Sunday ACL Fest 2019 Record Reviews
Kaina
Next to the Sun (Sooper)
Reviewed by Libby Webster, Fri., Oct. 4, 2019
The soulful debut from Kaina Castillo plays out like a sigh – of exhaustion, of comfort, of knowing. Her warm voice guides the R&B elegance of Next to the Sun, delving into everything from its author's experiences as a first generation Chicagoan to simple childhood crushes. Lullaby-esque "House" opens with a plain-spoken assertion of immigrant acceptance and the trilingual "Could Be a Curse," written and performed with multi-instrumentalist Sen Morimoto, churns through English, Spanish, and Japanese. The salsa-imbued "Green" celebrates heritage and familial commitment as the LP culminates in a dreamy slow-burn. (Sunday, 2:45pm, Tito's stage; weekend one only)