-
Kim DiVine: "5"
[+ Show ]
“I’d put her new songs on my iPod. She sounds like Sara Bareilles.” Thus did the harshest music cr...“I’d put her new songs on my iPod. She sounds like Sara Bareilles.” Thus did the harshest music critic in the Los Angeles area, your crusty chronicler’s youngest spawn, William Jared James Phoenix declare upon hearing Five (EP) the latest release by Kim DiVine. Just who is Kim DiVine to earn such high praise from this opinionated offspring?
Happy you asked! Kim DiVine is a Los Angeles singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her music over the years has been occasionally influenced by such acts as Jeff Buckley, the Indigo Girls and Radiohead.
View slideshow: Kim DiVine: "5"
Her most recent release, Five, contains a mere five songs. As it turns out, DiVine’s “favorite number” is five. In fact, the preference dates back to her “middle school basketball jersey”.
The lead-in here is “Perfect Kind of Love”. Digitally-released in 2010, this song was included on The CW's One Tree Hill. Here she is joined by producer Bill Lefler (Dashboard Confessional, Laura Jansen) on background vocals and bassist David Hawkins. While one online critic claims the repetition in the chorus is overdone the truth is repetition is what often makes a hit single. “Perfect Kind of Love” is actually a perfect example of her perfect kind of pop.
Advertisement
The second selection is “Best Thing”. Here DiVine takes a quieter, slower approach with a subtle, almost invisible assist on bass by Joseph Karnes. This is a love song that, in truth, works well no matter how DiVine presents it be it the studio version or as a simple, live acoustic number.
Written in 2010 “Easy On Me” is the next number. Here she once more perks up the EP with more of her upbeat pretty pop and insures its uniqueness by including the horns of Danny T. Levin. This tune took her to the final round of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the pop category and earned her a semi-finalist spot in the 2010 International Songwriting Competition.
The “Critic’s Choice”, “Yours To Keep”, soon follows and almost overshadows the earlier tracks. While this is, indeed, another love song it very well could be one of her best relationship songs to date. While you might thing DiVine would be concerned about wearing it thin she actually makes it sound very sincere as if she is singing it directly to the listener--instead of the obvious audience –yours truly . . . (well, hey, one can dream, no?) Surely this one will be on the playlist for every future, contemporary wedding ceremony be on television, film or here in the real world.
The closing cut is “Just the Same”. It’s a slow, sad song about a promising relationship that has seen better days. It stands in sharp contrast to the brighter, upbeat numbers that often almost insist on representing her signature sound. This effective aural pallet cleanser, complete with an encore by bassist Karnes, further demonstrates how DiVine is no one-trick pretty pony.
DiVine is quite capable of making listeners empathize with her and can compose touching, tuneful tales that seem to be more fact than fiction. She has seemingly learned that sad songs say so much and that it never hurts to leave the audience wanting more. She has worked hard hoping to make listeners feel Five is the “Best Thing” they’ve ever heard.
My name is Phoenix and . . . that's the bottom line.
-
KIM DiVINE, “Five” (self-released) 4 out of 5 stars
[+ Show ]
You might not know her name, but chances are you’ve heard the bubbly pop songs of pixie-like singer/...You might not know her name, but chances are you’ve heard the bubbly pop songs of pixie-like singer/song- writer Kim DiVine.
She’s had tunes featured on episodes of “Jersey Shore” and “One Tree Hill” and that’s her singing the Jell-O jingle in national commercials. Her latest musical effort is the fantastic EP “Five,” a (you guessed it!) five-track collection of folksy pop tunes that are sure to leave you smil- ing.
