KARINA On the Making Of ‘what happened to the little girl?’
How did you come up with the theme?
When I started considering what I wanted this album to be, I knew I wanted to tell my story. I didn't want it to be about superficial topics; I wanted it to provoke emotions. To let others know they were not alone in their feelings and trauma. I was in a really transitional phase in my life when I wrote this album. I didn't know how to navigate things and just wanted to go back to when things were simpler. This is when the album's nostalgic themes come into play.
Was there any challenge that you encountered while making this album?
I would say that the most challenging thing about this album was how vulnerable I had to be to make it. I knew I wanted to make an album that was 100% me but that meant putting my emotions and my story out there which was so scary.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for 'what happened to the little girl?' to life?
Going into a studio for the first time can be crazy intimidating. You never know if someone is going to absolutely hate your stuff or completely love it. With my producer, Lawrence Grivich, I feel as if he let me tell my story through my lyrics whilst he built the world around them. It was so incredibly interesting watching him take my lyrics and melodies and make them a thousand times cooler with production.
Have you collaborated with other songwriters or musicians? How does the collaborative process enhance your creativity?
As previously mentioned, I work alongside my producer, Lawrence Grivich. It's really interesting to discover new things about production that I never knew before. It's very exciting to bounce ideas off of someone who is just as passionate about music. I believe that working with others can broaden your perspective and enhance the quality of the music immensely.
How do you balance crafting relatable stories with maintaining your unique voice as a songwriter?
While I felt it was important to tell my individual story, I also felt it was important that other people find it relatable, which I took into consideration while writing. Even if people can't relate to my stories, I think it's easy to relate to my emotions. The majority of people have felt lost or lonely at some point in their lives. Not everyone will find my music relatable, which is okay, but I hope that those who do understand me, my lyrics, and my voice find the songs comforting and know that there are others out there who feel the same way.