Corinne McKnight

Corinne McKnight may only be 15, but her voice and lyrics testify that she is an old soul when it comes to music. Receiving training in piano, guitar, and voice, McKnight was ripe to perform from the age of eight. After cutting her teeth on musical theater and several bands, McKnight went to Nashville, where she worked with songwriters such as major TV network composer David Harper, Karen Staley (Faith Hill, Leann Rimes), and CJ Watson and Marty Brown (Tracy Bird). Three of these songs made it on a demo released independently in 2010.

As the lead singer of Modern Mod, McKnight won hearts and ears performing at many local venues, and Rich Albertoni of the Isthmus invited readers to “hear the commanding vocals of lead singer, Corinne McKnight.” Since leaving the band to pursue a solo career, McKnight has won two Madison Songwriters Guild singer-songwriter showdowns, and her song “Natural” placed second in the Midwest Song Contest’s “Americana” category. She was also named Artist of the Month on Damn Good Tunes, who praised McKnight’s “fresh unpretentious voice.” McKnight has performed at the High Noon Saloon, Erin’s Snug Pub, Brink Lounge, Tuvala Coffee House and just about any place else you could think to hear music in Madison.

Now McKnight is gearing up to release Surprised Me, her full-length debut, on Over the Well Records. This record places McKnight’s vocals front and center where they shine with energy and passion. An easy country-pop sensibility adorns her voice, already earning her comparisons to artists like Taylor Swift and Kasey Chambers. Her lyrics are tender and universal, involving themes of love and self-discovery. Lead track “Glad That You’re Around” is a swinging love song featuring the line “I freeze like a brain-dead zombie.” A hopeful yearning permeates “That’s The Boy,” which finds McKnight singing “That’s the boy I’m dreaming of / so much more then just a crush.” McKnight is backed by accomplished musicians like Dan Kennedy (Mark Croft, Charles Walker, Kennedy & Curl) on guitar; Michael Brenneis (Centine, Tomato Box, SSTparty) on drums; Sean Michael Dargan on bass; and Nashville’s own Kurt Baumer (Lone Star, Dale Watson) on violin.

Surprised Me is out October 23 on Over the Well Records and will be available everywhere fine records are sold.