The Kin Have a Good Story with Their Music

To witness a live performance by The Kin is to witness something that reaches far beyond any stage. Thanks to the connection the Koren brothers have not only to the music, but to each other, their melodies are rich in grace and have a tangible intensity the audience can almost see as it floats past their ears.

“Music comes from where you least expect it,” Isaac Koren, who sings and plays piano, says. “Usually one of us will be inspired by life around us. We go through something personal or we see something in the world that wakes us up and makes us feel inspired, and our reaction is to express it in music.”

Once you hear The Kin, you’ll be swept up in their passion for sculpting music into works of art with their radiant voices and stunning lyrics. Born into a musical family from Adelaide, Australia, their talent is without a doubt a product of their genes. Isaac is a self-taught pianist, while Thorry began studying jazz guitar at a young age, later moving to New York City to study further.

“I bought a piano and just started playing it,” Isaac says. “I’d highly recommend that way of doing it because it promotes creativity and exploration. You just let your fingers wander. I still don’t really know I’m doing. I know what chords I’m playing, but I like not necessarily knowing where I am.”

You might also be surprised to learn that the brothers, Isaac the eldest and Thorry two years younger, did not start singing harmonies together until 2003.

“We started off playing in bands. Isaac was more into rock and I was into more jazz. We first came together to write a song for our dad’s wedding because we had no money to buy him a present,” Thorry explains. “It took us by surprise, and we thought, ‘Well, this must be something we should do together then.’ ”

Best known for their impeccable harmonies in songs like “Romeo” and “New Day” off of their latest release Rise and Fall, the siblings have adopted New York City as home now. Their second house would be the van they use while on the road touring, where they’ve opened for Josh Kelley, the Pat McGee Band and Griffin House over the past few months, after rounding out the winter with a few sets at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas in March.

With their own label, Alethia Records, and three albums — their debut Tracing, Live at the Pussycat Club, and 2007’s Rise and Fall — Isaac and Thorry are quickly gaining fans across the country wherever they perform. Their increasingly large book of songs and inspiring presence on stage capture first-time listeners every show.

“The way to describe our music is we like to tell stories,” Isaac says. “A lot of bands write music that’s very stylistic, but ours is more about the songs.”

Their approach to look within themselves and to life around them for inspiration results in a heartfelt expression that is the foundation of their sound.

“We love playing ‘Abraham’ right now because it’s just broken down to the guitar and two voices, which is where we started,” Isaac shares. “We have an intimate moment with the crowd, and to be honest, that’s what we’re there for.”

“It’s those moments where you find yourself looking each other in the face, they’re the kind of moments that keep me and Thorry doing this,” Isaac continues. “We’re not doing it for fame and money. We’re doing this because we believe in the songs we write and they keep us going. Every time we see a new fan become inspired it gives us reason to get up and do it again the next day.”

And there are plenty of fans believing in their songs as well, evident in the sold-out crowds in venues across New York City and the number of visitors to their social networking pages and YouTube videos. The Web is something the talented siblings are grateful for, as they post new songs, videos and blogs on a frequent basis.

“It’s part of reality now. Gone are the days where you can sign a record deal and be ushered around, not speak to your fans and be an elitist. It’s about interactivity and meeting people,” Thorry says. “For a band that has something to really sing about, people want to feel its legitimacy, they want to feel its story, and that it came from something concrete they can relate to.”

“We feel so lucky to be a band at this time, because we get to gain one fan at a time and stay in touch,” Isaac adds.

Compassionate and accessible, The Kin are two of the most down-to-earth and humble musicians out there.

“We don’t see ourselves as any different than our fans,” Isaac explains. “It’s because of them we have this job that we love. In a way, we’re just providing a service, just like a plumber provides a service, so do we. There’s nothing more special in what we do, there’s just bright lights and a stage.”

Many fans probably disagree, arguing The Kin are more than special at what they do, especially when it comes to their efforts in raising money for several charitable organizations. By selling $20 bottles of water at their shows, they raise money to build wells in Kenya through CharityWater.org, and every time a fan watches their video “New Day” on Revver.com, 35 cents goes to SaveDarfur.org.

With new songs in the works, possible film-scoring projects on the horizon, and a non-stop tour about to kick-off again, their artistry will continue on to the delight of music lovers everywhere. Not enough can be said about the dynamic and inspirational partnership of Isaac and Thorry, because at the end of the day, taking the time to hear their music is the only way you’ll catch a glimpse into the phenomenon that is The Kin.

“We’re not doing this to be on a big stage,” Isaac says. “We’re doing it to have a real experience with people and music.”