It's Hard To Be Human

Released in 2021, 'It's Hard To Be Human' represents Kina Grannis's most starkly minimalist and philosophically heavy work to date. While her career began in the bright, melodic world of indie-pop, this album pivots toward a raw, existential folk sound. The recording process emphasizes extreme proximity, utilizing close-mic techniques that capture the nuances of her breath and the mechanical noise of her acoustic guitar. This 'anti-production' style serves the lyrical themes of the album, which move away from traditional love songs toward a deeper interrogation of human frailty, mental health, and the passage of time. Tracks like the title song and 'Quiet' showcase a songwriter comfortable with silence, often letting notes decay naturally rather than filling the space with arrangement. Critically, the album has been noted for its 'unflinching softness,' positioning Grannis not just as a folk singer, but as a documentarian of the internal life.