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.”
Porcelain Frame
Kuinka Lyrics
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But she kissed me in a way that made me move against the floor
Livin' in the night, I held her ordinary name
Above the windows out on Wall Street
With the marble and the porcelain frame
She takes me ‘round the room, he akes me by the hand
Beneath the streets and city lights I laid her down to rest
Laid a hand upon her chest, and said I loved
But merely guessed it all away
And oh, love hurt
It's the kind of consolation that you get when you're alone
Past the skin and past the bones, in an ordinary tone
Ask the question, take me dancing, take me out and take me home
Beneath the trees we taste the leaves, ah please don't leave
I want to roam this earth with you
Oh, love hurt
Oh love break my bones, love take my home
Love lead me astray, weigh me down with stones
Love set me afire, I can see no more
Love break my heart and tear down my door
Love bring me away, burn down my home
There's an emptiness there that I can't afford
Love lift me up, for another day
Love leave your mark, I am here to stay
Stay
The lyrics of Kuinka's song Porcelain Frame convey a story of love and heartbreak, with an insightful interpretation of the feelings that love can evoke. The opening lines suggest that the singer is not someone who typically speaks about past experiences, but the intensity of the love that he has experienced has compelled him to share his story. The next line describes the physical sensation that was induced by a kiss from his lover, as he was moved so drastically that he fell against the floor. The imagery of the marble and porcelain frames invokes a sense of opulence and luxury, which could allude to the relationship's grandeur.
The next verse presents more imagery of the bustling city, as the singer is led through the smoke and crowded streets by his lover. The setting is described as the city beneath the streets and city lights, suggesting the underworld of the city, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the depths of their relationship. The final lines of the verse suggest that the singer is reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and love as he lays his lover to rest. The lyrics then repeat the phrase "Oh, love hurt" to emphasize the deep pain that the singer feels.
The chorus of the song explores the many complexities of love, including the ways it can both hurt and lift us up. The singer recognizes that love can be both a burden and a blessing, as it can bring both joy and pain. The repeating line "Love break my bones, love take my home" is a powerful image that captures the all-encompassing nature of love, which can both destroy us and provide us with a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
I was never one to talk about what came before
I never used to reminisce about my past experiences.
But she kissed me in a way that made me move against the floor
But then she kissed me so passionately that I felt weak and fell on the floor.
Livin' in the night, I held her ordinary name
In the night, with all the partying, I called her by her regular name.
Above the windows out on Wall Street, with the marble and the porcelain frame
I looked out of the window on Wall Street, noticing the expensive construction.
She takes me ‘round the room, he takes me by the hand, led me through the smoke and crowd till I could hardly stand
She then guided me around the room holding my hand, through the dense crowd till I was almost dizzy.
Beneath the streets and city lights I laid her down to rest, laid a hand upon her chest, and said I loved, but merely guessed it all away
Under the glittering city lights, I helped her lie down, touched her chest, and expressed my love, which was only an uncertain feeling.
And oh, love hurt
And oh, love can also hurt.
It's the kind of consolation that you get when you're alone, past the skin and past the bones, in an ordinary tone
It's the solace you seek when you're alone, where you can go beyond the superficial level and be yourself naturally.
Ask the question, take me dancing, take me out and take me home, beneath the trees we taste the leaves, ah please don't leave I want to roam this earth with you
Ask me anything, let's go dancing, go out, go home, let's enjoy nature, and please don't ever leave me. I want to travel this world with you.
Oh, love hurt
Oh, love can also be painful.
Oh love break my bones, love take my home, love lead me astray, weigh me down with stones, love set me afire, I can see no more, love break my heart and tear down my door
Oh, love can devastate me, smash my home, confuse me, burden me, ignite me, and drive me crazy. Nonetheless, love is truly powerful and can make me vulnerable.
Love bring me away, burn down my home, there's an emptiness there that I can't afford
Love can move me away, destroy my home, but I can't tolerate the hole it leaves behind.
Love lift me up, for another day, love leave your mark, I am here to stay, stay
Love can also give me strength, stay with me for the duration, and forever impress me. I am stable here and I'm not going anywhere.
Contributed by Charlie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.