Kina ft: Snow - Get You The Moon (Single)
At the age of 24, Naples’ native Kina has made music streaming history. The producer has become the first Italian artist ever to reach one billion streams on Spotify with an original song. It’s safe to say you’ve heard it, ‘Get You The Moon’ was released back in 2018 and swept through social media, leaving timeless TikTok trends and viral videos in its wake. From being a self-released single on Soundcloud to a global sensation, Kina’s seminal track has brought lo-fi into the mainstream charts for the first time.
Featured on the track is vocalist and writer Snøw, whose tender vocals sail over the stripped back soundscape. Lyrically, he explores the intricacies of longing, love, and co-dependence, with his striking tone articulating a feeling that’s often too poignant to put into words. Together, these two lo-fi titans sculpted a track haunted by vulnerability. Snøw’s heartfelt vocals are a grounding force in Kina’s evolving instrumental, which sways between acoustic and electronic. He weaves together soft guitar strums with heavy bass kicks and subs, but it’s the space that is left between them that makes this track so impactful.
In fact, ‘Get You The Moon’ feels like a love song to lo-fi itself. The sparse guitar line is reminiscent of early records from the “godfather of lo-fi,” Nujabes, whilst the boom-bap slaps of the drum line are a nod to early 2000s chill-wave artists. However, Kina’s vibe is no pastiche. It’s a striking take on those chill-wave, low-fidelity traditions before him and made accessible to the mainstream. Just after ‘Get You The Moon’ was released, YouTube views on the infamous Lofi Girl skyrocketed. This was in 2020, so perhaps the uncomplicated melodies and emotional lyrics were what we all needed back then. But now, Kina is keeping the resurgence of lo-fi alive.
With the track spending 450 days on the Spotify Global Daily Charts, its gentle and melancholic atmosphere clearly resonated and, perhaps, captivated an audience new to the subtle power of the genre. Very few artists pioneering this genre have seen the global success and recognition that Kina earned since its’ release. Kina gave the world a glimpse into his relationship with lo-fi in his 2020 YouTube documentary series ‘Asleep In A Dream’, in which he says, “I didn’t look for fame, success, or clicks. I just wanted to express myself”.
Whilst Kina’s motivations may have been self-expression, his signature blend of lo-fi pop continues to resonate with billions of people across the globe. With over twenty platinum discs worldwide, Kina’s groundbreaking journey is a testament to the power of social media when it unearths an incredible song. Since then, Kina has released a multitude of music, including his latest album ‘kinamood,’ a showcase of his signature moody soundscapes and features collaborations with renowned hip-hop and lo-fi artists. With more music on the way this year, Kina shows no sign of stopping, and why should he? We all knew his song. Now, it’s time we got to know the artist.
Words: Sasha Renn