The name Kuink… Read Full Bio ↴Kuinka is an American folk-pop band based in Seattle.
The name Kuinka comes from the Finnish for “how”; how does a band bristling with spirited creativity continue to evolve artistically and challenge themselves while staying true to their own roots? For Kuinka, the answer comes in the form of letting go: a joyful acquiescence to faith in their cumulative love of songwriting and shared experience, regardless of genre or instrumentation. Brothers Zach and Nathan Hamer, along with Miranda Zickler and Jillian Walker, came together in 2014 to form a unique breed of string band; one proudly defiant of preconceived notions of what fits under the label 'Americana'.
Their 2014 debut The Wild North, which propelled the band out of the woods and on to stages across the country, was followed by their 2016 breakout LP The Heartland. Both albums were recorded at the famed Bear Creek Studio in Woodinville, WA (Fleet Foxes, Metric), and led to featured performances at dozens of festivals and several successful national headlining tours. Home from touring The Heartland, all four found themselves in the midst of major life changes both as people and as artists; moving out of the house they‘d shared for the previous two years to new cities and broadening the total palette from which they draw as musicians. After fleshing out new songs in rehearsal, the band headed to a studio near Portland, OR with the trusted ears of longtime producer Jerry Streeter (Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers). The quartet was joined in the studio with their touring wizard of the woodwinds John Benefiel who handled clarinet and saxophone.
The songs on their forthcoming release Stay Up Late ring with the vibrancy of exploration and discovery. “We’ve spent our time as a band in pursuit of a unique sound that captures our energy and essence” says Zickler. “Once we came together and started work on the new singles, we knew it was time to redefine ourselves. We’d love for our music to be a soundtrack to adventure. The change represents finding your way, for both us and our listeners.”
Grace
Kuinka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once broken-hearted lovers don't live here anymore
Kitchen's empty and not in the scene
Recovered all the windows and swallowed all the keys
Gotta get away, gotta get away
Gonna get paid, then we've got to get away
I've been listening to the breeze
I haven't been back in a long long while
I wrote down my story with a half drawn smile
It's been hard not to celebrate
Or be distracted by the open gate
Gotta get away, gotta get away
Gotta say thanks and we've got to get away
I've been wandering around too long
I need a destination where I can't go wrong (can't go wrong)
Uhhhhh, uhhhhh (hey, hey)
Uhhhhh, uhhhhh (hey, hey)
I've been packing for a long long time
I boxed all my letters and stamped all my rhymes
Walking around in your high-heel shoes
While we drink mason-jars of contraband JUICE:)
Gotta get away, gotta get away
Gotta say grace and we've got to get away
I will go anywhere you say
I promise sometime soon we will get away
The song "Grace" by Kuinka depicts the aftermath of a breakup, where the singer is ready to move on from the painful memories and start anew. This is exemplified by the first verse where "tickets on the table" signify a departure, both metaphorically and literally, and the "empty kitchen" and "recovered windows" depict a clean break from the past. The singer is eager to leave their memories behind and start fresh, evidenced by the repetition of "gotta get away" and "gonna get paid, then we've got to get away". However, despite this move forward, there is still emotional baggage to be dealt with as portrayed in the lines "I miss you sitting next to me" and "it's been hard not to celebrate". The chorus highlights this tension between wanting to move on and wanting to hold onto the past as the singer seeks a new destination but also seeks grace or forgiveness.
The second verse lays out the journey that the singer has been on to get to this point. They have been "wandering around too long" and need a "destination where [they] can't go wrong". They have been packing for a long time and have reached a point of readiness where everything has been sorted and organised. The tonal shift in the last two lines of this verse, where they describe "walking around in your high-heel shoes while we drink mason-jars of contraband juice" adds a playful and lighthearted flavor to the song and contrasts with the weighty themes of the rest of the lyrics. It is a reminder that even in moments of heartbreak, there is room for joy and levity, and those moments can help us move forward.
Overall, the song "Grace" is a portrayal of the complex and often contradictory emotions that arise out of a breakup, where the desire to move on and start anew is balanced by feelings of nostalgia and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Tickets on the table and our bags are by the door
We are ready to leave, our belongings are all packed and waiting.
Once broken-hearted lovers don't live here anymore
We have recovered from our heartbreak and moved on from this place.
Kitchen's empty and not in the scene
We have cleaned out the kitchen and left it behind, it no longer plays a role in our lives.
Recovered all the windows and swallowed all the keys
We have secured the house and made sure we won't be coming back.
Gotta get away, gotta get away
We feel a sense of urgency to leave and start something new.
Gonna get paid, then we've got to get away
We need to make some money before we leave, but leaving is a top priority.
I've been listening to the breeze
I've been taking in the sounds of nature and reflecting on things.
I miss you sitting next to me, next to me
I am reminded of the person who used to be with me and wish they were here.
I haven't been back in a long long while
It's been a significant amount of time since I've been in this place.
I wrote down my story with a half drawn smile
I have recorded my experiences with mixed emotions, both happy and sad.
It's been hard not to celebrate
It's difficult to contain our excitement for what's to come.
Or be distracted by the open gate
We can easily be sidetracked by the opportunities that lie ahead and lose focus.
Gotta say thanks and we've got to get away
We need to express our gratitude before leaving and then depart.
I've been wandering around too long
I have been aimlessly wandering for too much time without purpose.
I need a destination where I can't go wrong (can't go wrong)
I am seeking a place where I can be sure that things will work out for the best.
Uhhhhh, uhhhhh (hey, hey)
A verbal expression of feeling heard or noticed.
I've been packing for a long long time
I have been preparing for a significant amount of time for this departure.
I boxed all my letters and stamped all my rhymes
I have packed my personal belongings, including precious memories.
Walking around in your high-heel shoes
I am imagining and perhaps trying on a different lifestyle and persona.
While we drink mason-jars of contraband JUICE:)
We are trying to have some fun and savor the last moments in this place with a clandestine beverage.
Gotta say grace and we've got to get away
We need to express gratitude and then depart to start a new chapter.
I will go anywhere you say
I am willing to follow wherever you lead.
I promise sometime soon we will get away
I am determined to leave and start anew with you in the near future.
Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.