It is not too often a talent comes along with such diversity. I had the honor and pleasure of speaking to Ms. Price when she took the time out of her busy schedule for an enlightening interview.

When describing her history, Kirsten says, "Well in a nutshell...I grew up in central London with my single mother. I sung in church choirs, school choirs, local choirs, medieval choirs, and gospel choirs. I was always addicted to singing. As a child my voice was always way too big for my body and I got a big kick out of shocking people with it."

I started playing the piano when I was old enough to reach it and I just sung constantly as a child. The people around me growing up were convinced of my musicianship very early on but I never took them seriously. The defining moment came in my early 20s when I realized that music had become a means of physical and psychological survival. I think most musicians will tell you that music chose them, not the other way around.

Did someone or something in your life play a major influence?

Perhaps the single most important event in my life was leaving Europe. It broadened and deepened my understanding of humanity and changed my internal landscape in so many ways.

Which major music artists have had an impact on your style?

WAY too many to mention! Prince and J. S. Bach might be a good start, in that order.

You have shared the stage with musicians such as Wycleff, Jean of the Fugees, Groove Collective and Sly & The Family Stone. What other artists have had the pleasure of your talented accompaniment?

That’s it! Not a bad list to start with though huh? I am however playing out live with a revolving cast of New York’s finest musicians and I consider myself very lucky to have the pleasure of their talented accompaniment.

Which show did you enjoy the most?

I had such a blast supporting Sly. I have to admit that I was just wetting myself to be in the same room with him. This guy is a living legend. It’s something I can look forward to telling my grand children about when I shrink to Sly’s advanced size.

How did the headline bands treat you?

Luckily the headliners that I have shared the bill with have consistently treated me with a kindness and respect that I will remember.

Who else would you like to go out and tour with?

Right now it would be my neighbor, Citizen Cope and the 2 brothers from Soulive.

What have been the highlights and low points of your career to date?

Hmm. The all-time low point was definitely signing to a major label. It’s the kiss of death at this point in the sinking history of the record business. High points come every day that I get to make music.

Could you walk through some of the tracks of your latest release, Guts and Garbage?

Sure! The tracks on Guts & Garbage are a pretty diverse bunch. I’ll run you through the first 5...

“Magic Tree” was a happy accident, the result of some ad-libs over a bossa nova beat that happened to come out like ear candy crack for the masses.

“All Right” was inspired by a re-recording of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” that I was doing for a Lee Jeans campaign. When I perform this song I am always reminded of standing around an upright piano singing with a bunch of drunken old geezers.

“Fall” was just one of many slow ballads that I have lying around collecting dust. I had recorded a gazillion different versions of it and nothing sounded right until this version.

“Crazy Beautiful” is actually a little bit of a tribute to Tina Turner. Did you see her on the Grammy’s with Beyonce? Is it me or did Tina’s legs look better?

“5 Days Old” captures the story of when I first moved from the UK the USA. I arrived in Philadelphia and took an Amtrak train all the way to San Francisco. It took 5 days, and when I arrived I slept on the beach for a couple of weeks. I know, you might not get this from listening to it. Think of it like an abstract painting.

“Freedom” is a direct response to U.S. foreign policy under the current administration. ‘Nuff said.

Can you talk about your songwriting process?

There are so many ways to approach songwriting... I wouldn’t even know where to begin. The way I write changes all of the time, but my preferred method is also the easiest. It happens when an idea just comes out of the air and sticks so hard that one simply has no choice but to let it out. Unfortunately, it requires a certain relaxed and peaceful state of mind that is hard to come by.

The melody for the chorus of “Bring Me Back” came that way. I was getting off the subway at 42nd street on my way to do a vocal session for a different track and it just popped into my head out of the blue. When I got to the studio I couldn’t stop singing it, so there it was.

What song on Guts & Garbage expresses your most emotional impact? Why?

I think “Fall” was a song with the most emotional impact from this album. I wrote it in about as much time as it took to sing it, which is pretty rare. At the time I was working on another project in a big beautiful recording studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that was filled with the most incredible old equipment from the 60s and 70s. The mixing board was a Neve console built the same year that I was born. I should have been in heaven but was in fact frustrated and stuck in a depression.

I hid away in the live room, turned off the lights, sat down at the grand piano in tears and it just came flooding out, right there and then. Afterwards I stopped being angry, I felt taller, lighter, more whole and complete. It was a fabulously cathartic experience. That song is about unconditional love and forgiveness.

How did it feel to have “Magic Tree” featured on the first episode of TV show Cashmere Mafia?

I had the exact same reaction as when it was featured on CSI and The L-Word. There is always a feeling of disorientation and suspension of belief combined with a strange little hit of pleasure when I hear my songs on T.V.

What would you like to achieve ideally five years from now?

I know it sounds like a cliché but the honest truth is that in five years from now, ideally, I would like to be doing exactly what I am doing now, only better.

Any messages for your fans?

I would like to thank my fans for being so supportive, kind and outspoken. Even if I don’t always answer them personally I read all of their comments / reviews. I LOVE hearing from my fans.

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Anne-Marie   |2008-03-19 21:17:11 What everyone stated, I could not concur more...aside from the obvious, Kirsten's about to BLAST OFF! Her multi-faceted talent that is unmatched & entirely infectious sound as well as REAL...she's got it all, a total trailblazer! Reply 0   0

Sidoriley   |2008-03-11 21:28:01 I have met Kirsten a few times and she is as amazing in person as she sounds in this interview! I am seeing her tomorrow night in the NYC. Reply 0   0

Jenni Kolb   |2008-03-11 16:14:34 I have never met Kirsten, but have communicated with her on MySpace. She is an AWESOME lady, with feel good music!! One of the few I have encountered that are still 'real' with her fans! All the best to her!! Reply 0   0

Wil Whalen   |2008-03-11 15:54:42 I saw Kirsten play in Newport RI a few weeks back. She did a solo gig with Antigone Rising. There are very few artists in this world with the amount of talent, charisma and energy she has. Buying her cd was a no brainer and it's an amazing cd. I'd sure like to see and hear more of her and less of the talentless crop on the radio now. When she was on stage she made me think of the greats like Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, etc. She commands the space like you wouldn't believe. She was even gracious enough to talk to me after the show and she gave me her guitar pic. I'll be seeing her play again in Boston in May and I can't wait. Reply 0   0

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."