First single “Perfect Kind of Love” is sweet without crossing into saccharine ter- ritory, and DiVine soars on “Best Thing,” “Yours to Keep” and “Just the Same.” The good-but-not-great “Easy on Me”
is the only track that fails to register, but that’s a minor hiccup on an otherwise excellent record. (JS)
-
Kim DiVine Five – EP
[+ Show ]
Sweet is what you’d expect from the voice of the JELL-O jingle, and the prominence of her sweet voic...Sweet is what you’d expect from the voice of the JELL-O jingle, and the prominence of her sweet voice is definitely what you get on Kim DiVine’s new EP, Five. Two out of the five songs on the EP are upbeat and poppy with a base of piano and guitar that bring to mind Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton. “Perfect Kind of Love,” which was recently heard on CW’s One Tree Hill, adds in some interesting percussion that mixes things up a little, and the catchy and bouncy “Easy on Me” is made more so by the addition of some horns at the end. The other three songs on Five are slower and have a slight twang as they slide more onto the country side of pop. The best is “Just the Same,” the only sad song on the EP, which gives Kim a chance to show a little more depth with her gorgeous voice. If you love female vocalists, you really need to give Kim DiVine‘s Five a listen!
-
Kim DiVine Has A "Perfect Kind of Love"
[+ Show ]
Kim DiVine has that voice that you've heard of before but never actually knew who's voice it belonge...Kim DiVine has that voice that you've heard of before but never actually knew who's voice it belonged to. Her angelic voice has helped her compile an impressive resume that includes her songs being featured in films, television and commercials and singing in some of the country's biggest venues including Madison Square Garden and Staples Center.
This is her official video for her song "Perfect Kind of Love." It's off her EP Five which she just released this weekend. And if you still don't know where you've heard her voice before here's a hint: She's the voice of Jello-O. You've probably heard her singing the jingle in the Jello-O commercials. Yep, that's her.
-
Kim is the Voice of JELL-O!
[+ Show ]
Kim is the voice behind the new Jingle for Jell-O's national campaign to spread the Happy! The ads a...Kim is the voice behind the new Jingle for Jell-O's national campaign to spread the Happy! The ads are airing now on National TV. Jell-O is partnering again with Bill Cosby for the campaign.
Listen to the Jingle here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC8RehWeX4s
You can also read about the new campaign here: http://www.facebook.com/Jello
-
Review of Kim Divine's "Square One"
[+ Show ]
Kim Divine : Square One
If, when I die and go to that magical place called heaven, the angels don...Kim Divine : Square One
If, when I die and go to that magical place called heaven, the angels don’t sing like Kim Divine I’m switching to Hinduism so I can be reborn and have a chance to hear her voice again. When you listen to Ms. Divine’s new album Square One, Irecommend wearing headphones as to allow Ms. Divine the chance to whisper into your ears. I don’t mean that in a sexy way but rather in a way that allows you to hear her voice in which I believe it was to be intended, smack dab in the middle of your brain.
On certain songs, like “All Night”, it has a way of blowing into your mind like the wind blows into a window on a quiet star filled night. Some voices have the element of color to them but Kim’s is as pure as spring water in the Fiji Islands that has bubbled up from the purified volcanic rock. Kim’s lyrics give me the idea that she has some volcanic rock of her own that she has worked through to bring her to this Square One purity she demonstrates for us. Her lyrics speak of a lifetime of experiences, both good and bad, that she has been able to shape into brilliant songs that are as pleasing to the ears as warm gloves to cold hands.
Listening to this CD gives one pause as the thought of this talent not being shared with the world is a clear sign the cream of the crop has somehow been held down below the surface. “It’ll be Alright” is an amazing song that gives Kim a chance to sing like a bird in front of Bob Marley’s house. Her voice sounds like it should be greeting you in a tunnel of light giving the indication that you have just died. Thankfully you don’t have to be dead to hear something so beautiful. “Without You” is a powerful song from a daughter to a father who has left. The emotion in this song is heavy but her voice lifts it up as a pillar of strength to rise above what was done. It really should be a standard to every new father as a reminder of what happens when you turn you back on your children.
Thankfully the album doesn’t wallow at all in sadness but always seems to have the cheerful attitude of a fresh beginning. It basks in the light of simplicity that falls through your bedroom window on an easy Sunday morning. “Little Things” is a perfect example of this idea. The song drifts in like a dream that you never want to end. It has a way of bringing your life back into focus in only 2 minutes 51 seconds. Try asking your expensive therapist to do that!
