“In Your Arms” by Kina Grannis
Lawrence: I love Kina Grannis. I’ve seen her play live a few times. Most recently at the Fillmore in San Francisco in November 2017. “In Your Arms” is one of my favorite Kina songs. It’s one of the few happy songs that I happen to like. The first time I heard it I thought of the innocence of high school romances. When all you could afford was a homemade picnic. You were content just spending time together. I have one such memory, there was candlelight or was it a camping lantern, champagne or was it grape juice (I can’t remember exactly, but it was magical), and music by boombox; she was my first steady girlfriend and I had planned to kiss for the first time. I can’t help but smile when I listen to this song. It’s ever so sweet. And it describes Kina perfectly. I’ve met her and she’s warm, engaging, and just the nicest person. Her concerts are love-fests. She genuinely wants to meet her fans and really cares and connects with them. So much so that she started a fan supported label, KG Records. It’s done through Patreon. I didn’t hesitate to join.
5songpjct: Did said picnic have a playlist? If yes which songs were on it to impress particular girl?
Lawrence: There was definitely a mixtape and maybe some CDs, I don’t really remember the songs. Given the time, being in high school, and thinking about love songs, Air Supply, Chicago, Peter Cetera, had to have been in there. Maybe some slow songs by Depeche Mode or Erasure. I wasn’t a very sophisticated music fan back then. Honestly, I wasn’t too worried about the playlist. I just wanted to set the mood.
[On Kina continued] Kina connects with her fans through live chats and one time a person asked if she would play at their wedding. She said if they were serious to contact her manager. If I were to get married and it were in my budget, I would totally want Kina to play at my wedding. I wouldn’t care about anything else. The wife-to-be could have whatever she wanted if I could just have that one thing. I wasn’t sure if Kina said that jokingly, but if she’s serious, I am too. She’s one of my favorite artists right now.
Are you familiar with any of the songs I picked?
5songpjct: Not really, I had heard The Naked and Famous and I had heard “Islands” before. The other stuff was new to me. That is what I love about this project is that I am discovering new music. Really great music.
Lawrence: And that’s something I was thinking about when I chose these songs. More people should know these artists because they’re really great but not very “big” or super popular. I’m not musically inclined and for someone to pursue this passion, I envy them, I could never do that. I want to support anyone who has an artistic talent and makes a career out of it. I’ve a different perspective, especially with how easy it is to download free music, I want to support artists by going to their concerts and paying for their music. Please pay for music. Support artists so they can keep making music.
THANK YOU for spending this week with me. It was great chatting with you about all of the live music you are seeing. On Sunday I talk to a world traveler.