Kina Grannis
patreon
9 Years ago today...
🕑 Added 2016-11-15 22:50:55 +0000 UTC 9 years ago today, I wrote the above email. I had just moved to Austin, TX from Los Angeles after graduating from USC to pursue music. I was living the life of a "full-time" musician for the first time. It was exciting and scary and I had no idea what I was doing. I spent my nights holed up in my bedroom writing (/being lonely) and my days gigging in coffee shops and bars. I'm not sure what compelled me on Nov 14th, 2007 to make a video for the very first time, but I did. I stayed up all night shooting, editing, making little faux-animations, cutting out a little paper anatomical heart to make move to the beat of my song. I made a YouTube account, uploaded the video, and come morning, I emailed it off to my family. As soon as I pressed send my excitement turned to pure terror. What would they think? Was this stupid? Was it gross to make a video of myself singing? I almost deleted the video, but, for some reason, I felt the need to keep it there. And that was that. I had no plan. I thought YouTube was a video hosting site. It didn't occur to me that someday someone other than my family might see this video. Fast forward a month or so, I've entered my song and video into a contest. I've vowed to post a video a day for as long as I'm still in the running. I consider it a thank you and reminder to my friends and family who are voting for me. As the days and weeks go by, I start seeing comments from people I don't know. People start appearing on my website, cheerleaders, supporters, friends. They're from all over the world. They name themselves Kinerds. Of Kination. They become my family. 7 weeks and 41 videos later, I have an army of loving and incredible humans behind me, and we win. My music video is played during the Super Bowl. I am signed to a major label. I am collapsed and crying in my family's arms because I know that my life is about to change forever. It wasn't until months later that I understood how. It wasn't being in front 98 million people on the Super Bowl. It wasn't a major label. It was you. YOU allowed me to be exactly myself, to create exactly the music that moved me in exactly the way I wanted to. Knowing the power of this, I left the label and began the journey of self funding my first full-length studio album, and I never turned back. 9 years and 345 videos later, here we still are. Just you and me. Because of you, I've had the privilege of sharing my original songs and albums with more people than I ever imagined possible. I've had the incredible experience of touring and playing shows all over the world. And most importantly, I've had the honor of feeling deeply connected to thousands of amazing people--to YOU. We share the same joy and hurt and hope and worry and love. I feel that we are in this life thing together, and for that I am forever grateful. Today I am sending love and gratitude out to everyone who has been part of my journey. To everyone who has believed in me and inspired me along the way. Here's to more living, more growing, more feeling all the things there are to feel, and more creating things we care about. Love you all. (And of course, love to @YouTube .)
Comments
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Love you Kina. Deciding to support you was one of the best decisions I ever made. You never stop giving, and we have received plenty. Thank you for being pure hearted, and thank you for making music that shows your pure heart. I consider myself lucky to know you and to be your friend. <3
😱❤️😁
BobC
The DIGG Song. That did it for me right there. Not just the song (which nailed it), but also the video with your sisters made it beyond sweet and charming. Then the whole Super Bowl of Doritos. Despite being an internet user since the early '80's (when it was still the Arpanet), I had never participated in any organized online movement. You posted all the instructions we needed to vote every possible way. Getting you that win felt so good, though it was also helpful that you also had terrific competition who fought hard. And the music just kept coming, and still does. Including world travel with adventures in Indonesia. And Patreon: You were the first artist I backed on Patreon, and the only one I've backed continuously, without a break. I like that I have a little 'skin in the Kina game'!
thanks for always being supportive since the very beginning, nina! and man, that was an emotional day!! hope you're well! <3
thank you jim!!
we live in a pretty special time, that all this is possible! love being connected to you all <3
Aww I had to go and watch the video. I remember being so impressed with it. It is just so adorable :) Gosh now I can't help but think about where I was when that super bowl commercial happened. I remember I was there with Nikki, Kelly and my dad and I just started crying too. It all started with two weeks for Kina! <3
mega congratulations on nine-years (and counting) on your amazing journey! so proud to have been on this journey with you for the past 7+ of the nine years (though I will always regret not having been with you from the beginning!) can't wait for all of the amazingness yet to come! much love and never-ending support!! 🎉❤️ Jim
It's weird, that connection we feel. We have never even met but I feel the connection when chatting with you on twitter, watching you on periscope and when I listen to your music every day. Thank you for everything you do, the music and the videos and for just existing. It has added so much joy in my life since I joined the kination 2 years ago, I hope you know that. ❤️ Have a fantastic day, Kina!
thank you larissa!
<3
yes yes keep it going! <3
this means so much to me, thank you nick <3
i'm so lucky to have you all <3
Thank YOU for every choice and every step on this journey! Thank you for sharing a lit bit of you with us! <3
Mark McCorkle
Happy 9 yr youtube anniversary! I've only been here for the last 2 or 3 of them, but it has been an awesome thing to watch and be inspired by your journey. It is now my charge to take all that inspiration and amplify it back out into the world :-D
Nick Ryan
Your story has been such an inspiration to me and so many others I've shared it with who aspire to make music for a living. I have boundless respect for you and the way you've fought to do this your way instead of taking the easy road of the label and compromising your heart and vision. Not many would have done it, but you did, and I'm proud to support you in this journey. Here's to many more years of amazing music from an amazing person ❤️
Kina 🌿 your story actually sounds like it's straight out of a movie, but the cool thing is it isn't 😬 and i'm so happy we all get to listen to your music and be a part of your story, much love x
