"Our Sunset"

There were no words for such a long time - no lyrics, no journaling. How could a pen and paper keep up with all the thoughts and feelings in my head? When I tried to write, I felt tears about to fall and I felt sick to my stomach. No words could ever explain all that comes with grief and trauma. But as time passed, words felt more and more accessible to describe what happened, and help me understand how I feel. It was so important for me to write this song, for so many reasons. It has helped me process and feel connected. I knew if I didn’t write this song, it would try to write itself in every other song, dance, or piece of art I create - it wanted to come out of me. And although it was hard, I stood patient with myself in trying to find the right words, and eventually I completed it.

Yes, a lot of performative art is for the audience - what looks best, what would read best, how the audience would follow a storyline, how can we make the audience relate, etc., but this song is truly for a select group of people. It is for myself, peers, and for our two dancing angels. Of course, if you can relate to it or find joy from it I am so thankful, but there is a major difference in intention. That’s something I had to keep in mind while writing and creating this song; not to be attentive to how the audience will feel it, but more so to how I feel it, and what feels right to me. Creating a song fully for your own healing and processing almost feels like a gift of self love. I cannot stress enough how much I needed to create this song.

Our two angels dance in the sky every evening to remind us that life is a beautiful, colorful, vibrant gift. The sunset will never just be a pretty view - it is our girls reminding us we’re not alone, and to shine like them, and grow with them.

I hope you all know how loved you are, and understand your importance to this world. Thank you for standing strong, and being brave enough to live through each day. It is truly a gift - never take it for granted.

Tags: our sunset

Kira's new single, Our Sunset, is out now! You can hear it on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and there is a Hyperfollow page that links to all. You can also download the full-resolution version of the song for free by signing up for Kira's newsletter.


Our Sunset
Memories are pressed like flowers
And the ripples are as bad as the wave
With unsaid promises everyone has made

We’re here in this room again
As the lights dim and fade
This is where we love
And this is where we’ll stay

You dance in the sky
In oranges, blues, pinks, and purples
It shines, like you
It grows, with you

Your love breathes in all of us
It’s in the breeze
Words fail time again
Light or apologies

Scenes replay again
By the smallest of things
This Is how we love
And this is how we’ll stay

You dance in the sky
In oranges, blues, pinks, and purples
It shines, like you
It grows, with you



Song Credits
Written by Kira Takei
Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin McNoldy
All vocals performed by Kira Takei

©2023 Kira Takei / Cphonic Records. All rights reserved.

Tags: our sunset

Hey everyone! In the chaos of rehearsals, performances, packing, and many other life tasks, “Film of Us” officially released! I am so thankful for the timing of this song’s release, as I feel it serves as a good kickoff to summer, and brings good vibes! The process behind this one was full of trial and error, which is surprising given it’s such a fun, sweet song. Here is the behind-the-scenes of the creation of my latest song!

I tried to look through my text messages to see when it REALLY all began but couldn’t quite figure it out… so here is an estimated timeline! Kevin originally created this mix with some vocals of the melody singing gibberish to hopefully develop some lyrics. In a studio session, I had talked about wanting to create an ‘Angel Baby’ by Troye Sivan type of song, and he played me his mix! I thought the energy and colors were what I was going for, so he sent it to me, and I started developing a story, and lyrics. I believe he had sent me the original mix around this time last year. After months of tweaking, writing, (and even co-writing… more on that later), and editing, we finally got into the studio to put down some vocals and finish the mix. The recording process went by relatively quickly, with a clear end goal in mind. This song has been on my radar for so long, and it feels so good to have it finished and out into the world! I hope it can bring some light and joy to your summer!

One big part of the creation process of “Film of Us” was the day Kevin and I co-wrote lyrics.

Long story short, I ended up crying.

When it comes to anything, I LOVE to have a schedule, working through things, trial and error, tweaking, etc. - and I love doing them on my own. I work so well by myself, and when it comes to creative endeavors I would 100 out of 10 times want to do it on my own. It’s not that I don’t trust or dislike other’s processes/work, I just know what I like, and I know how to get there. Given the Synesthesia aspect of my creative process, it gets hard to co-write a song that I want to be blue that has tints of suggested oranges or reds, and that gets confusing and difficult to communicate. I began to feel really overwhelmed by releasing control of making everything feel right, and tried to be open to what Kevin’s ‘right’ is. I think in the end, there’s maybe 2 or 3 lines we co-wrote in the final song, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but the experience behind it certainly was. Co-creating music is something I want to continue to grow in, because I know it has a lot to offer me… that day was just confusing and frustrating. But, it was a very important lesson I learned in the creation of this song!

I hope you all are having a great summer, and you enjoy “Film of Us”! Thank you for reading this blog post, and for your never-ending love and support. :)

Tags: film of us

Kira's fifth single, Film of Us, is out now! You can hear it on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and there is a Hyperfollow page that links to all. You can also download the full-resolution version of the song for free by signing up for Kira's newsletter.


Film of Us
Waking up to sunlight dancing on your chest
I trace the tattoos up and down your neck

Time can't stop for us, baby

While you swim in the silk summer water
I drown in your voice
I keep this film of us close
When the lights take me home

As you fade into the noise, I’ll listen from a distance
To hear your voice, painted blue, telling me to find you

Time can't stop for us, baby

I live inside these memories
Of us and golden skies
I keep this film of us close
When the lights take me home

Winter will pass and spring will come
As time keeps turning, I want to bloom with you
I promise I see you behind your eyes
Can you see me behind mine?

