Kina Grannis

springtime tour recap + new merch + birthday!

some stats on the Stairwells Springtime Tour for you:

shows played: 14
miles driven: 2,840
awesome people performed for: 2,860 (almost one mile per person… weird?!)
ukuleles lost: 1
suitcases of merch stolen: 2
subway sandwiches consumed: 20 (one a day)
praying mantises spotted: 1

i figured i’d spare you the number of dead animals in the road :( you’re welcome.

also, i wish i had more footage on this, but there was such an overwhelming amount of support and generosity after my car was broken into. to everyone that randomly donated money to my paypal or contributed to Phil Chao’s relief efforts… i cannot thank you enough. i was presented a check at my Toronto show for all the money Phil had raised with your help and it really just touched my heart to know that you all care so much, not to mention how amazing it was that Phil started this thing in the first place. i will be putting that money towards a replacement for my grandfather’s ukulele that was stolen (it was in my trunk, by the way, not out in the open) and my two merch suitcases, and as soon as I do I’ll be sure to show you all where the money went to!

i FINALLY got the Guitar Girl Keychains and signed Springtime Tour shirts up on the webstore, hooray! You can check them out here.

annnnd, because i don’t know what else to do with the fact that it’s my birthday, i made a discount code for 15% off any purchase on the webstore as long as it’s August 4th somewhere in the world. just type “happybirthday” in the discount code section and you’ll be set!

thank you all a bazillion for the birthday wishes! i was so overwhelmed by all of your tweets/emails/eCards when i woke up this morning… it was a wonderful way to start today :)

and just a reminder… here’s all the info on the UPCOMING tour!

visit the shows page here for all show details as well as pre-sale ticket links!

9/17 • Portland, OR • Aladdin Theater
9/18 • Seattle, WA • The Vera Project
9/19 • Vancouver, BC • The Media Club
9/21 • Eugene, OR • WOW Hall
9/23 • San Francisco, CA • Great American Music Hall
9/24 • Santa Barbara, CA • SoHo
9/25 • Anaheim, CA • Heritage Forum
9/26 • San Diego, CA • Anthology
9/27 • Scottsdale, AZ • Martini Ranch
10/1 • Dallas, TX • House of Blues – Cambridge Room
10/2 • Austin, TX • Stubb’s Jr
10/3 • Houston, TX • House of Blues – Bronze Peacock Room

RSVP on Facebook here!

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co-write with kina – part II

part II of the co-write begins! visit the “Moderator” section on my channel page to submit your lyrics for the pre-chorus and chorus. then help me vote up the best lyrics over the next 2 weeks!

so i’ve been back from the tour for about a week now! i miss it but it’s nice to be in one place again. my body is still thoroughly confused as to what is going on. i’m pretty much on the verge of falling asleep at any given moment (except when i actually get into bed). jet lag? exhaustion? fighting a cold? perhaps, but i’m thinking it’s some form of tour-withdrawal.

i’ve got a lot of catching up to do here at home, but i promise there will be a tour summary video and blog sometime in the near future.

well, i’ve been fighting a nap all day… i think it’s time i give in.

much much love and thanks,
kina

ovret: Week 79
Happy Anniversary!

Did you realize you have been answering our oovret questions for two years?
wow, we’re like old-time friends! only i have no idea who you are… :(
Do you miss going to the post office to mail merch?
no, i definitely don’t miss post office workers scowling at me for having bags and bags of things to mail. they made me feel like such a bad person!
[Replacement Q] Did you bring anything back from Japan?
yes. a hammerhead hand puppet. cutest thing that ever was. its name is hammy.
Do you enjoy listening to Hikaru Utada?
definitely haven’t listened to enough of her! i like what i’ve heard.
When visiting Japan, what is one restaurant everyone must try?
any restaurant that serves japanese food…

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mr. sun + stairwells springtime tour

stairwells springtime tour!!
i am beyond excited to finally be out on the road and meet all you lovely people in person! all but 2 of the 14 shows have been officially announced on my shows page, so be sure check if there’s one by you (or anyone you know)!

here’s a list of the cities i’ll be playing in:

Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Decatur, GA
Nashville, TN
Lexington, KY
Toronto, Canada
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Columbus, OH
Pittsburgh, PA
Vienna, VA
Philadelphia, PA
New York, NY
Boston, MA

you can get all the show details, including links to pre-order your tickets, here:
http://www.kinagrannis.com/shows/

there’s also a facebook event and for the tour! check it out, and if you’re so inclined, let you’re friends know about it too ;)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116529365041288

RSVP via twitter here:
http://www.vevite.com/2305

in other news
here are a few exciting things that have happened in the last few days:

