KAINA

KAINA’s music can feel like a bridge to others or a reflection of yourself. With lyrics that balance comforting warmth and sharp interrogation of her thoughts and the world around her, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter knows exactly how and when to pluck at listeners’ heartstrings. Her critically acclaimed full-length debut, 2019’s Next to the Sun, was anchored by a resolved steadiness in her voice, with unique ear-worms sung over genre bending production. Serving as a vehicle to uplift and build community, the project introduced KAINA’s signature sound lined with a sweet-hearted optimism and devastating authenticity, which catapulted KAINA to the forefront of a new wave of artists transforming the music landscape with deeply honest and innovative expression. Born and raised in Chicago to Venezuelan and Guatemalan parents, KAINA always carries her lineage with her, often singing about healing generational trauma and expressing what it means to grow up as a first generation kid. KAINA is a self proclaimed product of non-profit organizations and youth programming in Chicago, which she credits for giving her confidence in her voice as an artist and inspiring her to do the same for the next generation. The raw authenticity and care for community instilled in her are inseparable from KAINA’s approach to music and life as a whole. Her commitment to these ideals cemented her place in the vibrant fabric of Chicago’s musical impact on a global scale.