100 DAYS IN JAKARTA WITH KINA GRANNIS

Kina Grannis just shared a deeply personal story and two songs inspired by her time spent in Jakarta (against her will) at the end of last year. After a tour stop in the Indonesian capital, the singer/songwriter and her bandmates learned that the promoters had not properly secured work visas as they promised, had their passports confiscated and were facing fines up to $35k per person, as well as jail time.

Being unable to work, being urged by lawyers to stay publicly silent, cancelling shows and having no idea how long questions would remain unanswered and cries unheard is obviously harrowing.

"Being creative has been the last thing on my mind, but about two months in I stumble upon a magic window of time where making music feels possible again. Two little songs pour out of me and help turn some of my pain into something good," Grannis explains in the blog post, which can be read in full here. "I sing about the ache of missing home and the people that come with it. I realize that above all, I am grateful just to be alive, and I sing about that, too. These songs become my lullabies when I’m feeling low. They comfort me."

Listen to the two-song Jakarta EP—comprised of "California" and "For Now"— on Spotify here or buy it on iTunes.