- i discovered the cutest tiniest little bird this weekend whose favorite thing to do seems to be tapping on the kitchen window
- i found a baby bird in a tree that was trying to learn how to fly (wasn’t doing so hot). more importantly, it was really silly looking because it had some baby feathers sticking straight up on its head.
- i found an anole!! i’ve only ever seen these awesome little lizards in hawaii… so my mind was pretty blown.

lastly
happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear mama g, happy birthday to you!

oovret: Week 78

What kind of flowers do you have growing in/around your house?
…dying ones :(
When was the last time you cut your hair? When do you plan on cutting it next?
eek. don’t ask me that! it makes me feel like a bad person. i should probably give it a routine trim sometime soon…
How much time do you usually need to practice for a cover song video?
hmmm… i’d say roughly 3 hours.
Do you enjoy listening to Ke$ha?
her songs are incredibly catchy, and something about the production really draws me in, but i can’t say that i connect with them at all…
What is the largest amount of cash you have held in your hands?
hmm… i’ve held a giant check in my hands (thanks doritos!)… cash-wise though… a couple hundred? sometimes i keep my merch money in my wallet after a show, and then when i go to buy a coffee or something and the cashier takes a glance in my wallet i feel like a sketchy drug dealer. but it’s mostly one-dollar bills… haha.

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i believe in you

hey lovely people!

a couple of weeks ago i got together with the amazingly talented tyler hilton and we did a little duet of his song “i believe in you.” such a great song! i also got a super secret copy of his EP coming out this month and it’s awesome. perhaps we can look forward to more collabs with tyler in the future, he’s quite entertaining :)

kinacon video
i’m not sure how many of you knew about this, but some awesome kinerds put together a dvd containing videos from supporters all over the world and gave it to me at kinacon. i finally got a chance to sit down with my parents last night and watch the whole thing through, and i cannot begin to explain how insane it all was to me. it’s still hard for me to wrap my head around everything, but thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that contributed. it’s so amazing to see all your faces, hear your voices, and hear about what my music means to you. it’s just the best thing ever.

touring
ah, that was a mean subject line to bold. i actually still have no update on when or where i’ll be touring. it’s a slow process… i promise the moment i know something, you all will too! i cannot wait to see everyone.

in other news…
i just fed hubert cumberdale and jeremy fisher (my two beautiful corn snakes) and they are so happy! if i was less lazy at this moment i’d take a picture for you. they are snuggling together under their little log/cave thing. so cute.

…
it’s funny, because i promise you my days are busy and eventful, but at the end of every two weeks when i sit down to write this blog… suddenly i can’t recall anything noteworthy. darn it.

well, in any case, i love you all dearly.

kina

oovret: Week 77

If you’re not going to run a marathon this year, how about that song marathon?
ooh! i DO want to do that. i was thinking of actually making it some sort of benefit, too. ahhh this would be so fun. i gotta make it happen.
What do you do at an ice cream social?
ice cream :) so much ice cream.
Have you ever eaten ostrich egg?
no, but i hear you can make scrambled eggs for something like 10 people with one egg! so crazy.
Do you enjoy listening to Bruce Springsteen?
he’s the boss.
Would you rather own a tree that bears peeps, or a rabbit that lays chocolate eggs?
oh my gosh! as much as i love peeps, something seems incredibly magical about a rabbit that lays chocolate eggs.

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everyone, meet stairwells. stairwells, meet everyone.

what the? is it actually today?? i cannot believe that after SO long of talking about this album… it’s out! ahhh!

i’ve said it a million times before, but i could not be here if not for you. this album would not exist if not for you. so thank you from the very bottom of my heart for being such a huge part of this! today is your day just as much as it is mine or stairwells’. so give yourself a pat on the back and a big hug from me.

iTunes!
you can now download Stairwells from iTunes! feel free to rate and comment :)

physicals!
for now, physical copies are available only from my website and live shows. you can order your copy here, and with your confirmation email you’ll receive a free bonus track, “Make Me.”

free streaming of Stairwells!
during the first week of the release (until March 1st), Stairwells will be streaming for free from kinagrannis.com! check it out and see what you think, and invite anyone who might be interested to come listen as well :) who doesn’t like free music?

the story behind stairwells
if you want to gain a little insight on the title… check out this article from the Daily Trojan (campus newspaper from my alma mater, USC)

“Valentine” free single and music video

for those that missed it, you can download my single “Valentine” for free from my website, and be sure to check out the official music video here.

