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TeenSpot: Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? How old are you? Kina Grannis: OK, I grew up in Orange County, CA. I went to USC and I graduated from USC last June. So I'm currently 22, just out of college and working on this big musical journey that has been happening! TS: Great, how long have you been singing? KG: Well, singing is always something that I've always kind of just done. I never did choir; I always did orchestra and played violin and stuff, from elementry and high school. Singing is just what I found myself doing all the time. It wasn't until like halfway through high school that I decided to pick up guitar, that's when I started writing and singing more, I guess! TS: You recently won the Doritos Crash the Superbowl contest and scored a huge recording contract with Interscope. How did you feel about your chances going into the contest?  TS: And the Digg song! It's a masterpiece, and a brilliant idea to get exposure. That's personally how I found out about your music. How long have you been on Digg, and what make you think to do the Digg song? KG: I've been...let's see...I first heard of Digg a few years ago and I was mostly a lurker for a while, just checking out sites, but I wasn't super active. Then, as I got older and more interested in the things going on online, and in the world, I started using it more. It was over winter break, so both my sisters were home, and they're both Diggers too. So, we were just kind of talking about the contest and the campaign, and jokingly I was like "Haha, wouldn't it be funny if we wrote a song about the Digg community and kind of got them rallied, too?!" and we said "Yeah, that's be kinda funny...well, maybe we really should!" We just kind of sat around and were throwing ideas back and forth, just kind of like commentary on the Digg community, not really thinking much of it. We thought we could pick up a few extra votes here and there, but it kind of did really well, and it was shocking! TS: It was at the top of Digg for a day or so wasn't it?! KG: Yeah, it was. We saw it get posted there and we were watching it, and said "Oh wow! It has 10 diggs..." then we'd refresh it "Oh my gosh, it has 20...100...1000!" It just kind of went crazy! TS: Now that you're finished with the Doritos Crash the Superbowl Contest, how do you feel? Glad it's over...? Excited about the future...? KG: Oh, boy. The process was really really fun and exciting, but it was also exhausting. So, on the one hand, I am glad I made it out alive! It's still really surreal to me because so much went on during the contest that I couldn't really stop and process what was going on. Then, I won and things kept happening! I stepped back, and I can't really believe what's going on, like, I have management at one of the best management companies in music, I have a record label, and I'm probably going to do an album, and I'm probably going to tour, and all this seems so weird to me. Like...I really get to do this? Haha. It's so crazy. TS: That leads us to our next question! Any idea when we can expect to see an album? KG: I don't have an actual date yet, but we are definitely hoping soon. I met with Interscope, and I've been talking with my management a lot, and we just want to start on it as soon as possible. So, hopefully, we'll have something in late spring, or summer, at least. TS: And a tour soon after? KG: Yes, we're thinking a tour maybe, like a little one, 2 or 3 months to start off with! TS: That sounds awesome! TS: How do you feel being recognized by people because of the Superbowl commercial? KG: It's really neat because these people not only see me, but they like my music, and they've been following my videos. And to have that happen is like such a validation for what I've been working at for so many years. It's funny, too. I'll be walking around, and someone asks "Are you Kina?" and I'll be like "Oh my gosh, you know me?!" TS: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?  KG: Oh, dear. In 5 years. Twenty-seven. You know, I'd just love to get to a place where I can comfortably do music, and it will be my career. Because, you know right now, it's just the beginning. I'm just kind of floating around in different places, and getting money here and there, and it's not that I care about having tons of money, or being famous, but if I can just be in a place where I can comfortably write music and keep sharing my music with the world, that would be excellent. A few albums under my belt, some touring. I'll be happy. TS: Who's your biggest musical influence, or your favorite musical artist? KG: That is tough. I grew up listening to James Taylor, like when I was really young, cause my dad was listening to, so I think that's what got me hooked on that acoustic sound. Since then, I've always been drawn to strong vocalists and singer/songwriters like Sarah McLaughlin, a Belgian called K's Choice, Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Regina Spektor. Favorites are a really difficult thing for me. I could go on forever. TS: Who is an artist that you'd really like to collaberate with? KG: Oh, another hard question. Let's see... maybe Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens, or Jason Mraz. TS: Which song of your own do you like the most? KG: That's like choosing a favorite child! It's impossible! I really think there's never ever a favorite. Somedays, I'll have one that I prefer to play, or if I'm with a specific audience, I will tailor a song to them, but I couldn't say I had a favorite. TS: How many instruments do you play total? Which ones? KG: Well, it depends on how well. Haha. I play violin, but I'm probably rusty at this point. I played it for many years, but I haven't really played recently. I play guitar, obviously. Then, I use piano a lot as a tool for writing, and messing around, and I use to play it when I was younger, but I'm definitely not amazing. Those are the main ones, then of course, my voice, if that counts! TS: What songs are you into right now? Say we looked at your iPod right now, what are we going to find? KG: Falling Slowly, from the movie Once by Glen Hansard. Sampson by Regina Spektor. I guess the Glen Hansard one is the one I'm listening to a lot right now! TS: Where can our users find your music? KG: You can find all the info about me and music from kinagrannis.com and all of my CD's on iTunes. TS: Anything else you'd like to say to the fans? KG: Basically my fans are the most amazing people in the world. I want to thank them for all their support, involvement, and enthusiam in the whole thing. TS: Alright Kina, thanks for your time!
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