We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristina Miranda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristina, how do you think about risk?
I think that risk has played a huge role in my life especially in terms of my musical journey. It began in 2009 with my arrival in Cuba to record my solo album. There I met Marciel Miranda, my husband, and bandmate. At that time, I studied at a university in Moscow at the Department of Applied Physics and Mathematics. Even though I was studying for a completely different profession, I always felt like I wanted to make music more than anything else, and that I should give it at least a decent try. So, I moved to Havana in 2010, and, together with Marciel, started our band – High Grass. I had no idea what the future had in store for me, nor could I imagine that we would relocate to the U.S five years later. These were spontaneous decisions that totally changed our lives.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
High Grass is a Cuban-American indie rock duo from Los Angeles, founded in Havana in 2011. In 2015, Marciel and I made the life-changing decision of relocating to America. After traveling and visiting several states and cities, we settled in Los Angeles. Last month, we released a new single, “Home,” a song that was created to remind people everywhere that they deserve freedom, happiness, and love. We wrote it bearing Cuba in mind, and wanted to bring awareness to the current situation on the island, where people crave change. Unfortunately, many Cubans are forced to escape their homeland in search of a better life due to the irresponsible and corrupt actions of the oppressive government. “Home” is about the heartbreaking choice people have to make and is meant for anyone that is apart from their loved ones. Being away from our families has been the hardest part of our journey, and we wanted to share our feelings through this song.

The single features the remarkable talents of Christian Paschall (Maren Morris, David Crowder) and Matt Bissonette (Elton John, Ringo Starr). “Home” got coverage in Rolling Stone India, LOUD WOMEN, KMS Reviews, was supported by the WNIR radio station, and many more.

New obstacles always appear along the way, but without challenges, there is no growth. Perseverance, learning from mistakes, and a positive attitude are key to overcoming difficulties. Also, if something makes you genuinely happy, and you can’t see yourself doing anything else, then it will be much harder to give up on your dream. I guess it’s all about knowing what you want in life and standing for what you believe in.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For a week-long trip, I would bring my bestie to the beach, Griffith Observatory, The Broad, and Universal Studios. Some of my favorite spots for drinks and dining are Prank Bar in DTLA, Quarters KBBQ, Zinc in Los Feliz, TOI On Sunset, and Rhythm Room L.A. There are also tons of places to enjoy live music in LA, like Hotel Cafe, Black Rabbit Rose, Dirty Laundry, The Viper Room, just to name a few. If my best friend wanted to travel a bit further out of the city I would show her Sequoia National Park and Joshua Tree.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m very grateful to my father. He has always been supportive of me, including all of my musical endeavors. He taught me to be true to myself and helped me to be brave when I was unsure about my future steps. My husband is another person who continues to inspire me to follow my dreams. He has been helping me through all these years to grow as an artist.

I’d also like to mention producer Jacquire King, who was the first influential figure in the industry to see the potential in our band. He motivated us to take our music overseas when we lived back in Cuba. The result of our collaboration, the single called “90 Miles”, was released at the end of last year. Finally, I’m thankful to my family, friends, and listeners for believing in us. Without them, nothing would have been possible.

Website: https://www.highgrass.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highgrassband/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highgrassband/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HighGrass

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7DnvZCKmNlYQESWilihvSy?si=r_aDYKyST4y_OHtlLSiqZw&nd=1 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/high-grass/1502644307

Image Credits
Photos by Alex Elena, Adam Colvin, Justin Shudo, Joel Rieke Artwork by Soma.rgb

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