Kate Devin
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
One of the many great aspects of living in New York City is that one can walk into a neighborhood music club and be treated to top notch undiscovered talent. I did just that a few weeks ago at one of the most famous of these establishments, The Bitter End. I walked into this Greenwich Village institution to see a singer who I first heard play on a subway platform years ago (a story for another post). I got there a bit early, sat at the bar, and caught enough of the previous set to become a fan of singer/songwriter/pianist Kate Devin. When her set was over, I picked up her EP, “Drown,” and have been hooked on it ever since.
The style – think Norah Jones, with a little more oomph – is not the type I usually listen to, but the recording captures the same passion and energy of Ms. Devin’s live performance. The result is a dark, emotional six-song, 25-minute production that sucks you in and doesn’t let go.
The title track is gloomy and passionate, with a simple piano intro that spirals downward (in a good way), much like the mood, once the heavy drums hit. The standout track is “How Nice,” which flips the concept of “what if” longing on its head. Instead of pining after some object of affection, the song, with its pleasant mid-tempo beat, asks said object if they think of the singer, or long to be with her, wondering what she would be like if they had the opportunity. Other highlights include “Hold on Me,” a slow and aching ode to a one night stand, and “Torn,” a sexy ballad about choosing between two lovers. This is not to say that the remaining songs, “What Coulda Been” and “Please Don’t Say Goodbye” are not good, the others are just better.
Here’s hoping this talent doesn’t stay undiscovered for long. - Ronn Blitzer
Discography
Drown - EP (2010)
Photos
Bio
Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Kate Devin traded in the rural life for city life in 2003 moving to New York City with only her keyboard and a few other belongings. For several years she sang open mics with various funk/soul acts, drawing inspiration from them to create her own unique style of soul infused music. She honed her songwriting skills by collaborating with other like-minded songwriters and producers, and in 2008 began to write and produce her debut, Drown, an EP of six songs. Drown was released in November 2010 and can be bought on CDBaby, Itunes, and Rhapsody, among other digital distribution sites. She has been tackling the live music scene on the streets of New York, most recently performing at Spike Hill, Rockwood Music Hall, The Living Room, The Bitter End, and The National Underground just to name a few. In March 2011, she was nominated as one of Indie-Music.com’s Top 25 New and Notable Artists.
A singer and pianist since the age of five, Devin offers a sound rooted in traditional and contemporary soul with pop and bluesy melodies and dynamic, powerful vocals. Based in the belief that no aspect of performance can be anything less than sensational, Devin is committed to delivering music which satisfies the auditory as much as the emotional. Whether through live performance or studio recordings, she seeks to ensure that each and every public presentation is enough to both command and enchant an audience of any size or demographic.
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