AOTW: Shaina Hayes – “Kindergarten Heart”

February 29th, 2024 by Liz Kosik

by Anabel Martin Llanusa ’25

Album of the Week: Shaina Hayes – “Kindergarten Heart”

Released: February 2024

Rate: 8/10

RIYL: Helena Deland, Frankie Cosmos, Adrianne Lenker, Haley Heynderickx

Shaina Hayes’ latest album, “Kindergarten Heart,” is the perfect mix of Folk and Indie music. The soundtrack is driven by acoustic guitars and Haye’s distinctive Indie vocals. The distinctive sound of violins gives off a mystic melody in the album, which adds to the nostalgia in Hayes’ lyrics.

I love how the nostalgia is represented in the album, especially in “Sun and Time,” as she delivers her song so calmly. When listening to her soothing voice in this track, it feels like she is accepting everything that surrounds her and the struggles that come with it. She recognizes that the good times she had belonged in the past and accepts how that makes her feel in the present. For fans of the end credits song of Steven Universe, I highly recommend listening to “Heat Wave,” as the melody resembles a similar vibe. I thoroughly enjoyed how her mystical voice carries the chill lyrics.

The “self-healing” songs on Hayes’ album resonated with me deeply. Her music and lyrics convey her connection to her hometown, love, and her unavoidable sense of nostalgia. This album is perfect for a self-care day or a chill girls night in.