There are two elements that create a truly great
musician – talent and passion. Kim Richards is a truly great musician. Listeners
quickly become aware of her talent. Her effortless fingerpicking style, amazing
vocal range and soothing voice are testimonies to
the years of diverse musicianship that Kim carries with her. Her keen ability to
create poignant harmonies has remained one of her greatest talents and her
lyrics are striking, yet simple.
But the true breath of life that Kim
gives to her musical creations is in her passion and love of music. Even as a
small child, Kim could be found singing harmony and playing the piano with her
twin sister or putting on shows for the family. For Kim, music was not merely a
collaboration of sounds, but a medium to transcend to new places. Kim’s favorite
retreat has always been to music. She once gave instructions to her daughter on
what to do should she grow old and incapable. She told her “make sure there is
music playing. I must always have music.”
Kim can testify to much
diversity in her musical career. Her past has shown her directing children's
choirs and teenage music groups, touring a’capella in professional singing
groups, and at one point, even sporting a Mohawk as the lead singer and bass
player in a rock band. But it wasn't until Kim recent years that she began to
fully engage in the creativity of songwriting. Years of self-discovery and life
lessons finally unraveled into the tangible and intimate sounds that became her
songs. As she began to soften into her authentic self, she allowed the songs of
her heart to come forth.
Songs are written by their authors but once they
are created, they become individual experiences to be had by the listener. Kim’s
music is eloquent and touches upon real life experiences, but she releases them
into the world, through her vision, her voice, her talent, and knows that they
no longer belong to her…they belong to the ears and imagination of each
individual listener. The journey that led to the music was her life journey, and
just as all life journeys go, there are places along the way where we find
connection. For Kim, she offers music.
