Described by NPR Music as joyous folk pop, Kuinka “laces modern folk and Americana with an electronic jolt, waltzing along the grooved edges of dream-pop, synth-pop, and Brooklyn’s mid-aughts guitar-rock revival” (Vanyaland). Their genre-defying music features several different lead singers, four-part harmony, and eclectic instrumentation including cello, banjo, ukulele, and synthesizers. For all of their sonic experimentation, the Seattle quintet songs and live shows are linked by an infectious energy that remains present in everything they do. Their new full-length album Shiny Little Corners is out now.
“Kuinka crafts songs that are engaging and original with a proper amount of established canon and innovation. Stories are laced through the lyrics, there are celebrations as well as lamentations—there is synth and cello! It is such a wonderful thing to hear a sound you’ve adored for so long ameliorated like this, with nothing missing, only new possibilities added to the mix.” -Paste Music & Daytrotter
“Seraphic vocals bookended by ukulele, cello, and heavy percussion will leave you feeling giddy and glad to be alive.” -The Stranger
Kuinka is:
Nathan Hamer // ukulele, vocals + mandolin
Zach Hamer // lead guitar, vocals + harmonica
Michelle Nuño // drums
Jillian Walker // cello, synthesizer + vocals
Miranda Zickler // vocals, synthesizer, banjo, rhythm guitar
General Mojo’s
On their new EP All of the Greats, Seattle, WA psych-pop acolytes General Mojo’s manage to cram a vision-quests’ worth of soaring vocal harmonies, multicolored oil-drip synth lines, and shimmering fuzz-guitar wash into a concise – and incredibly compelling – journey. Reach out and take their hands, and they’ll lead you into a world where everything is just a little more colorful (and quite a lot groovier.)
In 2012 Dune Butler had a vision; craft a sound that was psychedelic yet deeply melodic, firmly grounded in pop with its head floating well above the clouds. Recruiting guitarist David Salonen, drummer Sam Veatch, keyboardist Eric Vanderbilt-Mathews, and vocalist Tekla Waterfield into the fold, they set out as General Mojo’s Key Project.
It soon became clear that their sonic vision demanded a full-time co-lead vocalist. Kate Copeland filled that role. The success of their first tour – in support of eponymously titled General Mojo’s Key Project -cemented the foundation of what would evolve into their signature tone. That sound continued to bloom on their follow up release, How Hollow a Heart. Not long after the record was tracked, Copeland returned to her home city of New York, NY to pursue a solo career, and the band elected to drop “Key Project” from their title. Prominent Seattle artist Heather Thomas sashayed into the co-vocalist role, and brought her percussion gear along for the ride.
Written around the Pacific Northwest, All of the Greats was tracked at Electrokitty in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. It was produced by General Mojo’s, recorded by Garrett Reynolds, and mastered by Levi Seitz of Blackbelt Mastering. While the record broadly deals with the transient nature of existence, the title track in particular resonates (so much so that it’s the focus of the bands breathtaking, deeply inspiring video). “There’s a beautiful book called Desert by graphic novelist Travis Rommeriem that inspired us” says Thomas. “It addresses mortality and other planes of existence in a way that felt like a psychedelic trip. It was a way of coping with the loss of some very important people, and recognizing “all of the greats have gone to space”. You have your time to do what you are going to do and then you’re going to leave behind whatever you created.”
In the last few months the band has released their new EP and numerous music videos, including a live video collaboration with guitarist Andy Coe and organist Delvon Lamarr.
