WATCH: KINA GRANNIS WAS HELD IN JAKARTA FOR 100 DAYS; RETURNS WITH TWO SONGS

Every time I watch this video and read Kina Grannis' story I have a hard time not crying. 

American singer song-writer Kina Grannis, along with her band, worried fans after disappearing for a few months at the end of last year. Grannis' Southeast Asian tour was cut short when the singer and her band were held up in Indonesia for 100 days. They were scared, in anguish and worried and worst of all - they couldn't go home.

During her incarceration, Grannis composed two songs – California and For Now, which served as a cathartic release during her ordeal. You can't help but be mesmerised by Kina Grannis’s raw, beautiful and deeply emotional performances. They carry a weight and depth much greater than the simple ‘vocals and accompaniment’ that these singles are at face value. 

‘California’ is injected with heartache and an intense longing for home. Grannis' chilling vocals made me feel upset, not for me or for her, but knowing that this could happen to anyone. 

The lyrical ‘For Now’ provides us with an existential reflection on how fleeting and delicate human life is. Gentle guitar picking complements Grannis' vocal performance and makes you lose all sense of time. You'll find yourself unconsciously reminiscing on when you felt the loneliest, and only break out of this reverie to admire the beauty of Grannis' voice as it carries you through the bridge.

The EP 'Jakarta' is available now on iTunes.