All is well with Kim Divine’s Square One as it delivers beautiful music full of heart and soul with lyrics provided by an angel. Find this album and allow it to make a few minutes of your life vastly improved.
Key Tracks- Little Things, All Night, Cheers
Doug Morrissey- Muzikreviews.com Staff
July 29, 2010
©MuzikReviews.com
-
"Square One" Review
[+ Show ]
Kim DiVine: Square One
Website: http://www.kimdivine.com/
Written by Frank Kocher
Former San Di...Kim DiVine: Square One
Website: http://www.kimdivine.com/
Written by Frank Kocher
Former San Diego singer/songwriter Kim DiVine has established herself already, with two well-received acoustic albums followed by an excellent EP, Hummingbird, in 2006 (all as Kim DiVincenzo). That disc featured her with a full band on most of the tracks, bringing a degree of luster to her songs that wowed many reviewers, garnered a number of awards, and has a lot of folks anxious for more of the same.
Her new CD, Square One, picks up right where Hummingbird left off. A big reason is the smart move to record at San Diego's Light of Day studio, with Hummingbird producer Keith Orfanides. He again manages to let DiVine have the spotlight and plays most of the other instruments himself, while framing her music in tasteful background harmonies, keyboards, and layers of guitars. The result is radio-friendly, polished pop arrangements that aren't overly slick and enhance the musical impact of DiVine's catchy writing.
DiVine is a good singer with a voice that isn't a four-octave siren or the hypnotic throb of a warble singer. She sings her lyrics with an earnest, clear, high voice that imparts just the right amount of emotion. For most of the songs, it is about the songwriting and not her vocal range, anyway.
"Letting Go" starts off, as DiVine sings verses over keyboards that give way to a rousing, full band chorus that sounds like Orfanides is channeling Coldplay. The dynamics work so well that the tune is instantly memorable. A folk-rock approach is taken on "Little Things," with personal lyrics, guitar and harmonies, and DiVine using the opportunity to show some good vocal chops. On "Raining," the band pushes a very catchy melodic hook, with plenty of power keyboards amping up the choruses. "All Night" is quieter but equally catchy, using a repeated refrain over string swells to burn into the listener's memory. A slower ballad, "Without You," follows, but it is another strong cut, with strong vocal by DiVine up front, another winning melody, and plenty of dramatic buildup. The strong tunes keep coming, "We Could" is more smooth pop with driving drums and guitars, nailing a hook with another great arrangement.
All 12 songs feature very personal lyrics about relationships and affairs of the heart, most written in the first person. Many are given a powerful and almost heroic flavor by the arrangements, lyrics, and vocal treatment.
"What's It Gonna Be" appeared in slower, acoustic form on Hummingbird; the rock version of the tune here, like "Letting Go" and "We Could," is another highlight. DiVine again is in command on the vocal while the music chimes and swells, echoing the guitar veneer of U2 and Coldplay. Things close quietly with an acoustic version of "All Night."
Square One is certainly a big step forward by Kim DiVine, showing fulfillment of the promise shown in her earlier work. It is a great listen.
-
Moth Pick of the Week
[+ Show ]
I’ve worked in the indie music scene for going on three years now. During that time I’ve worked with...I’ve worked in the indie music scene for going on three years now. During that time I’ve worked with and promoted many artists on The Mothpod (I think the current count is just over 900). While each and everyone of them are astonishingly talented and continue to amaze me with their works, there are only a select few that I consider the Mothpod’s “cream of the crop.” These are the artists that weeks, months, and even years after spinning I still feel the same sense of excitement about sharing their music with my listeners as the very first time I aired them. Kim DiVine is among that select few.
I came across Kim’s music a couple years ago, and was immediately captivated by her voice. With uniquely strong vocals and songs rich in powerful melodies, she was simply an artist that stood out from the crowd. Flash forward to today; Kim has released her brand new album Square One and it only reenforces everything I thought the day I discovered this incredible artist.
Square One is a pop/rock album with a sound very much in the vein of such artists as Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton, and Jewel. It’s the kind of album that one moment spins a catchy track that make the world feel right, and the next plays a melodic track that make you think. The one thing that every track has in common though is that every one of them is a little piece of the heart and soul of Kim DiVine.
Consider Square One a bit of a glimpse into Kim’s personal life. Every track from “Letting Go” (about moving on) through “Without You” (about Kim’s relationship with her absent father) is deeply rooted with passionate lyrics driven from Kim’s life experiences. This an album about life, love, and loss.
Square One is an amazing album that I’m proud to have in my music collection and proud to feature as this week’s Moth Pick Of The Week.
-
"Hotel Cafe" show review (Feb 2009)
[+ Show ]
Kim DiVine doesn’t have a gimmick. There are no bells or whistles or even a Macbook on stage with he...Kim DiVine doesn’t have a gimmick. There are no bells or whistles or even a Macbook on stage with her. She is straight up, straight forward, folk rock. She’s a girl on stage with nothing but a guitar, her voice, and two great supporting musicians. With just this and her heartfelt music, she turned the Hotel Café all warm and cozy on an especially chilly Thursday night.
Mixing acoustic and electric guitar (and sometimes doing a little dance while switching between the two) Kim DiVine was at her strongest when she was at her simplest. “Blue Skies”, her self-professed “breakup song”, showcased her rich and clear vocals. Then, while introducing “All Night” (a fragile song off of her latest album) she told us, “On the album, this is all crazy and produced with strings and everything. But tonight, I’m going to give you the stripped down version.” There was something so refreshing about how honestly she said that. Her frankness was often the source of a lot of good-natured humor, too. Especially when she took a sip of her drink and said, “Sorry guys, this is my whiskey break.”
During her short but sweet set, Kim DiVine made us all feel as if we were her close friends. In fact, many of her close friends were there to support her that night! Again, it was so nice to hear some simple and honest music without any pretense. Los Angeles has a lot of pretension, but none of it was there last night. In fact, her music made me desperately wish that the Hotel Café had a fireplace surrounded by big couches and trays of hot cocoa. That’s exactly how I would describe Kim DiVine’s music: It’s the audio equivalent of a cup of hot chocolate. Her sound is warm, sweet, and perfect for a cold night.
-Rachel K.
www.loudvine.com
-
DiVine aims to stay busy on local music scene
[+ Show ]
By: JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer
Only in San Diego County for a little over a year, Kim DiVine has...By: JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer
Only in San Diego County for a little over a year, Kim DiVine has quickly established herself as one of the most visible artists in the local music scene. A regular at a handful of open mic nights and working furiously to get herself booked for billed shows, DiVine also released an album last spring, "Hummingbird," under her family name of DiVincenzo.
In the six months since, she's adopted a shorter, easier-to-remember stage name, and kept busy writing more songs for another CD, which will be her fourth.
And yet none of it might have come about if not for a professor in need of someone to write a manual for the school's new audio recording lab.
"It all happened when I was a senior at Fairfield University (Connecticut)," DiVine wrote in an e-mail response to a question about when she realized she was going to be a professional musician.
"I was able to do an independent study because I had taken all the necessary classes. At the time, I was involved in the film/TV/radio department and the department director was helping me think of some ideas. He said, 'Donít you sing and write songs?' At this point I had written about 1 1/2 songs and they had never left my bedroom. I said, 'Well, kind of.' So he suggested I record a demo CD of my original songs and learn their new recording program, 'Pro Tools.' No one really knew how to use it, so as part of the class I would help them write a manual on it and get graded.
"I was so scared about the project but I knew I had to do it. After one semester, it was complete and I had my first six-song CD titled 'Bits and Pieces.' I was amazed by what I was able to do in such a short time, and I got some wonderful feedback from others.
"It was at that point that I felt I had to keep going with this songwriting thing. I now go back and listen to that CD and it sounds incredibly rough and dated (it is available on iTunes), but at the time it was the coolest thing ever to me."
She had only begun writing her own songs her sophomore year at Fairfield, the same time she began learning to play guitar, but had become involved in music through musical theater in high school. While growing up in Holden, Mass., both of her parents were musically inclined, DiVine said ---- with her father writing a song for her when she was little.
DiVine's own philosophy of songwriting is to aim for quality rather than numbers.
"I try to work longer on songs that I think will be great and trash the rest," she wrote, "I would say I have 25 strong ones and 20 more unfinished attempts."
After a busy 2006, DiVine said she has no plans to slow down in '07.
"I have a lot I want to accomplish this year. I plan to record some demos of my new material and possibly put together an acoustic EP. I hope to tour/travel more as well, and keep writing songs that keep getting better and better."
-
CD Reviews A- "Hummingbird"
[+ Show ]
CD reviews
By: JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer
Local, Rock, Blues
LOCAL
A- "Hummingbird"
Kim DiVi...CD reviews
By: JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer
Local, Rock, Blues
LOCAL
A- "Hummingbird"
Kim DiVincenzo
listentokim.com
Kim DiVincenzo's new CD has only six songs ---- but what songs! Presenting an intelligent yet melodic approach to pop-folk, San Diego's DiVincenzo (who has recently shorted her family name to Divine for her music) has crafted an independent debut with all the polish and vision of a major label release.
With DiVine's rich, expressive voice and intoxicating melodies (she wrote all the songs here), producer Keith Orfanides had a lot to work with. Still, the production levels on this release have to be heard to be believed. The opening track, "Home (Stickin' Around)" features multilayered vocal harmonies, echoed guitar chords, and a haunting introduction on violin augmented by a minimalist rhythm on drums before Divine's haunting vocals join in on the verse. By the time the song expands into the breathtakingly lovely chorus, this first track is awfully darn close to pop music perfection.
Spare guitar passages on "Broken" are as effective as the vocal harmonies were on the first track at setting a mood; a dark piano intro on "Far Away" also immediately creates an atmosphere for that track.
Throughout the album, the songwriting, the arrangements and the production are far above what one would expect from a first release by a young artist just starting out.
Kim DiVine performs Friday at Twiggs in San Diego's University Heights neigborhood.
-
Review of "Hummingbird"
[+ Show ]
by Craig Yerkes
Upon heearing 'Home,' the first track on Kim DiVine's new CD, Hummingbird, my fi...by Craig Yerkes
Upon heearing 'Home,' the first track on Kim DiVine's new CD, Hummingbird, my first reaction was that this is the most radio ready tune I have heard come out of San Diego since, well, maybe ever. DiVincenzo and her producer Keith Orfanides have managed to produce an album that sounds as if it was done on a major label budget. To be more accurate, they have managed to create a six-song disc on which most tracks rise to that level.
'Home' is pure, ethereal pop magic with soaring vocals (layered to biblical proportions), evocative lyrics, and an astounding instrumental backdrop, which incorporates a bewildering mix of vintage sounds (love the guitar and organ tones!) and masterfully applied effects. This is home run stuff here. 'Trouble,' another tune that sounds ready for radio play, also falls squarely into the category of 'pop music for the discriminating listener.' Its vocals and instrumental tracks crackle with just the right amount of angst to complement the romantic tension and aggression in the lyrics, plus the chorus delivers an enormous, can't miss hook. The other tracks veer off the pop highway, but are all solid offerings that fall more into the indie/ singer-songwriter world. Jane Lui lends her formidable piano skills to the pleasingly melancholy 'Far Away,' and 'Broken' is an intriguingly dark and aggressive track that reminded me a bit of Kate Bush. 'A Noble Prince' provides some nice depth to the disc with its poetic lyrics, complex melodic structure (nicely complimented with Tori Amos-esque background vocals), and lead vocals that show Divine's impressive range. 'What's It Gonna Be,' a longing, yet cleverly playful love song, wisely strips the format down to just vocal and guitar, somehow avoiding sounding flat compared to the more 'produced' tracks.
While the engine that drives this music is the artist's songwriting and performing skills, I can't say enough about the amazing production of this recording. Listening through headphones, it becomes even more impressive as you hear all the added subtle touches, all at the right times and in the right doses. For instance, on 'Broken' and 'Trouble,' the instruments and vocals build with such subtle intensity that you don't realize how high everything has notched up until the tracks suddenly switch to a single voice and guitar. Brilliant! I loved how well recorded and well played the violin tracks are and if you can find a guitar track on this disc that isn't world class, you have a better ear than I do.
The Divincenzo/Orfanides pairing has proved to be a musical match made in heaven and my guess is that this recording will successfully garner attention far beyond the local level.
-
Coffeehouse Crooner Dreams Big
[+ Show ]
"A good soundman is like frosting in the middle of the Oreo."
By Michael Hemmingson
Published De..."A good soundman is like frosting in the middle of the Oreo."
By Michael Hemmingson
Published December 22, 2005
Kim DiVincenzo
'A few months back I had this amazing music dream," says local acoustic soloist Kim DiVincenzo, sitting with her laptop at Hot Java before going onstage to play. "It is kind of that cheesy famous music scenario: I was playing onstage with my full band, and I had just released a new CD under a label for the first time. It was the kick-off tour, and we got to play one of the biggest venues ever, with thousands. It was so cool because I can remember the adrenaline rush and how amazing it felt to be up there rockin' out to a huge room that was totally into the show. I could see people singing along and it was awesome and then I woke. It took me a few minutes to come back to reality."
Kim often performs at Twiggs, Lestat's, and the San Diego Sports Club.
TRICKIEST PROBLEM PLAYING LIVE:
"Getting good sound. It is amazing how bad sound can totally ruin your performance. That is why you always hear people giving props to the sound guy during their show, because a good soundman is like frosting in the middle of the Oreo. The cookie doesn't taste the same without it. An artist has to be able to play strong live shows if they ever want to really gather a good following, and I think having great sound is a key part of that. When there is a bad mix in the monitors and you are struggling to hear yourself, it is so hard to get into the performance and really feel the song. Instead, your lips are moving and your arm is strumming, but you are really thinking about how 'not on' you are."
INSTRUMENTS USED:
"I currently play a Martin 000C16 acoustic. It is surely my baby. When I travel or just when I want to grab the guitar and go to the beach or something I play my 'little Martin,' which is similar to a baby Taylor. The sound that you get out of that thing is incredible. I am going to add a pickup to mine so I can play it out live sometimes. It is so small that it actually feels like the correct size for me. I also have a Samick Les Paul electric (Greg Bennett Design). I love this guitar, and once I have my band put together I will play it out more. I have been through two other guitars as well. My first guitar was actually an antique that at the time I had no real appreciation for because I was just learning. It was my mother's Martin 1963 classical. She told me I could try it out and see if I like playing before I got my own. I fell in love right away, even though now I cringe at the fact that I was banging out the G chord on this delicate guitar. Then I bought myself a Takamine acoustic, and a few years later I moved on to a Taylor 414CE, which was a beautiful limited-edition guitar. After moving out to San Diego I realized the Taylor was too big and not really fitting for me. So I found my Martin."
FAVORITE MUPPET:
"I would have to say I had a thing for Kermit. How could you not love him?...Funny that he got it on with Miss Piggy, his complete opposite. She was a loud and rambunctious drama queen."
BEST GIG:
"A recent show at the Knitting Factory for the L.A. Music Awards. I had no idea what to expect. The show was in the Alterknit Lounge, which is a smaller room in the venue that had a wonderful, intimate feel. I don't know what it was, but I have never been as 'on. '"
WORST GIG:
"One of my Borders Books and Music gigs back in Massachusetts unexpectedly went all wrong. They provide you with their own PA at Borders, but that night the staff couldn't find all the right cords. We ended up scrounging up enough stuff, and when we went to sound check, the guitar wouldn't amplify. I ended up having to play without the guitar plugged in, but the mike worked. Meanwhile...people were just sitting there, sipping their lattes, staring at you, waiting to hear some music."
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION:
"I was on the snowboard race team in college, Fairfield University, and we were at our Friday night practice at this really small mountain. I got off the chairlift and stopped to strap in. I looked up to see Kevin Bacon and his son in front of me. I guess he lives near there and takes his son to ski all the time. It was a slow night, and no one else was there except the three of us, so I thought, 'What the hell, Kim? Take a moment and say something to him.' I looked up at him and said, 'Hi.' He said, 'Hi.' Then there was, like, a dead silence...then stupid me says, 'I loved you in He Said, She Said.' And he said, 'Oh, yeah...thank you,' and that was it."
San Diego's best source for the arts, entertainment, and classified ads.
2005 San Diego Reader. All rights reserved. 619-235-3000.
-
Raising The Acoustic Bar
[+ Show ]
By Michael Kuhlmann
October 7, 2005
Some names will always brand cities. For Kentwood, La., it's...By Michael Kuhlmann
October 7, 2005
Some names will always brand cities. For Kentwood, La., it's Britney; for Houston, it's Beyonce; for San Diego, it's Jewel.
After all, San Diego is one of the hot spots for those ubiquitous coffeehouse singer-songwriters who perform acoustic sets. Stop by enough of them and any guitarist with a decent voice could be the next Jewel. How do you up the ante? You attend college, learn how to hone your craft and become a computer nerd.
At a petite 5 feet tall, local artist Kim DiVincenzo has attained some lofty achievements. She garnered a nomination for this year's Los Angeles Music Awards and was asked to coordinate Go Girls Music Fest 2005, an ovarian cancer benefit concert for The Lynne Cohen Foundation. The fest, which will take place at the Hard Rock Cafe tomorrow night, will showcase the talents of Renata Youngblood, DiVincenzo, Dropjoy, Evan Bethany, Ren Daversa, Annie Bethancourt, Pi, Mermaid's Journey and the Victoria Robertson Band. Backtrack four years, however, and DiVincenzo's passion for music can be traced to Fairfield University in Connecticut.
In her senior year of college there, DiVincenzo, who earned a bachelor's degree in communication, didn't waste any time putting her creative mind to good use for an independent study. With a knack for graphic design and musical sensibilities she inherited from her mother, the self-described "computer girl" took a semester to make geek sound good.
"Since I worked in the media center, the director of the radio/TV program said, 'Why don't you produce your own demo, learn ProTools, put together a CD and help us write a manual on it?' " DiVincenzo, now 24, recalled. "I was so scared that I knew I had to do it, and so those were the first songs I had ever written."
Six songs later, the Massachusetts native debuted her album, was nominated Wormtown Sound Award 2004 for "best solo acoustic artist," packed up her stuff and headed to San Diego. It was here that she applied her marketing and promotion skills to reach a wider audience.
DATEBOOK
Go Girls Music Fest 2005
7:30 p.m. tomorrow; The Hard Rock Cafe, 909 Prospect St., La Jolla; $6; 858-454-5101 or gogirlsmusicfest.com
"You can do so much yourself, and (the recording industry) expects that now," DiVincenzo said. "It's almost more now that major labels are for distribution - that's why you want to get on a major label. They want to pick up artists who have already secured a big fan base, have touring experience, have a really strong demo CD and have laid down all that groundwork."
-continued-
-
GoGirls music festival moves to La Jolla
[+ Show ]
By: PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer
The GoGirlsMusicFest 2005 returns this weekend with a new location ...By: PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer
The GoGirlsMusicFest 2005 returns this weekend with a new location and new band lineup, but its organizer says it will still offer the same focus of featuring the top independent women musicians in Southern California.
Kim DiVincenzo, who is performing on the bill and is coordinating this year's festival, said the sixth annual festival has moved in a new direction.
In past years, GoGirls was held at Humphrey's Backstage Lounge in San Diego, but the venue was only available for GoGirls on Thursday nights, and its somewhat isolated location made it difficult to draw in foot traffic. So this year, DiVincenzo said she shopped around for a new location that would allow the concert to take place on a weekend, when more people might be available to attend, and in an urban location. The answer was La Jolla's Hard Rock Cafe.
"It is right in the middle of a great area, and we would be able to draw people who were just hanging around town or not planning at first on going," she said. "The Hard Rock has a great atmosphere as well. I love the vibe there. It appeals to all ages and all walks of life. They also have a great stage setup."
DiVincenzo said she hopes to attract 200 to 500 people during the course of the evening.
"We want to make it a huge success. We hope to pack the place all night long," she said.
This year's festival, which will benefit the Lynn Cohen Foundation for ovarian cancer research, will be hosted by San Diego singer/songwriter Pete Thurston. There are nine acts on the bill.
Rock singer/songwriter DiVincenzo, who moved to San Diego about a year ago from her native Massachusetts, is a regular featured performer at San Diego coffeehouses, including Lestat's West, Twigg's, Claire de Lune and Hot Java Cafe. Now working on her next album with record producer Keith Orfanides, DiVincenzo said her style has been compared to that of Michelle Branch, Jewel and Mazzy Star. She said her musical influences are Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Ryan Adams, Sara Harmer and Dave Matthews.
Also featured on the program are Renata Youngblood, a San Diego singer and fingerpicking guitarist; folk singer Annie Bethancourt; Victoria Robertson, former Miss USO and a Best New Artist 2005 nominee at the San Diego Music Awards; DropJoy, a San Diego rock trio headed by Nicki Walker; Pi, an L.A.-based solo artist; Evan Bethany, a San Diego singer/songwriter now working on her debut CD; solo artist Ren Daversa, formerly of Good China; and Mermaid's Journey, the San Diego duo of Jennifer Evans and Jim Beggs.
-
Kim DiVincenzo touches others with her quiet, personal songs
[+ Show ]
By Shahin Ismail-Beigi
Worcester’s Kim DiVincenzo is a talented singer and songwriter whose lyric...By Shahin Ismail-Beigi
Worcester’s Kim DiVincenzo is a talented singer and songwriter whose lyrics are as beautiful as her guitar playing. She is a living rebuttal of Sarah McLachlan’s statement that songs are essentially bad poetry set to good music.
DiVincenzo has just released her second collection of songs, Here and In Between. From the first listen, her album reads like a well crafted book of short stories — a tightly knit community of songs that shares themes and moods while exploring different avenues, possibilities and melodic convictions. The tone of her lyrics matches her delivery and her guitar hooks provide a fitting hypnotic, moody counterpart.
Much like listening to the Indigo Girls’ Swamp Ophelia, the sonic landscapes of Here and In Between invite the listener to explore the autobiographical nature of the songs and to revel in one’s own interpretation. DiVincenzo says she is moved when people approach her about the songs after gigs, saying, “Surprisingly, they listen closely. They ask about this or that. This is a great compliment.” Some songs, like “The Light” and “Serendipity,” are stories of inspiration. Others catch the singer-persona in a whirlwind of emotions. In “Spin Around,” DiVincenzo yearns for a youthful love while wrestling with the distance that years bring.
As for the songwriting process, DiVincenzo’s methods continue to evolve. Her songs are organic developments of a thought or concern and the emotions, questions and possibilities they inspire. She usually starts at the guitar, singing free verse over different melodies until she is inspired. For instance, “Is it a sin if you dream it” is the lyric that begot “Sweetest Dream.”
DiVincenzo is influenced by a long list of artists, some whom she’s listened to for years (she often basks in Sunny Day Real Estate’s Diary) and some newer acts whom she admires (like Jason Mraz for his witty lyrics). When asked which songs she considers without peer, she warmly responds, “Jeff Buckley’s “Morning Theft” from Sketches. Nobody knows that song. Something in that song kills me, I want to weep. He takes me somewhere. A perfect song gets you in just one note. If a song does that, it makes me want to melt.”
Here and in Between is more than just an enigmatic album name. It captures the mature and mixed-up moments, the ambitious yet hesitant yearnings, the daily history and clean slates that come with being in your twenties. With her new album, DiVincenzo proves herself a viable candidate for the guild of singer-songwriters that includes Jackson Browne, Suzanne Vega, Josh Ritter - humble storytellers who marry a telling melody with a simple but arresting guitar line. She is a hard working musician, who deserves your shortlist of new and unforgettable songwriters.
For more information on Kim DiVincenzo, check out her website: www.kimdivincenzo.com
