san francisco here i come!!
i’m not going to promise anything, but i may or may not have two very special guests joining me on stage for a song or two… :)
Cafe du Nord w/David Choi
November 15, 2009 @ 8PM (doors at 7PM)
2170 Market Street,
San Francisco, CA 94114
Cost: $10 presale, $12 at the door
Notes: All ages!
For presale tickets click here
for all you socal people, i am planning a very special show in LA in december. i’ll keep you posted!
xo,
kina
hello!!
i hope you can handle today’s incredibly long tutorial! if you are pretty proficient at either guitar or piano, i can save you 13 and a half minutes and tell you this: C, G, F.
but that’s not very fun now, is it?? i got a few complaints that my tutorials didn’t cater to really experienced musicians. the way i see it is, i refuse to exclude anyone. i will not be brief and leave things unexplained just so that the experienced player doesn’t have to wait around. my goal is to bring music into as many people’s lives as possible. i want to make it so easy that people that thought they’d never play an instrument in their life stop for a moment and think… why not? i really think anyone that has a strong desire to play music, can.
for those of you who are simply appreciators of music, that is wonderful too :) in your case, you can disregard all the teaching parts and count all the parts where i sound awkward!
album update:
in the next few days i will be selecting a designer for my album art. it’s been a really crazy process. i spent many weeks trying to decide the feel i wanted… trying to find the right words to describe it and the right images/colors/textures to get it across. then we spent some time looking for designers. then we asked for spec work. now we have to choose one, and i hate choosing things! they are all very talented. as many of you know, emi (my younger sister) was originally going to do the job, but she’s now off being a super star at art school (i am so proud and excited for her) and she hardly has time to do the work she needs to. (then there’s misa, the older sister, who hardly has time to sleep. correction: she DOESN’T have time to sleep. she’s getting a masters in architecture and she is a stud) so anyway, shortly after we get started on the designing, we’ll start building the new website, which i’ve already put a bunch of planning into and i’m very excited about :)
yesterday i had a long thorough meeting with my management regarding all the things we need to accomplish before we can release. WOW. there is a lot to be done. it’s tough being your own record label… no one is going to MAKE things happen but you… or in my case… me. (no one is going to pay for things to happen but me either… ouch) luckily my team is made up of some of the best around, and my family, well you know, they’re kind of the best, and then there’s all of you, and you know how i feel about kinerds :) so i know i’m in a great place, i just gotta keep positive and focused on the task ahead of me.
but wow.
an apology
i know i promised an east coast tour this fall…. *cries a little* but i don’t think it’s going to work out :( i’m pretty much on lockdown until this album is out into the world and in your lovely little (or not so little) hands. it really really makes me sad and i feel like i’ve let you east coasters down, but i promise as soon as i can tour again, i’m going to get myself over to that coast SO fast.
ok, now it’s late… and i’m still typing… and i’m pretty sure i’m sounding weirder by the second, so i’m going to put an end to this.
fin.
<3
kina
oovret: Week 67
Have you made any celebratory plans for your upcoming album release?
not plans as in in-the-calendar plans, but i can guarantee there will be sushi involved. also, definitely planning to have a cd release show in LA, and if i’m lucky, maybe i can make one happen on the east coast too…
How will you be distributing your new album?
i had a long chat about this with my management today. should i go into it? hmm… here’s the thing, if you want to put cds in retail stores it equals tons of money, because you have to make enough cds to put in every major store… in every city… and how many of those cds will actually be purchased there anyway? plus the distribution company will then take a percentage of all digital sales as well (itunes, rhapsody, napster, etc)… but i don’t really NEED them for that stuff. i think the smartest move for me since i don’t have a ton of money laying around, will be to start off selling physicals from my website and at shows, and digitals everywhere they’d usually be, and if there becomes a demand, we’ll look into putting it in stores as well. also, by the time the album releases, i’ll be passing off the job of shipping my merch to a company, that way everyone can get their things in a timely manner :) i will miss writing everyone thank yous though…
What was the last book you finished reading? How was it?
it was called “honey bee” :) it was fascinating and kind of made me wish i had the time and backyard to be a beekeeper and have my own honey!
Do you enjoy listening to “Bela Fleck and the Flecktones”?
haven’t heard enough of them… i’ll do my hw!
