Listen to a Kinneret song and you’re just as likely to encounter a pop hook drenched in glitter as you are a philosophical inquiry that you’ll be pondering for days. “Can you ever reach the end of a timeless existence?” she asked casually on her 2019 viral hit single “No Wind Resistance!” On her forthcoming album Field Guide, Kinneret upped the ante, writing pop songs that are more full-bodied and energetic than ever before, while also pushing her intellectual pursuits in new directions. When she began working on the project, she had just gone through two seemingly contradictory life changes: getting really into bird watching and also moving to New York City from Los Angeles. The music she wrote during this time merges the fluorescent energy of city life with the introspective imagery of a keen nature observer, resulting in songs that are as sonically engrossing as they are lyrically rich. “I think that having fun and being expressive and colorful are some of the most important parts of life,” Kinneret says of her perspective and approach to music-making. “And I'm also a very existential person who is constantly trying to make sense of the world.”

Channeling this duality into Field Guide, Kinneret built a universe that listeners can escape into: one predicated on adventure, interconnectedness, and a sense of urgency that comes from understanding that your world is finite and fleeting. She pulls from a deep familiarity with and wonderment towards the idioms of nature–the connection between all the animals and plants in an ecosystem, the way seasons mark the passing of time, the deep awe a sunset can inspire. At its heart, Field Guide is a map to the magical, organic, and quirky world of Kinneret.

Birding—a pivotal influence on Field Guide—taught Kinneret how to live in the moment. “Birds live in the wild for maybe two years,” she says. “They look for food and build nests and have kids. They just follow their instincts. I crave that so much in my life. Birding reminds me that I’m an animal—It just totally gets me out of my head.” But, as free-flowing and kinetic as these songs are, they’re also the result of focused work and effort. Before starting Field Guide, Kinneret attended three separate writing camps: one about spirituality, one about technique, and one about collaboration. It can be heard in the precision and intentionality of her arrangements: on opener “Speak To Me,” the call and response of her vocals mirror the sample of a robin’s birdsong that she weaves into the production. Kinneret’s falsetto glides and stretches across a twinkling synth and skittering drum beat as she reflects on the sheer joy of being alive, the limitations of her corporeal form, and her ever-present desire for connection. 

On the electric lead single “Solar Kiss,” she encourages listeners to think big when envisioning their bliss. It’s got all the buoyancy of an ‘80s Janet Jackson hit and the wisdom of a breakthrough therapy session: “Have you ever wondered why you dream? / Because you must remember all that can be,” she sings. “‘Solar Kiss’ was originally called ‘Migration.’ It’s about making big changes and following your passion,” Kinneret explains. “I wrote it while I was moving to Brooklyn, and I imagined myself as a brave bird, leading my flock across the country.” Standout single “Price of Pop,” which features Leila Lamb’s twisting, gossamer vocals, shifts the direction slightly to talk more directly about the human world; Kinneret sings about her relationship with music-making and addresses accusations that she takes her work too seriously. But even as she grapples with potential criticism, she maintains a resounding sense of confidence, sounding like Devo-meets-Charli XCX with the winking humor of Coco and Clair Clair as she chants, “First they think it’s odd / then they think it’s hot.”

‍The viral success of “No Wind Resistance!” was, in short, life changing for Kinneret. Deciding to delay her attendance at Berklee College of Music, she continued to release new music and began to channel more energy into her live performances–most recently touring in support of Princess Chelsea. Somewhere along the way, she grew into a self-assured artist, and Field Guide sees Kinneret further refining her left-of-center sound. Produced by Jorge Elbrecht (Sky Ferreira, Japanese Breakfast), Jess Winter (Jazmin Bean), Lokoy (Girl in Red) and Alice Ivy, it was recorded in 2024 across Los Angeles, New York City, and London, with artist Torna (Daisy the Great, Del Water Gap) mixing the entire record. “With this album, I really let go,” she says. “This was my first time properly writing with other people, not just getting beats and writing to them myself. I was apprehensive, but it was a game-changing experience. The truth is, the right people help you understand yourself even more.” 

Kinneret also wrote the songs with the intent of performing them live; as a result, they’re danceable and propulsive, driven by four on the floor beats and synth blips that zip like lasers. “I wanted to fill more space on this record,” she says. “It's very maximalist when it comes to the vocals, harmonies, and ad libs.” Indeed, her vocals are more jubilant and versatile: her words cascade and stretch, pummel and punch, then flutter like a hummingbird's wings. Kinneret boosted the sonics while delving even deeper into her psyche, fine-tuning her ability to express conflicting emotions at once, whether she was feeling playful or introspective, omnipotent or scared, inspired or bored. (Kinneret is also the mastermind of the fantastical visual world that accompanies Field Guide, and she worked with her grandfather on parts of it: his handmade cardboard sculptures of birds populate the verdant, mystical forest backdrop in which she is photographed for the album cover.)

Ultimately, the entire process found Kinneret honoring her dualities: allowing herself to be extroverted and introspective, searching and content, surrounded by nature and dazzled by city lights. She presents it all with the confidence of an artist who has really come into herself, knows what she wants, and encourages others to join her.