Kirsten DeHaan :: New York City Independent Musician

Last June we championed Kirsten DeHaan as “the next big thing”. If this sounds like a blind exageration levied solely to promote a Grooveshark artist, then you obviously haven’t heard DeHaan’s music. Compared in the press to such heavyweights as u2, Nirvana, and Belly, DeHaan has delivered music that serves as welcome reprieve from the soulless, calculated pop music released by her contemporaries.

Like a young Deborah Harry, DeHaan conveys a sense of relentless passion in every one of her songs. It is this same kind of passion that inspired DeHaan to self-promote her music to MTV and begin a series of indie rock shows in New York City. Her fanbase grows steadily with each passing day, so much so that she recently reached the milestone of having her songs downloaded over a million times on various websites.

Fundamentally, what seperates Kirsten DeHaan from similar artists is that her songs are believable. Her new EP Under The Richter Scale is a revelation, a proverbial shot in the arm for a stagnant genre. The poignancy of her lyrics, her gritty delivery, and an incredible backing band ranks Under The Richter Scale in the upper echelon of 2007 releases. DeHaan is steadfast in her belief that an artist has a responsibility when creating music and it is evident throughout her music. When other artists sing about current events they often sound contrived and uninspired. When Kirsten DeHaan does it, you believe her.

I sat down with Kirsten to discuss her new album, her incredible philanthropic work, and her future plans. The transcript is below…

Grooveshark: You’re From Indiana and now you’re extremely involved with the indie rock scene in New York City. How did you happen to end up in NYC?

Kirsten: Well, my family is originally from Germany. I did my undergrad work Texas and I actually majored in communications, not music. Then about 6 weeks before 9/11, I sold my car and moved to New York City.

Kirsten: Well, I had been working odd jobs around the city. I worked at Fox 5 at one point, and then the night before 9/11 I got a job working tablesin the village. I actually lived 10 blocks from the crash site. It was indescribable. It was a huge challenge…we had lots of security and tanks on the street. It did however make a lot of people in New York come together. New Yorkers were actually being nice to each other for once.

Grooveshark: I was going to ask this later, but now might be a better time. The songs on the new EP, specifically “Russian Roulette” suggest you’re trying to impart some opinions that are really important to you. Specifically opinions involving politics.

Kirsten: Absolutely. I started playing guitar when I was 8 and began writing soon thereafter. I remember listening to John Cougar Mellencamp on my Fischer Price recorder. Music is all I know. I don’t write music for entertainment. I think a lot of people in this country have been asleep for a long time. Hopefully I can make them dance, have a good time, and think about what it is they’re doing and what their country is doing. I want to do anything I can do to help, which is why I do webcasts for the soldiers in Iraq. They’re 15-20 minute webcasts, the soldiers wake up really early and hear it and hopefully it makes them happy. They’ve all been really supportive of my music, and if I can make them happy then it’s a great feeling. We’ve all become so distracted by everything that we need to lift our heads up and see what is really going on.

Kirsten: Well, I do the 15-20 minute webcasts. I also try and play as many shows for non profit organizations as I can. My main focus is on the soldiers and their families, just trying to reassure them. I actually tried to do a tour in Iraq for the soldiers, but the Pentagon never got back to me. There are so many channels and different levels of permission that you need to go there.

Grooveshark: You started your own label(SirLady). Is it difficult juggling the responsibilities that accompany running a label with being a performing artist?

Kirsten: Today it’s really hard. I teach guitar instruction as well as doing some consulting work. I think the music industry is at a crossroads. The concept of the contract is passe and doesn’t really benefit the artist anymore. If the artist isn’t taken care of, then how can they deliver truthful music? When you sign a contract, you’re really limited.

Grooveshark: You get compared to a lot of people, most notably Nirvana, u2, and Belly. Is this sound something you conciously aspire to imitate, or do you have other influences that are more important to you?

Kirsten:(laughs)…Conciously? I really like Fleetwood Mac. I just love the whole dynamnic of that band. Stevie Nicks really goes out on a limb. Female artists today really seem to stay in their niche and I wish they would stay true to themselves. The Britney Spears’ of the world are the result of these massive corporations. It’s hard to find girls who really rock now. They don’t really discuss what’s really important today. My music is asking people to ask “What’s really going on?” Sure, there are bands like Green Day that try and be active, but it’s not like years ago when you had bands like CCR really reaching out to people. An artists job is to try and communicate with people, and I really wish we had more of that today.

Grooveshark: Switching gears, your song “Commotion”(from the album Conform) was featured on the MTV show “Made”. Did you ever have a moment when you were watching tv and that song came on unexpectedly?