What toppings do you like on your frozen yogurt?
strawberries and mochi
OR
coconut, chocolate shavings, and strawberries
OR
strawberries, blueberries, and bananas
OR
tons of everything.
i’m about to write the lamest blog ever! this is because it’s 1 am and i’m super cold and my stomach feels unhappy :(
in short:
kajsd;kdjslkj! i can’t believe the album is actually getting mastered on wednesday. happinesssss!
also– thank you all SO much for all of the feedback regarding the website. i wrote down all of your notes, so hopefully we can make most of it happen :)
in conclusion: you make me happy.
xoxo
kina
oovret: Week 66
Now that you have gained another year’s worth of fans: approximately, how many e-mail/messages do you receive each week? (real e-mail)+(facebook)+(myspace)+(youtube)+(others)=(all)
hmm… i’d say anywhere from 800-1200?
How much time do you spend reading and replying to them?
a lot, but it’s kind of interspersed through the entire day, so it doesn’t seem too crazy.
What is your favorite fair food?
corn dogs :)
Do you enjoy listening to “The Replacements”?
not very familiar with them, i’ll check it out.
Does Mama G interrogate your new friends like she does with new ShoutBox users?
she always knew everything about everyone :) friends would come over and hang out with her instead of my sisters and me… haha.
i’ve been doing a lot of thinking about our future home– the new kinagrannis.com website. the current website has been around for 4 years now… it released my first 3 cds, announced some of my first shows (to which about 10 people showed up), stood by during two weeks for kina, gotta digg, and the super bowl, and became the home to many an awesome bla(h)gger, kinerd, street teamer, etc. i love this website! however, with the release of my new album coming up, it’s time for something new. not just for me, for you too!
that’s why i want to ask all of YOU what we can do to make our home even more awesome.
so what do you think??
a few thoughts i’ve had…
- front page: what do you think should be on the front page? news? the latest video/bla(h)g? should it scroll down or be fixed?
- what about the shout box? where should that go? and does anyone know any alternatives that we could use for chatting with each other that won’t freak out if there are more than 8 people in it?
- the street team page will be TOTALLY redone in time… not sure how yet … but we’re trying to see if we can automate it so that misa (our lovely webmistress) doesn’t have to manually enable everyone’s usernames for the street team login. i also want to make it easier for us to share and talk about future missions and awesome solo projects that people have done.
- what else do you want? what would make it easiest to use? nicest to look at? have you seen cool ideas in other websites that you think we could try too? comment and let me know any and all thoughts :)
thanks for being super.
kina
hello all!
hope you enjoy this week’s video! it was pretty fun trying to figure out how to do this song acoustically. do check out imogen’s newest cd “ellipse,” it’s awesome. and if you’re new to her completely, you need to listen to her album “speak for yourself” and her album under the name frou frou– “details.” definitely some of my all time favorites.
updates on MY album …
- i have changed the title of my album. but you never knew what the old one was… so it’s ok :) i’ll refrain from telling you the new one in case it changes again.. heh.
- after mistakenly declaring my “LAST DAY OF MIXING” twice… i should probably keep quiet about that stuff until it’s done this time. i only have a few more tweaks i want to make though…. ok, i’ll say it. last mixing day is monday!! (i’m going to regret that…)
- album art… oy. i’ve got a ways to go. it’d help if i could take some good pictures. (the problem is not the photographers, it’s my face not knowing what to do when there’s a camera in front of it)
oh! and anyone in the fresno area– please come say hi at the caruthers fair this friday! here’s the info:
Fri, Oct 2nd :: 8-9PM
Caruthers Fair
13595 South Raider Street
Caruthers, CA 93609
Cost: free
Notes: meet and greet after performance at the merch table!
one more thing. i love you.
thank you.
kina
oovret: Week 65
What is the largest package you have received in your PO box?
a yamaha keyboard :)
Where do you keep all the gifts that are sent to you? in my room, around the house, in a big corner of my living room… and all the letters i keep in boxes :)
At the current rate, when will you be out of storage space?
it will just keep expanding and taking over :) and i’m totally fine with that!
Do you enjoy listening to Tony Bennett?
yes :) his music makes me feel classy.
Does Rice-A-Roni taste better when you are in San Francisco?
hmmm…
hello beloveds!
tomorrow is another mixing day. maybe the last?? maybe?! shouldn’t get my hopes up… but we are so close it’s crazy! i was having some issues with strong enough and stay just a little and i think we FINALLY nailed them. hooray!
what else… oh! last week i had my first real show in like 3 months (by real show i mean with a set long enough that i have time to be awkward between songs) and it was so fun! it was in mission viejo– my hometown– so it was fun because not only were there a bunch of old and new supporters out (including some kg street teamers <3), but there were a lot of friends from high school out too. it almost threw me off for a moment… whenever i think back to those times i am tempted to revert back to the insane level of inhibition i had back then and get really nervous… or i start feeling like i should be running a national honor society meeting (i was president my senior year… meetings were the scariest thing of my life.)
one more thing– having plants in my bedroom makes me happy.
so do you.
kina
oovret: Week 64
Would you consider performing on the subways of New York?
i would love to play the subways of new york :) you need a permit of some sort, yes?
