Premiere • Burns Twins & Kaina: "Mango Kisses"
Chicago is a city with many sounds, but at the end of the day it's the soul that endures. That's the theme at least on this new single from newcomers the Burns Twins and Kaina that TheseDays is proud to debut here today in "Mango Kisses". Kai has been a favorite here at TheseDays since we got this thing going and has grown exponentially since I first met her a couple years ago taking piano lessons from the Soical Experiment's Peter CottonTale in our living room and that growth is felt throughout this one. In fact, this track gets a distinct boost from the soX team, Donnie Trumpet and Stix both gave lessons to these youngsters and the influence is obvious. Kai's voice dips in and out alongside an impressive horn section that has Donnie's feels all over it.
As a city, as a scene, we'll only keep moving forward by pushing one another forward and it's dope to see that those at the top of their game continue to invigorate the rest of those out here, continuing the beautiful wave of contemporary music lately that we've characterized as the Chicago Renaissance. Get in tune with this one, you'll most certainly be hearing more in the coming weeks and months. You can actually catch the Burns Twins this Saturday at their first duo show at Martyrs. Things keep progressing yand we couldn't be more pleased. Check out the Q&A below with Kai, Eddie and LV and definitely hit play above, you'll wanna bring it back a few times.
TheseDays • Take us through the development of this piece, where did the idea originate?
Kaina • I showed Eddie this verse and hook I wrote and sang it to him, he came up with the chords and within an hour or two we had a solid track - the next day Iz laid down some trumpets and additional vocal harmonies, I recorded my vocals and we were done! It was all so natural and fast and organic. I think it feels so good because it wasn't one of those tracks was just sent over to me to write to - we spent two days together trying ideas and truly collaborating but what's crazy is that we literally finished the track in a total of 4 hours max. It was recorded on two beautiful sunny days - which just related to the track, wanting to enjoy life and runaway from responsibilities - eat some mangos.
TheseDays • What kinds of elements or ideas from Stix and Donnie really stuck with you?
Eddie • How we play our instruments is one. Nico and Greg have a sound that sounds like them. As producers and instrumentalists - being around them and taking lessons from them at a young age - how we play our instruments and how we think about music and produce - has a similar vibe. Iz sounds more like Nico more than anyone I've ever heard because Nico taught him so much of what he knows - just like Greg taught me so much of what I know so we are making similar sounds - Iz and I are building off of what they taught us.
LZ • Have the best tone possible. Build the the tension correctly to resolve correctly.
TheseDays • How would you characterize the kind of music you create?
Eddie • I'd say - it's feel good Chicago music. Hip hopish. Soul-hip hop.
Kaina • In a previous interview I mentioned that I personally wanted to do soul/funk/rock stuff - which I still do - but sometimes what I need to express doesn't come out in that form - so it's always a mixture of sounds from different genres and moods - always very Chicago though. This track was definitely groovier, feel good, summery vibe.
TheseDays • What can we expect from you all moving forward?
Kaina • Burns Twins x Kaina EP was definitely an idea brought up - which could probably come together so quickly. I want to release a solo EP by the end of the summer that Eddie will be the producer of, it'll have Burns Twins all over it for sure.
Eddie • For me, you can expect a lot of productions for rappers over the summer - started working with Kweku Collins and Qari a little bit - Kaina's EP produced by me, a K-Mu EP with me as a drummer and more Burns Twins singles.