Online Release Party
what: celebration!
where: ustream.tv/kinagrannis
when: tonight, february 23rd @ 8PM Pacific Standard Time

come celebrate the release with me! i will likely:

- play some songs
- talk a bit about making the album
- take questions
- thank you all profusely

Real-life Release Party

there will be about 150 spots open to the public, so come early if you want to join the festivities! there will be mingling, hors d’oeuvres, treats, and music, of course.

where: The Dakota Lounge, 1026 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica
when: Saturday, February 27th, 7-9PM, doors open at 6:30PM
info: $15 at the door, 18+

“Valentine” on the radio!
a limited number of radio stations now have “valentine” in their libraries– check out the list and request “valentine” at your local station!
http://www.kinagrannis.com/streetteam/radio/

wow.

today is lovely. thank you for that.

kina

oovret: Week 74

What is the highest stairwell you have climbed?
i’m not sure, but i’d really like to climb up/sing in a stairwell in a tower in a castle! wouldn’t that be cool?
Do you have a favorite stairwell?
i’m fairly attached to the ones i dwelled in during my early years at USC.
Have you ever used a StairMaster?
maybe twice. way to hard to tweet on one of those. (ellipticals all the way!)
What is the best song to listen to in a stairwell?
i’m not sure what the best one to LISTEN to is… but the best songs to SING in a stairwell… well shoot. any song ever. it’s just the best feeling.
Do you stare well?
haha. why yes, i do. actually no, it’d probably make me feel pretty awkward to stare too well.

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Happy “Valentine”… Day?

i am currently excited beyond belief. i can’t believe that after years of planning for this… it’s actually happening. well, almost.

album update

Stairwells is now available for pre-order here.

all pre-orders will be signed by me, and upon placing your order you will receive a free download of my bonus track “Make Me.”

after two years in the making, i am incredibly happy to announce the upcoming release of my first full-length album, Stairwells, on February 23rd, 2010. Stairwells will be available in physical form through my website, and digitally through iTunes (US and internationally), Amazon, and several other digital vendors.

free single!
i am giving away my single “Valentine” for free on my website as well! go download your copy now and spread it far and wide :) just in time for a little Valentine’s day gift, too!
download Valentine here.

“Valentine” Official Music Video

it’s now been 3 super bowls since my last proper music video! i shot this one last week with a very talented director named Ross Ching. it’s amazing what can be done with 760 empty dvd cases and a LOT of patience.

check out Ross’ stuff here:
http://www.rossching.com

Stairwells Release Party!

for those in the LA area, the cd release party will be held on Saturday, February 27th from 7-9pm at the Dakota Lounge in Santa Monica. there are limited spots available to the public so arrive early if you want to be a part of the celebration, we’ll be taking people first come first serve after my RSVPed guests have checked in! there will be mingling, hors d’oeuvres, treats, and music, of course. it’s 18+ and $15 at the door.

<3

much much love to all of you for supporting my music, if even in the teeniest of ways. you all made this possible and i am endlessly grateful for that.

kina

oovret: Week 73

Have you sung “Singin’ in the Rain”, in the rain?
just that line, yes :)
Are you working on another Valentine’s Day song?
not this year. was a little busy working on the same one :)
Since your Superbowl appearance, have you been offered to appear in any other advertisements?
only silly things
Did you enjoy any of this year’s Superbowl commercials?
i spent all yesterday in front of my computer! i’ll definitely watch the ads sometime this week.
Do you feel obligated to eat Doritos during every Superbowl?
how about any time i walk by them in a store?? ;)

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music is transparent too

this is a video i shot with my lovely sisters misa (left) and emi (…behind?) this summer when we stayed in lake tahoe for a week. always so fun to sing with them :) and i love this song by k’s choice.

i had another video in the works for today but it’s not quite ready. it’ll definitely be up sometime soon. it’s an exciting one!

album update
after MUCH back and forth with the manufacturer, i think we are finally going to press!! for a moment there i was worried they weren’t going to be printed in time. but it’s all good to go now :)

i’m kicking into gear now as there is LESS than a month before Stairwells is released! i need to do what i can to get the word out far and wide. possibly some exciting things coming up…

well, i don’t want to give away too much for now. i’ll be posting again soon. i think i might start posting more vlog-like videos so i can really keep you all in the loop!

all for now!
<3
kina

oovret: Week 72

What do you feel was your greatest accomplishment of 2009, not related to music or your career?
oh boy, we’re getting deep here. there are a lot of things… i can’t say there was one greatest accomplishment though.
Were you able to keep your resolutions from the past year?
i think i made a resolution to play guitar everyday… *fail* :(
Do you know any New Year songs?
i don’t think so!
Did you enjoy watching The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien?
yes, the last one made me cry!
Do you ever think about what the world would be like if you didn’t exist?
i haven’t… how about what i’d be like without the world!?

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Co-Write w/ Kina – Part IV (The Bridge)

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