Was Saturday your first flat tire experience?
i’ve had one before. no fun!
Presently, which song do you enjoy performing the most?
that’s a tricky one. valentine is always fun. make me and delicate make me really emotional, so that always feels good too.
Do you enjoy listening to Sufjan Stevens?
love sufjan! so much :)
What would you do for a Klondike Bar?
lately i’ve been wanting one so badly! i don’t even remember the last time i’ve had one… but all these ads nowadays are doing something to me. but uh.. let’s see. for a klondike bar… i might drive to the store and buy one? i guess i don’t want it THAT badly. but i do want it. :)
what a long day! more than a few things went very wrong in the making of this video, but i really did enjoy the process, and i really really love the song. i had a bit of fun with the track in garageband– added backing vocals, percussion (hitting my guitar), and some weird noises too :)
today i’m going back into the studio to work on mixes again. it’s been really coming together :)
i’m really excited for the shows coming up the next two weekends! they should be so much fun. i’m a little weirded out since i haven’t done a show in months though… hopefully i remember how to do it.
Sun, Sept 6th :: 6:00 PM
ISA 09 @ The San Gabriel Mission Playhouse
320 S Mission Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91776
SOLD OUT!
Sat, Sept 12th :: 12:00 PM
Mission Viejo Reader’s Festival
24932 Veterans Way
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Cost: free
Notes: All Ages. Meet and greet after show.
ok… i think sleep is calling me.
zzzz,
kina
oovret: Week 63
When you record your bla(h)g video, do you imagine you’re performing in front of 100,000 people?
haha.. no. if i did they would be more awkward than you could imagine. i do imagine that i am performing for a lot of people… just not 100,000… ah!
Have you ever tried to count to 100,000?
goodness no.
Do you own 100,000 pieces of anything?
hairs on my head?
Do you enjoy eating “100 Grand” candy bars?
i enjoy most candies :) although i haven’t eaten many 100 grands in my day.
What song could you listen to 100,000 times?
oh dear, i don’t know. a good number i think, but that requires a lot of brain work, and my brain is mostly asleep.
hello!
wow, this every two weeks thing is making me even more awkward than i remembered! sorry about that everyone :)
the good news is, the plan is working. last week i played guitar for fun for the first time in a LONG time, and i wrote one song and 2 half songs. it felt really good to get back into the music.
tomorrow i am meeting with my mixer to make some final changes on the songs. oh boy :) it’s going to be a long day, but i am so excited to be almost done with this part.
it dawned on me recently that i haven’t played a show in about eighty years. oops! time just kind of flew by…
the good news is, i’m playing two shows coming up, one in my hometown– mission viejo, ca (orange county), and one in my current town– los angeles. i’m so excited to be out playing again and seeing everyone. here’s the info:
Sun, Sept 6th :: 6:00 PM
ISA 09 @ The San Gabriel Mission Playhouse
320 S Mission Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Cost:$20
Notes: for more information on ISA, other acts, and to purchase tickets, click here.
Sat, Sept 12th :: 12:00 PM
Mission Viejo Reader’s Festival
24932 Veterans Way
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Cost: free
Notes: All Ages. Meet and greet after show.
oovret: Week 62
Have all of the edible gifts from your PO box video been consumed?
not even close! i’m working on it :) and sharing, of course.
Have you found any (real)strawberry tea?
i haven’t personally sought it out yet, but it’s been confirmed by many a tweeter that it’s out there!
Did you enjoy listening to John Mayer at the Troubadour?
yes, he is such a phenomenal guitarist and songwriter. it was great :)
Looking back on your 24th year, what would you say was
your greatest accomplishment?
oh wow… that’s tough. maybe deciding to leave the label and take on this journey independently with the help of all of you… working on my first full-length album… going on my first tour (however teeny tiny it was)…
Looking forward, what are your goals for your 25th year?