Kirsten: Well, I promoted the single to about 500 different radio stations around the country and they were really responsive. The majority of the stations picked it up which doesn’t really happen these days. I did a lot of radio tours. It was really great doing an interview on the station, leaving, and then sitting in my car only to hear my song. It was a huge breakthrough.

Kirsten: I was noticing that all of these indie bands in New York were competing for the same thing. The New York City Indie Rock Launch is a convergence of all of the best indie bands in New York. The first one sold out immediately and was a huge success. I teamed up with a local club, we promoted tirelessly and within 3 months we were being covered by sattelite radio, PBS, and Time Out Magazine. The bands all loved it. There was no competition, it was just getting together and playing music. It consisted of the best indie New York bands trying to impart what they stood for.

Grooveshark: That sounds great. What are your future plans? Under the Richter Scale is an ep, any chance of a full length album in the near future?

Kirsten: Absolutely. I’ve already written about 12-15 songs and I’m anxious to get into the studio. This one is going to get back to my roots…think Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen…just really rock and roll oriented. I’d like to get more involved with other bands and companies like Grooveshark…sort of like an assimilation of a really cool team. I’m going to be more involved with licensing and begin another tour.

You can download Kirsten’s ep Under the Richter Scale on Grooveshark. She is also doing several shows in New York City, and I’ve listed the dates below. Thanks to Kirsten for taking the time to talk with us, and we hope you enjoy her music as much as we do. You can learn more about her at her website…

Club Midway - NYC - 25 Ave B
Thurs. Nov.8th - 9pm
Thurs. Nov. 29th - 9pm
Thurs. Dec. 13th -9pm

NEW REVIEW::: OCT. 20th - REVIEWER MAG

Kirsten DeHaan Under the Richter Scale [EP] and Conform [LP]
With an artist like Kirsten DeHaan, it is especially unfortunate that the press needs to pigeonhole a musician’s sound. Case in point: she’s been billed as a “new punked-out Blondie,” (?!) she’s been compared the likes of U2 and Nirvana, and she’s been classified as “indie.” While she clearly draws on her influences, it is this reviewer’s opinion that the comparisons range from misleading to downright offensive. Luckily, you can visit MySpace, sample a few songs and decide for yourself. If Kirsten DeHaan makes the kind of music you might be into… well, know that she does it really, really well. For the iPod culture: All three tracks from Under the Richter Scale are a safe bet. [kirstendehaan.com]

OUT AND ABOUT IN NYC: DeHaan, is a nineties-style punk-pop dynamo. Her new 3-song EP is drawing comparisons to Belly and U2, which is fair enough, but her live set is rawer and more punked out. This dualism may simply be in the nature of the pretty, driven, biker-haired Indianan-turned-New Yorker, or it may be smartly planned - or both. In any case, it makes her recorded music potentially radio-friendly in more than one circuit - grown up Gen-Xers, college rock, maybe even the Avril LaTween set. A combination of talent, personal intensity and looks might soon turn Kirsten DeHaan into a major indie player... Jon Sobel Blog Critic

Kirsten's lastest work from 'Under The Richter Scale' recently aired on MTV's 'My Sweet Sixteen' & 'Made'.

MUSIC NOW HEARD ON i-Podcasts:
Click here to listen to Kirsten's single 'The Money Sinner'
i-podcast on www.live365.com/stations/aamedia.
It will be featured on their "Up And Coming" show, daily between 8 PM and 8 AM (EST). It will also play along with major label artists during "Rock-It Radio" between 2 PM and 8 PM.

Kirsten's album 'Conform' is listed as one of the top record 's for August click here to see it listed on FreshMusicFarm.com

RECENT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INCLUDE:

Soul Shine Magazine - Jaclyn Arndt
If a person were to judge Kirsten DeHaan's debut album by its cover, as people are apt to do, they might think she's in line to become the next Sarah McLachlan. This is another of life's examples of why we shouldn't do such things. DeHaan named her album "Conform'" for a reason, but it isn't because that's what she does. While her clean-cut look would suggest otherwise, DeHaan fits better among the ranks of Fiona Apple or early Liz Phair than syrupy songstresses. Often compared to Janis Joplin, the NYC singer/songwriter does have moments when she throws down the Joplin grit, but more often than not her vocals lean towards the softer, more accessible side of things. Angry guitars and angsty lyrics pop DeHaan out of the stereotypical female singer/songwriter mould, and slower ballads like "Breakthrough" and "Apologies" bar her from an "angry rock chic" title.

