FFWD Weekly
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Music by Mike Bell Kina with Savage Garden Tuesday, August 29 Saddledome Her name, her face, her background, the current musical climate – all point to the dawning of a new diva. Surely the debut solo album from former Brownstone member Kina is a showcase for the immense dance music vocals of yet another heiress to the throne of the divine Mizzes – Mariah, Whitney and Aretha. Um, no. (And on a related note, I will stop calling you Shirley.) Actually, Kina’s self-titled effort has more in common with Jann, Sarah and Jewel than it does with the other larger-than-life trio. Equal parts R&B, folk and pop, the subdued disc is not so much a showcase for the young artist’s dynamic vox as it is for her thoughts and feelings. "I’m a songwriter first," Kina says simply. The opportunity to have her creative voice heard is one that she’s savouring – especially after having been absorbed into the entity of the mid-’90s all gal R&B quartet of Brownstone at the height of their popularity. Kina says the band provided her with a great deal of experience and insight into the industry, but ultimately what she had to give up in order to conform wasn’t worth it. Though that wasn’t the worst part of the education. "It was tough to be a part of because it was drama. Being with three women 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it just was not cool," she says. "Creatively, I replaced a member so Brownstone had a sound by the time I joined the group – a good sound, but it wasn’t one that I helped to create. I went there to continue with that voice that they needed. And I did that. I put what I wanted to do aside, and that was development for me. "When I realized what I didn’t want to do – which was what we were doing – and what I had to do – that I had to be Kina – that’s when I decided to leave." Now she’s making the most of her solo opportunity. The 11 tracks on her debut offer a palatable cataloguing of Kina’s personal philosophies – from the r-e-s-p-e-c-t stance of "Girl From the Gutter" and "U Don’t Know" to the believe in yourself message of "Loser." While not groundbreaking or brilliantly insightful by any means, Kina believes the songs are distinct enough for the world to want to hear. "I think that I have a different point of view to offer – and I think that it’s refreshing. And I don’t think that it’s easily categorized. It’s just a different record, and it’s a good record."

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