releasing my first full-length album, touring most of the country and seeing a lot of you people while i’m at it, in a PERFECT world, touring abroad for the first time and seeing all you international people, doing the best i can to share my music with people, writing as much as i can, playing as much guitar and singing as much as i can, cooking more, being healthy, spending quality time with my family and friends, reading more, hiking more, growing, learning, smiling…
first of all, huge thank you to everyone that emailed/myspaced/facebooked/youtubed/tweeted me wishing me a happy birthday. i’ll have you know it was quite a happy one indeed :) your thoughtfulness means so much to me it’s crazy. i was even sent out on a twitter hunt to find clues that eventually led me to an AMAZING group card that many of you contributed to. that was so awesome, i can’t tell you. thanks!
as i mentioned briefly in the po box video, things are getting BUSY! i guess that’s what happens when you decide to be your own label. i know it’s been forever since i started the album (last november) but i promise it’ll be worth it! the mixing is 85% done and we just produced “valentine” for the album. i can’t waiiiitt to share it with you all. now my focus needs to turn to album art, revamping all the websites, getting all my business stuff organized and streamlined, and coming up with a clever way to have an awesome release minus having billions of major label dollars behind me. but i’m not worried :) for one, i have all of you. for two (can you say that?), i think the challenge is going to be exciting. plus i have a super duper street team to unleash. mwahaha.
oh yeah, but back to the point, being busier unfortunately means that i’m going to have to cut down on videos. :( i’m aiming for two videos a month. it’s amazing how WRONG that feels to me! *sigh* but as much as i LOVE it so much, it’s becoming apparent that i need to re-allocate my time for now so that i can really get things moving with the album.
well, i suppose that’s all for now. thanks for everything.
heart,
kina
oovret: Week 61
Do you prefer Dunkin’ Donuts or Krispy Kreme ?
i’m not sure. krispy kreme donuts are pretty delicious, but there’s something about a big fluffy donut that appeals to me. i’ve only had one dunkin’ donut ever though, so i can’t really judge.
Did you consider any of the Boston area Colleges/Universities?
yes actually! i got into Boston University and visited for a tour. it’s such a cool city, but ultimately, i chose usc (the winters scared me). very glad to have chosen usc though… without the songwriters club, the open mic nights, the acoustically perfect stairwells, the protege program that produced my first cd (sincerely, me), all of my musical friends, and a really helpful and knowledgeable music school faculty… i would be much farther behind as an artist.
Have you attended a tea party?
only the kind where you sip imaginary tea from tiny tea cups and talk with your stuffed animals. i always chose “strawberry tea.” it was actually water. and i don’t think strawberry tea exists.
Do you enjoy listening to the band “Boston”?
haha! very apropos! i’ve heard some of their songs but haven’t really listened to them much
How many pairs of red socks do you own?
haha! very clever. i know of one red sock that i own… i don’t know that it ever had a partner.
this week was such a roller coaster. i had a boston show, then i didn’t, then i did, then i didn’t, then i did… and then… well i’m sure you can assume how that went. :(
i’m so sorry that i wont be getting to see all you bostonians, and i’m even more sorry that i pumped us all up for this show for months only to let us all down. the good news is, i’m already planning on coming back in the fall, this time for real. unfortunately, i wont have time for a meetup this time around since the primary reason for my being there is to attend a wedding (and other wedding-related festivities.)
this afternoon i met with my mixer brian yaskulka and listened to a few tracks from the album that he’s working on. it’s sounding really good! a lot of you have been asking when the new album will be released… i promise you that the second i have an answer, you will know. this whole album-making process keeps surprising me with new snags and difficulties. it’s challenging… but when it’s done it will be the most gratifying thing ever.
well, i think that’s all for me for now. hope you enjoyed a little grannis sister craziness, i know, it’d been too long :)
as always, thank you all for being here for me–encouraging me, supporting me, helping me, inspiring me.
i am lucky.
kina
oovret: Week 60
Where did you go on your previous all family vacation?
several years ago we went to maui together. i miss hawaii :(
Do you enjoy fishing? If so, what is the biggest fish you have caught?
i haven’t fished many times in my life, but i have some fond memories surf fishing with my dad. i think one time we caught a sand shark (we set him free, of course)
What is your favorite lake activity?
unfortunately, some of my favorite lake activities do not involve being on a boat since i tend to get seasick :( i like walking along shorelines looking for living things though!
Do you enjoy listening to Natalie Cole?
i love natalie cole and have even thought of covering some of her songs (and the songs of her father)
Do you feel lost after being away from the internet for an extended period of time?
it’s great/relaxing in theory to get a break from the internet, except that i know when i get back on, i’ll have lots of emails and music-related business awaiting me which would be not relaxing/stressful to try and catch up on. (confession: i was on my computer every day during my vacation!)
Did you remember that movie character’s name?
….