Chicago’s KAINA makes dreamy indie R&B songs that serve as affirmations of joy for the Guatamalen-Venezuelan artist. She released her impressive sophomore record It Was a Home back in March, featuring collaborations with Helado Negro, Sleater-Kinney, and Sen Morimoto. She stopped by KEXP over the summer to play a gorgeous set of songs off the record and spoke with Gabriel Teodros about coming up in Chicago’s youth music programs, the role family plays in her new record, and building a home.

As an extra gift, we include a snippet from Sen Morimoto’s KEXP in-studio session from last year featuring KAINA on backing vocals.

Recorded 06/20/2022.
Anybody Can Be In Love
Good Feeling
Friend of Mine
Golden Mirror

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

This episode originally aired on November 15, 2022.

Chicago’s KAINA makes dreamy indie R&amp;B songs that serve as affirmations of joy for the Guatamalen-Venezuelan artist. She released her impressive sophomore record It Was a Home back in March, featuring collaborations with Helado Negro, Sleater-Kinney, and Sen Morimoto. She stopped by KEXP over the summer to play a gorgeous set of songs off the record and spoke with Gabriel Teodros about coming up in Chicago’s youth music programs, the role family plays in her new record, and building a home.
As an extra gift, we include a snippet from Sen Morimoto’s KEXP in-studio session from last year featuring KAINA on backing vocals.
Recorded 06/20/2022.
<ol>
<li>Anybody Can Be In Love</li>
<li>Good Feeling</li>
<li>Friend of Mine</li>
<li>Golden Mirror</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfZcOTBZgm8">Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube</a>
This episode originally aired on November 15, 2022.

Live on KEXP brings you the very best of KEXP’s world-renowned live in-studio and remote performances. Each week, we’ll bring you a new live session, from emerging artists to well-established acts, spanning styles, genres and cultures. Full video of all Live on KEXP performances available at youtube.com/kexp.

Live on KEXP brings you the very best of KEXP’s world-renowned live in-studio and remote performances. Each week, we’ll bring you a new live session, from emerging artists to well-established acts, spanning styles, genres and cultures. Full video of all Live on KEXP performances available at youtube.com/kexp.

Live on KEXP

KAINA [Performance & Interview Only] (RE-RELEASE)

Puaj

Current

Painted Lady

Si Chomphu

Interview

On the show this time, Thailand meets West Africa through the electrifying drumming of Salin.

Salin was born and raised in Thailand. She started out learning music on the piano, but switched to drums partly because the drum teacher was fun, and partly because she was listening to metal. She got good! Good enough to get work as a session drummer for Sony Thailand. She moved to the United States for college. While there she joined a band in Montreal – driving 10 hours along the Great Lakes to go to practice. She learned about new music from her bandmate and fell in love with soul and funk. Her latest album, Rammana, merges those influences with jazz, indigenous Thai, and African sounds for a sound she calls “Afro Thai Funk”. Rammana is available now on Bandcamp.

Recorded February 10, 2025
Puaj
Current
Painted Lady
Si Chomphu

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.

On the show this time, Thailand meets West Africa through the electrifying drumming of Salin.
Salin was born and raised in Thailand. She started out learning music on the piano, but switched to drums partly because the drum teacher was fun, and partly because she was listening to metal. She got good! Good enough to get work as a session drummer for Sony Thailand. She moved to the United States for college. While there she joined a band in Montreal &ndash; driving 10 hours along the Great Lakes to go to practice. She learned about new music from her bandmate and fell in love with soul and funk. Her latest album, Rammana, merges those influences with jazz, indigenous Thai, and African sounds for a sound she calls &ldquo;Afro Thai Funk&rdquo;.&nbsp;Rammana&nbsp;is available now on Bandcamp.
Recorded February 10, 2025
<ol>
<li>Puaj</li>
<li>Current</li>
<li>Painted Lady</li>
<li>Si Chomphu</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaZKr1hlXvw">Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.</a>

Salin [Performance & Interview Only]

Salin

On the show this time, it's the dynamic experimental music of Japanese band MONO.

MONO has been making music together since 1999. Their sound is guitar-driven, and anchored by a propulsive, hypnotic rhythm section. The music has the harmonic richness of film scores, and they have played with orchestras over the years. Other influences include minimalism, Sonic Youth style noise, My Bloody Valentine’s shoegaze, and the true-to-the-sound-in-the-room aesthetic of engineer Steve Albini. They consistently remind us that music can convey meaning, without words, so all these labels and comparisons are reductive. When they play, and you listen, you will understand. Any true MONO fan will tell you - you have to see them live. Their latest is OATH, out now through Temporary Residence Records.

Recorded December 16, 2025 
Run On
Hear The Wind Sing
We All Shine On

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.

On the show this time, it's the dynamic experimental music of Japanese band MONO.
MONO has been making music together since 1999. Their sound is guitar-driven, and anchored by a propulsive, hypnotic rhythm section. The music has the harmonic richness of film scores, and they have played with orchestras over the years. Other influences include minimalism, Sonic Youth style noise, My Bloody Valentine&rsquo;s shoegaze, and the true-to-the-sound-in-the-room aesthetic of engineer Steve Albini. They consistently remind us that music can convey meaning, without words, so all these labels and comparisons are reductive. When they play, and you listen, you will understand. Any true MONO fan will tell you - you have to see them live. Their latest is OATH, out now through Temporary Residence Records.
Recorded December 16, 2025&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Run On</li>
<li>Hear The Wind Sing</li>
<li>We All Shine On</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h5Ky5cBwA8">Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.</a>

KAINA [Performance & Interview Only] (RE-RELEASE)

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