Review: "your girl for a while" - KARINA

KARINA captivates with infectious verses that communicate her story through a high-gain string expedition paired with lovely vocals delivering longing licks of lyricism. KARINA’s cutthroat intro describes the murder scene they left for her to clean up, singing “there’s dirt on my skin and blood outside my veins/ I built up a wall to carve out your whole name,” attributing her dedication and isolation to the effects of someone so hurtful. This is the pain of absence, asking “was it the way that she laughed or the hope in her smile?” begging for a rundown of why she’s been traded so effortlessly. KARINA pulls it together to assert “yeah, you were my everything but/ I was just your for a while,” returning a familiar, bitter nonchalance. KARINA’s “your girl for a while” is a sickening account of the wrath of loss, and even worse, betrayal. 

In “your girl for a while”, KARINA casts a shadow past a guitar in overdrive as she rhythmically coos into the mic for a fire and ice intro that begs for recognition. The deep strings provide a baseline for the entire track. Coarse chord progressions lead to a standalone flutter of vocals that result in KARINA’s contained wail, encompassed by a light beat and the same hefty strings. The beat moves from electronic grunge to a passionate, pop exclamation. The shift between grime and glass auras deliver a sense of oscillation that drives an emotional connection to the track. KARINA’s voice is altogether distinct, gentle, and radiant, giving listeners whiplash with her range and genre-bending. 

From Williamsburg, VA, KARINA addresses mental health, trauma, lost innocence, and more in her timely music. Her voice is reminiscent of Isabella DeFir's "Debt", but KARINA remains unique in her sound. She is now based in Richmond, VA and has released 8 singles, plus a debut full-length album thus far. She notes that Richmond’s scenery and artistic culture is responsible for some of her inspiration. Her first single “Out of Air” was released in 2023, and her first album “what happened to the little girl?” was released in 2024. This debut album was co-written and produced by Lawrence Grivich (Don of Pop Studios). Her style is unmistakably authentic, and her lyrics lacerate listeners. Recognition for KARINA, and her art, is a necessity in 2025. 

Written By Hanna Hathaway

FOLLOW KARINA:

Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube