Kin was released on 9 September 2016 worldwide, following up her previous album, the folk-toned Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon.

She recorded the album in a studio in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, a place that inspired her a lot of songs, according to her.

[5] She had entered the Sundance Institute's elite Film Composers Lab in order to give her career another direction.

Prior to the release of the album, Tunstall claimed that she had "finally made peace with being a pop songwriter".

She further added that "Kin is very much embracing my dharma as an artist, which is to write positive songs that have muscle, but also show their vulnerability.

"[7] Kin is the first album in a trilogy of records by Tunstall, which all cover the themes of "soul, body and mind.

Tunstall says in an interview with the UK newspaper Evening Standard that Bay is "one of the most talented new songwriters," and added "it was fantastic to work with him.".

[...] Kin clicks when Tunstall's vocals dig deep on tracks like "Evil Eye" and "Run on Home," and when she and James Bay strike a sexy, slow-rolling groove on "Two Way," it makes an awfully good case for going back to Cali."

also gave a good review of the album, stating "Embracing her rock-pop gifts, Tunstall seems at peace — and we're the beneficiaries.

"[18] AllMusic, who gave the album four stars, wrote "What gives Kin its weight is Tunstall's craft.