KWEEVAK
Kirsten DeHaan is a singer, songwriter and the president of her own label. DeHaan currently resides in New York City overseeing her career and related projects such Indie Rock Launch a live showcase of local, indie musicians. Her inspirations include Stevie Nicks, Belly, Dave Matthews and others. Kirsten magically melds these classic influences into her own unique, modern blend of pop rock. Pop might be too light of a word to describe DeHaan's music as she writes insightful, compelling songs that are executed with fervor. Kirsten has a wide, vocal range layered over imaginative rhythm and chord combinations. DeHaan has a talented band that contributes traditional rock instruments along with the clarinet, the organ, a vox and a Wurlitzer. Kirsten's ten-track debut spans a diversity of styles from danceable to reflective. The opening track, 'The Money Sinner' features three guitars flowing over a catchy beat and other hip sound effects. Kirsten richly sings about ruthlessness perhaps referring to the music industry. 'The Cycle' has edgy, dueling guitars and soaring solos layered over a driving beat. DeHaan's vocals are deep and dark yet moving high in the octave range. 'Commotion' is another strong rocker utilizing the winning format presented in 'The Cycle'. Kirsten is a commanding vocalist and Conform rises above the norm!

Panartist - Sean London
"This predictability is actually rather refreshing because the album delivers on its promise, unlike many freshman albums in 2005. Kirsten's unassuming and gentle, but her songs are so melodic and rocky they easily work their way into the subconscious, and the records are well-crafted enough to be engaging on repeated plays."

Title Awards from Garageband.com
#16 Best Female Vocals in Pop/Rock, all-time
Best Female Vocals in Pop/Rock, week of 14Jun2004
Most Original in Pop/Rock, week of 31May2004

Statement from Shut Eye Records – A&R Ryan Hoffer
“Contrary to what its contemplative title might suggest, 'Conform' boasts a fresh perspective on the pop/rock genre. From the acquiescent tone of "The Money Sinner" to the cathartic yearnings of "Push", this album is a powerful exploration of the human condition”.

Splendid - Mike Meginnis
"There's a distinctly sexual ache in her voice -- a miniscule quaver that does strange things to my insides. In spite of all the unflattering associations Conform unearths, I can't help but love it."

Woman Rock Magazine - 7records.com
Hugely original, it's DeHaan's voice that throws a happy wrench in the well-crafted pop songs she sings. She's a sweeter hybrid of Shirley Manson and fellow WOMANROCKer Julia Darling. "Floating" features chord changes inspired by John Mayer, and rhythms have the polish of a major label production while melodies remain a little more un-tucked and artful.

Collected Sounds - Amy Lotsberg
"Kirsten DeHaan's voice has been compared to Janis Joplin in more than one instance, but I'm afraid I don't see it. To me, Joplin's voice is grating (I know, hate me if you must) where Kirsten's is much more pleasing. It has a much softer feel yet is still gutsy. Reminds me more of Tanya Donnelly.
The music itself is in the same vein as Donnelly and Belly, but also has a harder edge at times. After listening to "On Our Own" I found myself humming "Malibu" by Hole so something in my subconscious put those two together."

Musical Discoveries - Russell Elliot
"Each song seems to have a standout value, with its varied rhythms and vocal beauty. Kirsten seems to raise the bar with each song, and the result is one of excitement and wanting more. This ten track album has a distinctive sound and Kirsten's talents shine through."

2 Walls Webzine - Brendon McCullin
"The discs 10 songs play well off each other, maintaining a consistent level of proficiency throughout. The albums standout cut, “The Money Sinner,” with it’s layered sound and tunefulness opens the disc with a burst. The songs mantra of “It doesn’t really matter” bounces around your head long afterwards, but also addresses the frustration of dealing with the prepackaged nature of the music business in it’s current state. “Push” builds a pretty melody around a message of searching for hope among desperation. On other songs like “Apologies” and “Saved,” Ms. Dehaan puts her gift for dulcet tones to good use while exploring the familiar terrain of trying to figure out love and relationships."

Nights and Weekends - Christine Casoli
DeHaan’s style is reminiscent of Edie Brickell's, and her distinctive sound combines indie rock with a bit of a country accent. "Saved" is upbeat and features some lovely guitar stylings. "Commotion" is a great track for dancing. A couple of the slower tracks, "Breakthrough" and "Apologies," are soft and melodic. Most of the songs on this disc are very danceable, with some wonderful guitar solos woven throughout. The mix is heavy on the bass line and the vocals are nothing short of spectacular. The lyrics speak with simple eloquence of love, heartbreak, ambition and passion."

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