Brisbane/Meanjin father-daughter folk duo The Kunins have released their second album ‘Waiting For Lily’. An album of gorgeous, stripped-back acoustic instrumentation and beautiful vocal harmonies, ‘Waiting For Lily’ showcases a body of work both thematically deep and musically stirring, built around the family bond that has so strongly informed their songwriting.
The pair have swiftly earned a reputation for their stunning live shows; performances that leave audiences floored. And it was this connection with the listener that was a significant inspiration for creating the album. By stripping back any additional instrumentation and bringing things right back to the basics, they have been able to bring listeners as close to the live experience as possible. Each song has just two voices, and two instruments. That’s it. “Once we played live, we realised that we needed to create an album which replicated our live connections,” explains Lily Maia.
Music has always been an integral part of The Kunins’ lives. It runs in their veins. Ken’s father was also a songwriter. But it wasn’t until 2022 when the two were made fully aware of just how well their songs and their voices blended. Once that discovery was made, there was no turning back.
“Our aim was to create an around-the-campfire, intimate, collection of songs that connect our experiences and dreams.” – Ken Kunin, The Kunins
At just 20 years old, Lily Maia has acquired a voice and songwriting ability beyond her years. Built on a solid foundation of Billie Marten, Simon & Garfunkel, Lana Del Rey and Ray LaMontagne, her songs are inspired by everything from her own personal experiences, to books and film. But what will always be most inspiring is trusting in the process and letting the song lead the way.
With an already storied career under his belt, Ken has released 11 albums, toured throughout the US, had music featured in TV and film, and ran indie label Underhill Recordings. He has also enjoyed success with previous band Davis Waits, with singles Senorita and My Dear Kate both charting in the USA. A native to Los Angeles, Ken moved from the US to Australia 23 years ago and has called Brisbane home ever since. Ken draws inspiration for his songs from a range of different sources such as 70’s cinema, his deep connections with fans, friends & family, and even Eastern philosophical traditions (he has a degree in East Asian Studies).
The Kunins have also recently completed the music supervision for a soon-to-be-released US film ‘The Casanova Killer’ which features 15 of Ken’s original songs alongside 2 of Lily Maia’s.
The album was recorded at Lush Recording Studios in Brisbane. The album was produced by The Kunins and was recorded and mixed by James Griffiths (Beyonce, The Avett Brothers, Peter Murray, The Cat Empire, Guy Sebastian). Mastering was completed by Ken Kunin and James Griffiths.
UPCOMING SHOWS
29th November 2024 – The Village Social, Nundah
11th January 2025 – The Lou Lou Room, Wynnum
17th January 2025 – Banshees Bar & Artspace, Ipswich
With thanks to Wild Gift PR
