Known for her smart, emotive writing, Kristin tackled this new batch of songs with the help of a dozen special guests (Aoife O’Donovan, The Punch Brothers’ Chris Eldridge & Paul Kowert, Jefferson Hamer and Cuddle Magic’s Alec Spiegelman, to name a few). These lyrically and instrumentally rich arrangements explore secret passageways connecting the outer edges of disparate notions – urban and rural, childhood and old age, expectation and reality.
Before embarking on her solo journey, Kristin toured the world with her stringband Uncle Earl (with Abigail Washburn, Rayna Gellert & KC Groves); with the "folk noir" trio Sometymes Why (with Aoife O'Donovan & Ruth Ungar); and as a clogger with Maryland's Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble. Along the way, she's performed and recorded alongside such maverick talents as John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Dirk Powell (Joan Baez, Cold Mountain), the Portland band Black Prairie and New York indie icons Lucius, Dawn Landes, Son Lux and Jeffrey Lewis.
Her first solo album, a collection of kitchen recordings called Kiss Me Hello, kicks off with the award-winning "Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes," which won the John Lennon Song Contest and earned her a featured spot on NPR's A Prairie Home Companion. The "Crayola" song has been covered by dozens of diverse artists ranging from Tyne Daly to more than one high school marching band.
In 2011, Kristin co-founded Miles of Music together with fiddler/songwriter Laura Cortese. Miles of Music hosts a series of annual artist retreats for all ages in New Hampshire, Brooklyn and Boston. Over 250 people attend Miles of Music events annually, taking class with many of the leading names in both traditional and modern folk music.
Kristin is an in-demand square dance caller for private events and festival stages. She especially loves playing events where she gets to both perform her own music and call squares with a great old time band!
Reviews for Gondolier:
"Inventive" – The New Yorker
"Sublime. Like a watercolor painting set to music." – The Boston Globe
"It's the clash of urban and rural imagery that raises this album above other contemporary indie-folk." – R2 Magazine (UK)
“Ethereal folk tunes, jangly Americana and indie-heavy pop... Gondolier is nothing short of a stunning collection of songs.” – The Bluegrass Situation
"The artist at her most beautiful and intricate, showcasing her immense understanding
of how a folk song should sound and be arranged." – Diffuser.fm
"Clever, well-penned lyrics. The vocal sound... is enormous and almost otherworldly." – Exclaim! (Canada)
“A beautiful collection of songs.” – UTNE Reader
"Elegantly understated acoustic pop... as catchy as anything out there.” – Raleigh News & Observer
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