A father-daughter duo from Meanjin/ Brisbane who are working on their third studio album, The Kunins craft mellow yet sweet folk and Americana that soothes the soul.
After releasing two albums in 2024: 'The Kunins' in April followed by 'Waiting For Lily' in November, in June The Kunins – Ken and Lily Maia – released the first single, 'One Way Flight', from their next record.
As they continue to tease that LP's release, their next single titled 'When The Ink Runs Dry' (that was mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Camilo Silva) is a delicate, moving acoustic ballad that stirs the emotions – with just two guitars and two voices.
Sombre yet delightfully rich acoustic folk that harks back to a bygone era, 'When The Ink Runs Dry' merrily meanders with a rhythmic simplicity that hints at forlornness yet offers a beacon of hope.
Angelic, enthralling duelling vocals (led by Lily) with undertones of wistful, longing themes (the lyric 'when the ink runs dry' evoking all the feels associated with heartache) further impact the song's sentimental aspect, the strumming guitars echoing the emotional weight, the melody also offering a renewed strength.
"'When The Ink Runs Dry' is a song I wrote to capture the feeling of holding on to a person because of the inspiration they bring, while fully knowing that I'm destined to part with them," Lily says.
Ahead of the song's release tomorrow (14 August), today scenestr is thrilled to premiere 'When The Ink Runs Dry'. Enjoy.
"I also really loved how it felt to sing the meandering melodies," adds Lily, "as I was exploring my upper register at the time. Artists like Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell were key figures of inspiration.
"We wanted to embrace a '70s folk sound, and despite playing around with alternate arrangements, we settled on a sound that is totally us: two acoustic guitars, two voices. It was also a chance for me to play guitar on a track, as I've been playing mostly piano on this album."
The songwriting process originally led to an intricate composition, but the pair eventually pivoted back to a simpler song structure. "We originally had an elaborate recording, but we felt like the spark was missing," shares Lily.
"The next day we completely re-recorded the track, and sent it to our mastering engineer (Camilo Silva) that night."
An American expat who has called Brisbane home the last 24 years, Ken has released 11 albums, had his music featured in TV and film, and ran indie label Underhill Recordings.
"The song carries a vulnerability that can only really be conveyed through such an acoustic arrangement, and finally captured the beauty of the songwriting. We have sought out to make sure that every track on our upcoming album is beautiful," Lily says.
The Kunins support Cosmic Cowboy & The Incognitos at The Triffid Beer Garden (Brisbane) on 24 August (free entry).
