Basic Folk 111 – Kaiti Jones

Kaiti Jones by Paula Champagne

Kaiti Jones‘ vibe is truly chill with that special something that you experience in a real artist. She’s got that thing that should propel her to great heights: her music is spot-on and as a human being, it feels like you’re in the presence of some kind of greatness. Am I exaggerating? I don’t know, but this woman is wicked cool. Her backstory starts in Portland, Maine with her hippie Christian parents, who met at a commune in the 60’s. Kaiti learned violin using the suzuki method, which is based in learning by ear. After violin came training in piano, viola, french horn, cello and drums. She discovered songwriting when her mom read her diary and she found it a way to simultaneously express and deflect her feelings. Then she finally picked up the guitar in the church band and realized this would be the vessel for her songwriting. Kaiti moved to Cambridge, ten years ago, to do service work as an AmeriCorps volunteer and has found much inspiration in joy in service work similar to the feeling found creating music.

The new album Tossed was finished during the pandemic. She worked remotely with her friend and producer Daniel Radin. He provided equipment and she recorded her parts at home. The electric guitar finds itself at the forefront of the album, so we have that ever-interesting conversation about electric vs acoustic. This record feels like a fully realized vision of Kaiti’s sound and spirit. I’m excited for what’s to come for this exciting musician and am happy to have her on the pod!

Kaiti’s video for “Getting Around to It”

The new album, Tossed