KARINA is a Williamsburg, Virginia, USA-based singer songwriter who has just hit my radar through the release of her debut, nostalgic album what happened to the little girl?

By Graeme Smith

As much as what happened to the little girl? is about nostalgia, it’s also about the difficulties of growing up. It’s a collection that doesn’t hold back, and KARINA bares her soul for us across its eight raw tracks. Though not always a comfortable listen, I can’t think of a better way of getting acquainted with her music.

It’s a career that started, oddly enough, from watching Hannah Montana. From the initial stars in her eyes, KARINA has developed a mature sound that belies her young age. Her new album looks back at the years that made her with a reflective astuteness, touching on topics such as mental health and trauma. It’s an album to help her as much as her listeners who may have experienced similar things.

From its striking opener rosebushes to its vibrant closer willow tree, KARINA gives us a collection where pop meets acoustic folk. Stripped-back moments give plenty of space to her expressive vocals while rich, indie rock high points encourage us to let it all go. Powerful imagery set the scene of each track well, be it natural or figurative, such as in the powerfully pleading escape artist or the rallying cry of chains.

Sitting at the heart of the album is the slow-burning highlight morning. A track that takes its time hitting its stride, it makes cunning use of rise and fall to elevate its emotional story, arriving at a cathartic finale that cleverly uses overlapping vocal harmonies.

This debut marks KARINA as a definite one to watch. She bravely shows us her scars through her striking song writing, and her pop sensibilities makes her sound infinitely approachable.

What happened to the little girl? was co-written and produced by Lawrence Grivich at Don of Pop Studios. You can give it a listen below.