I’ll breathe you in and hold you close
As the tide comes again
I’ll keep this film of us close
When the lights take me home

While you swim in the silk summer water
I drown in your voice
I keep this film of us close
When the lights take me home



Song Credits
Written by Kira Takei and Kevin McNoldy
Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin McNoldy
All vocals performed by Kira Takei
All instruments performed by Kevin McNoldy

©2023 Kira Takei / Cphonic Records. All rights reserved.

Tags: film of us

Kira's fourth single, Tonight, is out now! You can hear it on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and there is a Hyperfollow page that links to all. You can also download the full-resolution version of the song for free by signing up for Kira's newsletter.


Tonight
Rings on my neck, my arms, my back
Your breath on my ear, it blooms blue and black

Shining eyes, flashing wrists, pieces of faces, and bruised lips
Diamond eyed, state of mind

Lose myself, tonight with you
Lights capture blinks of new
The taste of your voice, sweet honeydew
I breathe in all the ways you move

Tell me tell me you know
I want to take this real slow
Let me breathe, don’t let me go
I know I know I owe
All the things I denied
So I could lose myself, with you tonight

Your aftertaste, stains my head
Your shape on my sheets, words unsaid

Shining eyes, flashing wrists, pieces of faces, and bruised lips
Diamond eyed, state of mind

Lose myself, tonight with you
Lights capture blinks of new
The taste of your voice, sweet honeydew
I breathe in all the ways you move

Tell me tell me you know
I want to take this real slow
Let me breathe, don’t let me go
I know I know I owe
All the things I denied
So I could lose myself, with you tonight




Song Credits
Written by Kira Takei
Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin McNoldy
All vocals performed by Kira Takei
All instruments performed by Kevin McNoldy

©2023 Kira Takei / Cphonic Records. All rights reserved.

Tags: tonight

Kira's third single, The Heart Of Us, is out now! You can hear it on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and there is a Hyperfollow page that links to all. You can also download the full-resolution version of the song for free by signing up for Kira's newsletter.


The Heart Of Us
I'll frame every night with you
dancing with all we've done
With all the words we regret since
the moon kissed the sun

The way that you move, boy
so electric with ease
With hazel eyes of
a sycamore tree

And I know she feels safe with him, the little girl inside
Who needed someone to tell her it'll be all right

When I see you I see all my love
the shapes and sounds that make the heart of us

Your sun kissed skin
and sun wrapped hair
Your golden glow
feels so familiar

And I know she feels safe with him, the little girl inside
Who needed someone to tell her it'll be all right

When I see you I see all my love
the shapes and sounds that make the heart of us
And all the stars knew ours would align
I love you for who you were, who you are, and who you’ll become




Song Credits
Written by Kira Takei
Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin McNoldy
All vocals performed by Kira Takei
All instruments performed by Kevin McNoldy and Kira Takei

©2023 Kira Takei / Cphonic Records. All rights reserved.

Tags: the heart of us



Kira's second single, Everything And Nothing, is out now! You can hear it on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and there is a Hyperfollow page that links to all. You can also download the full-resolution version of the song for free by signing up for Kira's newsletter.


Everything And Nothing
I traveled the world, held the seas in my hand
Heard the movements wash up on the sand

And all their voices rush into my head
From fading memories that were once dead

Now I’m flying high, seeing without my eyes
Holding onto my loves while I’m trying to say goodbye

If there's one thing I've learned it’s that life is everything and nothing
All the time spent waiting won’t care at all
I’ll remember the stage lights and my body taking control
The feeling of forgetting all the words left untold

The waves of bass shakes the drink in my hand
Nothing better than small minds who can barely stand

And all their voices rush into my head
These are the memories I wish were dead

All my works left when I’m gone
Will they fade or live on
Wrote my heart down on these pages
Will I ever know what life is

If there's one thing I’ve learned it’s that life is everything and nothing
All the time spent waiting won’t care at all
I’ll remember the stage lights and my body taking control
The feeling of forgetting all the words left untold



Song Credits
Written by Kira Takei
Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin McNoldy
Additional engineering and arrangement by Kira Takei
All vocals performed by Kira Takei
All instruments performed by Kevin McNoldy and Kira Takei

©2022 Kira Takei / Cphonic Records. All rights reserved.

Tags: everything and nothing

Kira's first single, Wildfire, is out now! You can hear it on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and there is a Hyperfollow page that links to all. You can also download the full-resolution version of the song for free by signing up for Kira's newsletter.


Wildfire
How do I know if life’s designed or destined
Am I still here to give or learn a lesson
Days go by and I only see myself at night
I cut my hair and burned my clothes so I'm someone only I know 

Oh, Oh

Screaming at the sky my voice echos like wildfire
Up and down these streets again 
Wondering why I’m fighting for my limitations 
Am I too scared to try

Oh, Oh

Now I’m running with nowhere to go
Accepting we only know what we know 
But before I go, I wanna know what the world looks like if I let go 
Would anything change, would it all stay the same

Screaming at the sky my voice echos like wildfire
Up and down these streets again 
Wondering why I'm fighting for my limitations 
I'm too scared

Oh, Oh
Oh, Oh



Song Credits
Written by Kira Takei
Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin McNoldy
Additional engineering and arrangement by Kira Takei
All vocals performed by Kira Takei
All instruments performed by Kevin McNoldy and Kira Takei

©2022 Kira Takei / Cphonic Records. All rights reserved.

Tags: wildfire

Welcome to the Kira Takei website! You'll find all the latest news, photos, videos, and song releases from Kira here, and by signing up for her newsletter, you'll receive high-resolution downloads of her songs for free! Kira can also be found on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Amazon Music, and her full bio can be read here. Her first two singles, Wildfire and Everything And Nothing, are out now!

Tags: wildfire, everything and nothing