In the small, Italian town of Acerra—located in the bustling city of Naples—a young man by the name of Kina sits in his pitch-black room as the bright, white webpage for SoundCloud envelops the space around him. It's 2011, and this musically gifted then-teen toys with the platform in a manner fitting of the era, traversing a world of music probably not age appropriate, but soulfully engaging.
SoundCloud was steadily coasting to its zenith back then, providing a primarily healthy platform for aspiring and established artists’ work. As a result of his non-stop surfing, Kina was inspired to produce music himself, channelling a bad time in life into a craft that would eventually change his life forever.
Over time, his music would reach such a quality that his friends encouraged him to officially release it. Thus, the artist was born. Experimenting with lo-fi pop music, a blend of muffled electronic sounds tinkering at the emotions, Kina’s aim was to communicate what he had been feeling. His style is emotive, conjured through a deep adoration of expressive and melancholic sounds, which makes sense when you find out some of his musical heroes are XXXTentacion, Lil Peep and Avicii. Hitting at an ambient level—equal parts scenic and reflective—all you can do as a Kina listener is feel.
If you type Kina into sounds on TikTok, his songs accompany an infinite amount of videos. When producing music, Kina didn’t realise it would sit perfectly in the pocket of short-form video. Unaware of his own virality, songs like “Get You The Moon” with Snøw, “Can We Kiss Forever?” and “U’re Mine” would go on to garner streams in the millions. Valentine’s Day videos, birthdays, weddings, funerals, memorials, live art, skits—Kina’s music sits behind them all. While no longer an unconventional path for success through such virality, the extent in which Kina’s music has travelled has been phenomenal.
At the age of 24, Kina has just made history as the first Italian artist to break a billion streams on his 2018-released track, “Get You The Moon”. We caught up with him to talk about this major feat, his entry into this expanding musical realm and industry, and what he’s got planned next.
“Reaching 1 billion streams feels absolutely surreal. Coming from Acerra, a small town in the province of Naples, the thought of my music connecting with 1 billion listeners worldwide is beyond anything I could have imagined.”
View this video on YouTube
COMPLEX: 1 billion streams, how does it feel to have accomplished such a feat for the first time in Italian musical streaming history?
Kina: Reaching 1 billion streams feels absolutely surreal. Coming from Acerra, a small town in the province of Naples, the thought of my music connecting with 1 billion listeners worldwide is beyond anything I could have imagined. Growing up, I never dreamt that my tracks would resonate with such a vast and diverse audience. It's both an honour and a privilege to know that my music has touched so many lives. This achievement isn’t just a personal milestone; it's a testament to the universal language of music and its incredible power to connect people across the globe.
What were your original aspirations with your music? When you first started creating, what was your goal?
I started making music during a sad moment in my life, when I needed to express my emotions. I reached a point where I had so many tracks on my computer, and then my friends said, “Why don’t you upload these online?” That’s when everything started. I never aimed for big numbers; my goal was to pour my emotions into notes and hopefully help other people in similar situations to overcome their struggles by bringing comfort with music.
What does Naples mean to you, and how did it inspire you to embark on a musical journey?
For me, Napoli is the small streets opening up to stunning views of the sea, the conversations you overhear from the balconies, the food in the streets that warms your soul with every bite, and, of course, its people. Neapolitans are one of a kind. Walking through Napoli, you’re always welcomed with a coffee and a warm smile, no matter where you’re from. In Napoli, we speak the language of love through kind gestures, making it truly a place for everyone to feel at home. My hometown, Acerra, and Naples have played a key role in inspiring my tracks and fueling my creativity. Even though I live in Lisbon now and travel a lot for music, Napoli is my heart, and it beats inside of me wherever I go.
Who or what were some of your earliest musical influences?
My earliest musical influences were from electronic artists like Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and more. When I started producing music at the age of 8, I initially started with progressive house. The artists that introduced me to lo-fi and sad music were XXXTENTACION and Lil Peep. I really connected with that type of music, and they gave me the courage to express my real emotions through music. That’s how I created Kina.
What is the music scene like in Italy? How does the scene relate to your sound, or is your sound more so inspired by a worldwide trend of music?
I believe that in the past year, the Italian music scene has been mostly dominated by great trap and pop acts. My type of music was never at the forefront of the mainstream, despite its popularity on social media and the top-notch quality of Italian lo-fi artists. It felt like my music and style resonated more abroad than at home. But I don’t really see myself as part of a worldwide trend; I mostly always pursue what makes me happy and conveys my emotions best.
“If you have ever listened to any of my tracks, this is what I want to tell you in every note: you are not alone—we’re in this thing together! Think of my music as an anchor, or a hug.”
The internet, including the self-serving spaces of SoundCloud and platforms like Instagram and TikTok, has given birth to a generation of artists like yourself. How have you seen the evolution of this space since your initial investment to your heights today?
Online platforms like SoundCloud and TikTok are great for emerging artists. They allow for a reach that would be virtually impossible to have without the support of a major label, if even. They have certainly levelled the playing field and democratised exposure to new listeners, which is great. On the other hand, there is a lot more pressure to be a content-creating machine. It feels like today, you first need to have an idea for your TikTok video and then for your music and, honestly, I’m not sure I like that.
How did it feel witnessing your music evolve organically through social media at this point? When did it become real to you—for instance, the first time your track “Get You The Moon” went viral?
To be honest, it took me months to realise that my tracks were going viral. At that time, I didn’t know much about TikTok. It was somewhat popular in Italy, but not as much as in the US. I noticed the numbers on Spotify, Apple Music and other DSPs increasing day by day, and I kept asking myself, “What is happening?” After a quick research, I found out the tracks were going wild on TikTok. It was so strange that every time I opened the app, there was a video with my music, but it made me feel amazing and grateful at the same time because it meant that my music was a part of people’s everyday lives, moments, and memories.
It’s something that I can’t explain easily. For me, it feels so special that my music has been appreciated organically and genuinely by so many people. Obviously, TikTok helped a lot to spread my music, but there was never a real marketing push behind it. People just seemed to tune in with it and resonate with what I was trying to express, and it was fans driving the tracks forward—which has been magical. I think it only hit me how real this was when I started receiving phone calls at my parents’ house, and on the other side of the line, it was some A&Rs from major labels from New York, LA, London, etc.
How do you want people to feel when they listen to your music?
If you have ever listened to any of my tracks, this is what I want to tell you in every note: you are not alone—we’re in this thing together! Think of my music as an anchor, or a hug. I truly appreciate that “Get You The Moon” has become a track for so many couples, and some people have even tattooed its lyrics on their skin. So I believe my goal of helping and connecting with my listeners is working; we’re all here to support each other.
What would your advice be to fellow aspiring musicians or creatives looking to leave a mark on the music space like you’ve done and continue to do as you hone in on your craft?
Be consistent, be relentless, be genuine. Make music that you truly feel, make it every day, and put it out there for people to appreciate. Also, don’t feel forced to follow whatever popular trends are going on. Do what you really want to do. You don’t have to chase success; if you stay true to yourself—eventually, it’s success that will chase you. I promise you.
What’s next on the cards for Kina?
I dropped my kinamood project last year, but I have so much more ready for my fans, so many tracks and announcements. It will be an evolution of my current mood, with many talented artists singing on my productions. I’m actually really excited to release them. I took a lot of time to perfect my productions and make them sound the way I want them to sound, but I’m ready, and soon you will hear them. Like, really soon.
