Blood Orange, and More". Pitchfork. July 12, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "KAINA, "It Was a Home"". Bandcamp Daily. March 4, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  16. ^ Sweet Asl. – EP by KAINA, Bedows & Burns Twins, August 9, 2016, retrieved April 8, 2022
  17. ^ 4U – Single by KAINA, March 16, 2018, retrieved April 8, 2022
  18. ^ "KAINA". Audiotree. September 10, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2022.