Music is a rollercoaster of emotional manipulation from fast-paced energy boosting rock to happy and bouncy pop music and even to a slower more thought provoking indie piece. It can allow us to feel vulnerable at times and use those introspective moments to try and heal. That is exactly what indie artist Kinnie Starr used to fuel her emotional single release for ‘Right Here With You‘. Paired gracefully with a high quality lyric video that wraps it’s warming arms around us and reminds us that everything is going to be okay.
Kinnie Starr is a Juno Award winning Canadian artist. Born and raised in the prairies near the Blackfoot Confederacy territory, this trilingual star has been loud and proud for over two decades. Starr began her red carpet career after signing to Island/Def Jam Records in 1997. She has appeared on the popular Lilith Fair tour and even has sang in Cirque du Soleil productions. In 2011, Starr was honoured as a Pioneer in Canadian Hip Hop Culture by the ManifesTO Festival and has a resume of working with other Canadian artists such as Moka Only (Swollen Members) and Tegan Quin (Tegan and Sara). She is a true multidisciplinary artist, merging her ability to play multiple instruments and combine all genres of music. Her career in the music industry has been fueled by her activism for human rights including gender equality and indigenous rights which is a subject that is close to home as Starr herself is of Mohawk roots. Although Starr recognizes her privileges to be born and raised in Canada, she recognizes that it comes with a heavy conscience, especially in light of the recent (but long fought for) recognition from the federal government and their role in the mass genocide of Canada’s indigenous people.
On June 25th, Kinnie (alongside English engineer and producer, Lin Gardiner) released her touching lo-fi single, ‘Right Here With You‘ via Boomstick Records and Violet Inch Records. ‘RHWY‘ is a very personal and heartfelt tribute to her younger brother CStarr, who lost his battle with opioids in 2018. When asked about the song’s roots and her brother she says, “He had a lot of power but incurred serious injuries in his life. He was a badass who was also soft and very emotional. I guess that’s what made him powerful. I hope this song brings an opening for people grieving. It’s good to have room to accept loss. The opioid crisis continues to ravage our communities. ALL our communities.“. She mentions this song is different from her other releases and says, “The vocal take is a scratch, no edits. No comping. I tried to make it sound like Roxy Music in honour of CStarr. Lin Gardiner convinced me to keep the original, meandering vocal scratch. I was insecure about it but she pushed to keep it. I’m glad she encouraged me. It’s good to keep mistakes. It reminds us all that error is ok.“. Kinnie points out that this song is for anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one or for those who may find themselves struggling with the realities of addiction. This song is a sensory journey of grief but also reassuring as she soothes her listener’s towards a place of healing.
With the release of bedroom-indie pop track ‘Right Here With You‘, Starr simultaneously released a delicate yet meaningful professional lyric video. When asked about why she chose a lyric video for her release she says, “I don’t enjoy being on camera. I have bad nerves when I’m on camera and on stage that often leave me in aggravated pain. I also think lyric videos are generally nicer than performance videos.“. This lyric video is stunning and we can see why she feels this way. Immediately, the colour palette of soft pinks, dark blues and purple tones are familiar and it is clear that this video is an exceptional cinematic representation of the single cover. These colours set a mood for an out-of-body dreamlike experience. Using cohesive visuals and colours to represent either an album or a song release is extremely effective in creating a brand and for fans to easily follow and access artist’s material.
The video uses a collection of poignant nature imagery such as a rising sun/moon, time lapse of changing skies, flowers and trees. Nature can be a powerful inspiration when an artist would like to use a metaphoric approach to something very personal or meaningful. The visuals tend to correlate with the lyrics as well, taking us on a dreamy ride through Kinnie’s song. For instance, when the lyrics read “and now the clouds come round more than I’d like” we see dark clouds fill the sky and move across the screen and we can certainly feel the artist’s sentiment. Starr mentions her bond and connection with her brother now, “He’s very active in the afterlife.” and we can see this is represented in ‘Right Here With You‘. When the lyrics read, “birds fly round and you let me know you’re always right with me too” we see slow-motion birds flying through the sky. Kinnie says her favourite part of the video is when the butterfly slowly closes it’s wings. Butterflies have deep symbolism representing spiritual rebirth, change, hope and life, so we can certainly see how this visual complements the song. Considering the vocals are cathartic and gentle, the choice to use a simple font and display the lyrics in all lowercase was perfect. The white lyrics stand out from the background just enough to allow the viewers to read/sing along but not so much that they distract from the background.
Starr’s calming vocals combined with the soft tranquil colours and powerful nature imagery create a safe visual headspace for viewers to escape to. This lyric video was successful in bringing her hopes to life and is a breathtaking tribute to her brother as well as anybody else who needs guidance through their pain. Fans are always eagerly left wondering what’s next for Kinnie Starr? She assures us, “it’s a secret. But it’s a good one.”.
If you are affected by addiction or have lost a loved one to addiction, reach out and seek help. You are not alone.
Check out Kinnie Starr’s official lyric video for ‘Right Here With You‘ on Boomsmack Records’ YouTube channel here: