About me: At four years old, Kristin began playing piano, and before long, was writing her own songs. And from there on, she never stopped, taking classical piano and voice lessons through her teenage years and then picking up the guitar somewhere along the way. Eventually music became a way of life for her. Hoffmann was accepted to the Juilliard School of Music’s pre-college program and began studying opera, secondary composition and classical composition; she became influenced by Samuel Barber and French Impressionists like Ravel. “Opera training really molded my voice into what it is today. Once you study classical voice you can go anywhere with it,” says Hoffmann, who also found inspiration in popular artists like Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel and Radiohead. She soon realized she could marry the two, creating her own unique blend of classical and contemporary music. "I got a lot more joy out of creating my own music and having it touch people. It was just an unmatchable feeling.”
After Juilliard, Kristin spent a year at NYU and her songwriting evolved as she combined her classical roots with accessible pop sensibilities. She was briefly signed to Capital Records, but ended up self-releasing her first album Divided Heart, which she not only wrote, but co-produced, engineered and recorded. All the while, Kristin continued to hone her performance skills with a residency at Café Vivaldi in Manhattan’s West Village. Along with playing some 200 shows, selling 3,000 copies of Divided Heart and securing a loyal local following, As the buzz grew louder, Kristin was discovered at Vivaldi by Interscope and soon after signed to the label.
After enlisting her longtime musical collaborator Darian Cunning, along with producer David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Tool), Kristin escaped to Longview Studios to make the album she’d always dreamed of. "I really had a very special, deep experience writing this record,” she explains of her time in the converted farmhouse studio in the middle of pretty much nowhere. In all that quiet open space, and with the help of a great piano left behind by Keith Richards, Kristin’s songs evolved with love and care.
Using her piano as a vehicle for her voice, Kristin keeps her instrumentation simple, so the gorgeous melodies and lyrics resonate with the audience on songs like “Home,” which is about finding inner-strength, “Bittersweet,” a song about choosing to follow your dreams over taking the safer path and the title-track “Real,” a song about being true to yourself.
Of her live performance, Kristin muses, “I hope to stimulate my listeners to go deeper within themselves to places they may be reluctant to go. I’ve come to realize that my greatest challenges have emerged from my mistakes, and that they were really blessings in disguise.” Through her gift for songwriting, Kristin illustrates spectacular sonic stories. "My music can reach across a lot of generations,” says Kristin of her varied audience. “Connecting to people by creating music is my contribution to the world."
.. Hi there Kristin Hoffmann first of all we'd like to say thanks for being our myspace pal. We wanted to make sure you knew the reason incase we suddenly vanish off of your friends list. The movement we've started for indie artists has grown significantly and consumes all of our time these days. We seldom sign into our myspace account and this is making several people believe that we are ignoring them. We are not ignoring anyone, we wanted everyone to know that. What we're doing has become so busy we just don't have the time for myspace any longer, so in all honesty we are probably going to just close our myspace account.
Many people wanted to use us in the future so if you were one of those people you can click the link below to visit our profile which wlil provide you with more information and also give you the link to our website! I wish you the best of luck in your music career. Thanks again for being our myspace pal.
Thanks for the add! Incase you haven't heard... we have new music & pics up on our page and much more coming. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think. Please feel free to help us out and spread the word. Feel free to post our music player on your page :)
Hey there! Just stoppin' by to wish you a great weekend!! If you get the chance please check out my new song "No Other Day" and let me know what you think!! Thanks :-)
hey! how's it going?! just wanted to let you know that i posted 2 new songs on my page. the songs are 'to get you back' and 'loud and clear'... if you get a chance, stop by and check them out!!!
If you are in the area I am releasing my new album Perfekt World in NYC at Crash Mansion on Wednesday. Also, check my page to hear some of the songs from the new album.
Just wanted to stop by your page, it's been awhile. What's new with you? I read about you and SONICA in teh last weeks IndieSounds, looks like an awesome project!
I just finished recording my 3rd release, Perfekt World, with an album release party on March 26th at Crash Mansion! Doors at 7 PM. I will also be at the Blender Theater at gramercy this Saturday night with Emerson Hart (from Tonic).
Stop by my page then and check out the new music. I would love to know what you think.
Kristin! Are you back in town?How was your trip? I just wanted to let you know that my friend Pia was soooooo happy to get the CD from you! She told me that she was listening to it all day! Thanks so much for doing this!!!! Let me know what you're up to...Oh, and did you check out the "Inside Out" video on my page? Lots of love, Charly
