suggested reading method
To best savour this artwork, please take a moment to eliminate distractions. Consider minimizing all other windows on your computer; putting other devices (phone, tv etc) aside; taking a deep breath, to the full extent of your lung capacity; and focusing solely on the “artwork” section.
Once you’ve processed that to your satisfaction, the rest of the post is optional reading, provided only to share my own impressions and reasons for choosing this piece.
artwork
“Could Be a Curse” by KAINA feat. Sen Morimoto, from her album Next to The Sun.
interpretation
I don’t remember how I found this song, but I’m so glad I did.
I was first entranced by the heavenly, layered vocal harmonies. The diverse sonic textures provided by the Spanish and Japanese portions make the track even more attractive to the ear, and knowing Japanese, I was especially excited to hear the latter. Sen Morimoto has a knack for rhymes, including consonance and assonance; by placing similar sounds on certain parts of the beat, his verses smoothly bounce along. So even though the underlying beats and chords don’t change much throughout the entire 5 and a half minutes, each part feels fresh, and rewards repeat listens.
When I was able to move past my initial awe and listen more closely, the lyrics grabbed me more and more. In these turbulent times, I imagine many people are enduring some sleepless nights – “In my worry, I just try to sleep.” Maybe even anxiety and panic attacks – “what if I die here, holding my breath?” There’s a lot to relate to here, and there’s comfort in knowing that people all over the world (represented by the different languages) endure similar feelings. The way the chords resolve, and the melding of KAINA and Morimoto’s voices, suggest some hope, some light at the end of the tunnel.
Overall, this song makes me feel like I’m wrapped in a warm blanket.
PS: knowing that KAINA and Sen Morimoto are an item makes this video even more adorable 🥺 the scenes of the apartment and sidewalk, the convenience store snacks, and even the part with them playing with crayons on the rooftop give the video a down-to-earth quality I love.
context
KAINA is a singer-songwriter in her twenties, born and raised in Chicago. She uses her intimate lyrics and Latin-inspired sounds to connect to her roots, while sprinkling in Chicago soul and R&B. Her next album It Was a Home will be released in March 2022.
Sen Morimoto is also a Chicago-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, of Japanese ancestry. His music spans genres including spoken-word rap, jazz, hip-hop, and experimental. Morimoto’s latest self-titled album was released in October 2020.
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