Grace Kinter On the Making Of ‘Two Fold’
Photo Credit: Jael Ku
What was the creative process like for this particular EP?
I wanted to experiment with writing from a place of healing. Often my songs reflect on pain, but I found myself in a more grounded place this year. So I had this "the smoke has cleared" energy when I was writing this music. That was actually an alternate title to the EP: "After the Smoke Clears." A few of the songs started as piano chord progressions and a few were instrumentals made by my producer and collaborator, Brenden Cabrera.
Was there any challenge that you encountered while making 'Two Fold?'
It was challenging to navigate newer genres like bossa nova and house music. Sometimes, it feels wrong to wander into other genres or art forms as an artist and we feel like we need to be "on brand" but ultimately my house track seems to be the most loved from my EP so I'm happy I accepted the challenge and found something new!
Can you talk about any standout tracks on 'Two Fold' and what makes them special to you?
As stated above, “I'll Show You How” has received a lot of praise from friends and fans. Other than it being energetic and an amazing summer vibe, I tend to brood in my music, and “I'll Show You How” is lyrically about trusting passing time, putting your phone away, and connecting with the world and your emotions. I think people really connect with that. Plus the house aspects of it are fantastic; you can't not dance/move to this tune.
What is it about the lyricism, instrumentation, or structure of this genre that resonates with you?
I just loveeeee a soulful voice and an instrumental that pockets that voice. Neo soul and R&B stir you- you can feel it in your heart, your hips... Some tunes literally give me butterflies. Like "On My Own" by Lalah Hathaway or "Gimme All Your Love" by Alabama Shakes or "Really Love" by D'Angelo for example. Listen to those tunes and tell me you don't get chills!
How do you balance your artistic identity with that of your collaborators to create a cohesive piece?
I'm easy breezy when it comes to collaborating. I love letting the voices and ideas of others grow. I think of it like I'm the soil, my collaborator is the water, and the cohesive piece is the plant. Some of the best music of mine has come from me not giving strict parameters or notes. I love giving someone free rein and seeing what they come up with. If something could be improved, I'll say it, but I only work with people who I trust (and people whose music I love) so it's rare!