Writeup by Sinead, Translations by KINIDA

Introducing our new format ‘Liner Notes‘, where we dig deep with artists and creatives about the meaning behind their song lyrics; dredging up the subcultures and backstories that exist straight from the source. Many of the artists featured are more than just creators; they are bridges that have the ability and willingness to share their culture across languages. So lend them a listening ear, and you just might gain more than just a new song recommendation.

*sound & color* – experimental artist KINIDA’s YouTube channel description succinctly captures the dizzying fusion of visual and audio art which make up her musical performances. Combining a futuristic soundscape with avant-garde, highly conceptual visuals, she is certainly not afraid to embrace her creativity.

KINIDA’s latest release, “Muri Apa” is a shape-shifting mixture of different influences from trance to r’n’b. The hypnotic rhythm of the song produced by Yo Fu (@yowasupfoo) and west1ne (@doubleyouowe) is paired with an equally intriguing music video directed by Patricia Gloum and produced by Brawhaus, where real-life and CGI blur together to create an other-wordly, dream-like effect.

KINIDA reveals that the “Muri Apa”, which means “headache” in Korean was inspired by a recent break-up. “At the time this was how I was really feeling. I don’t think I was aware how much of a headache the relationship was until after I got hurt from it, and it was just one headache after another trying to find an answer. When the answer was all there for me, I was giving myself a headache knowing that a part of me should just completely walk away from these thoughts and live my own time”.

Rather than being about the relationship itself, KINIDA mentions that the song is more of a reflection of her changing relationship with herself. “You understand and know this person isn’t good for you but you somehow still have hope and hold on to these feelings, you start to analyze everything about yourself and even down to who you have become while being in a relationship and this sometimes might consume your thoughts”.

Picking out her favourite lyrics, she chooses the last lines of the track, which reflect those feelings of confusion and intense introspection. “It shows how conflicted my thoughts were at the time and me constantly trying to confront myself that you are thinking too much”, she explains.

“내 마음을 믿어줘. 눈물이야? 왜 그리 슬플가? 떠나지마.”
[trust your own heart. is that a tear? why are you sad? don’t leave.]
don’t think too much time will pass you by.
don’t think too much, why you blowing up my mind.
(why am I blowing up my mind)
don’t think too much, am I lying to myself
(why are you lying to yourself)
don’t think too much
let me, let me
live this time.

The stream-of-conscious style of lyrics are written in seamless mixture of Korean and English, which KINIDA describes as symbol of her own identity “Growing up I didn’t have this balance [between these two cultures] therefore I was very confused with my own identity but as I got older and explored myself and awakening to my own thoughts. I understand that I can be the one creating this balance for myself because this is both who I am and am not, neglecting one or the other part of myself. I feel like this is my way of finding balance in what and who I am culturally, and that’s what inspires me”.

Translation

떠나지마, Don’t leave
가까이 와봐, Come closer
춤을 추어봐, Let us dance
온 몸을 느껴봐 And feel it in our bodies
x2

Don’t think too much
Do you think your though?
She’s not your angel
She’s not your devil

I cannot save you
I cannot aid you
x2

You think too much (yeah)
You think too much

Ah ah ah ahhhh
머리 아파 [Muri Apa] My head hurts
x3

Leave me alone
x2

떠나지마 Don’t leave
x8

내 마음을 믿어줘 Trust my heart
눈물이야? Is that a tear?
왜 그리 슬플가? Why do you seem so sad?
떠나지마 Don’t leave
x2

Don’t think too much
Time will pass you by
Don’t think too much
Why you blowing up my mind
(Why am I blowing up my mind?)
Don’t think too much
Am I lying to myself
(Why are you lying to yourself?)
Don’t think too much
Let me
Let me
Let me
Live this time