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The very best way to get to know Kina is by going to her shows or her site or her youtube or her twitter. But, here are some questions that people ask pretty often:
How old is she? 26 (August 4, 1985)
Where is she from? She grew up in Mission Viejo, California but now lives in Los Angeles. She also studied in New Zealand for 6 months and lived in Austin for about a year.
What is her ethnic background? She is half Japanese and half European mutt (English, Irish, Scottish, French, Dutch, Welsh)
What is the best way to get in touch with her? The best/easiest/fastest way is through twitter
Does she have any siblings? Her older sister, Misa, just completed architecture graduate school and her younger sister, Emi, is an art student.
What do her parents do? Her mother, Trish, is a graphic designer and her father, Gordon, is a chiropractor
What kind of musician is Kina? There are a few ways to describe her sound, but we usually go with "acoustic pop." Her style is also similar to Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, Ingrid Michaelson, and A Fine Frenzy.
What songs does she play during shows? During her most recent In Your Arms 2012 tour, she plays World in Front of Me, Strong Enough, The One You Say Goodnight To, Cambridge, In Your Arms, Valentine, Safe and Sound (Taylor Swift cover) and Message from Your Heart with a few others mixed in. She also plays Make It Go and Fix You (Coldplay cover) for her encore.
When did she start playing guitar? 15
How does she usually go about writing her music? Music first usually, lyrics later
What would she be if she weren't a musician? entemologist (insects) or herpetologist (reptiles)
How many albums does she have? 4 - counting both the independent release of Stairwells and the following rerelease under One Haven Music as one
What kind of guitar does she use? Taylor 814 CE
Is Kina signed to a label? She is currently signed to One Haven Music. Before that she was an independent musician. Before that, she was briefly signed to Interscope records, but decided to after much deliberation. It was a touch decision, but she's happy with it because of all the personal connections she's made since then.
What does she enjoy doing in her spare time? Running, hiking, people-watching,
What musucians would she like to collaborate with in the future? Imogen Heap or Jonsi from Sigur Ros
Does she have any pets? two cornsnakes in Mission Viejo - Hubert Cumberdale (orange) and Jeremy Fisher (black)
When did she start singing? As early as she can remember. She would often sing with her sisters while doing house chores, putting on shows with them for her parents
Where did she go to college? What was her major? USC 2007 - summa cum laude with a degree in social sciences with an emphasis on psychology but was heavily involved in the music program
Did she play any sports in high school? Track
Why is the album called "Stairwells"? While at USC, she would go into the dormitory stairwells to write, practice, and hone her craft.
What are her favorite colors? Black and Gray
What's her favorite crayon color? Cerulean
What are her favorite foods? sushi and other healthful foods. In N Out once or twice a year haha. Candy is also a weakness =)
What is her favorite candy? Sour chewy candies (like sour belts)
What is her favorite song that she's written? Too hard! They're all like her babies
Who are some of her favorite musicians? Imogen Heap, Bon Iver, Sigur Ros, James Taylor, K's Choice, Sarah Maclachlan
What is her favorite song? It's always incredibly difficult for her to choose a favorite, but one of her most played on iTunes are "Let Go" by Frou Frou.
How tall is Kina? 5'3"
What's up with being barefoot on stage? She feels more grounded and comfortable with them off, and also less likely to fall over.
Where does she buy her clothes? h&m, urban outfitters, forever 21, madewell!
Is she dating David Choi? No, he is not her boyfriend. They're just good friends.
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