A ‘product child of Chicago,’ KAINA is learning to savor the home she’s made here

The day World Cafe sits down with Kaina Castillo, who goes simply by KAINA on stage, she’s a few hours away from performing at the Chicago Cultural Center. Wearing a red and pink sheer jumpsuit that matches her own sunny disposition, she says this show is a “full circle moment” for her.

The 27-year-old singer-songwriter was born and raised in Chicago, and her parents immigrated from Venezuela and Guatemala. Her family — and those early years in the city — have left a deep impression on her music. Her latest album, It Was A Home, is KAINA’s ode to the city and the life they’ve built here.

In the latest installment of our Sense of Place series, the World Cafe team is exploring Chicago’s music scene. In this session, KAINA talks about the ways the city has enabled her to flourish and helped her find a tight-knit community of collaborators.