Diane Birch: An Introduction

For my school's paper, The Saint, I often contribute to the "artist spotlight" section, a great addition to the culture page that the section's editor implemented about a year ago.  The section has introduced readers to many talented artist they are unfamiliar with, and I have found some new favorites by reading articles others have written for the section.  For the upcoming issue, I am working on a spotlight for Diane Birch, an artist I discovered last year via Pandora.  I was listening to a station based on the music of Carole King, with Joss Stone and Adele added in for some variety, and Birch's song "Fools" (which I believe I have already included in a previous post) just absolutely blew my mind.  I bought the album it's from, Bible Belt, and it passed the acid test, playing on repeat in my car for weeks.  After a three year wait, Birch's sophomore album will be released on October 15th and is currently streaming here.  The following is an excerpt from the upcoming article.  I sure hope you'll all give the album a listen, because it really has something for everybody.

Artist Spotlight: Diane Birch

“My goal is to make people dance and cry,” proclaimed Diane Birch in a recent interview with Philthy magazine.  The singer-songwriter’s latest effort is Speak a Little Louder, released on October 15, is certainly capable of realizing such an audacious desire.  The album follows a nearly three year break following 2010’s Bible Belt, a piano driven collection of pop songs inspired by classical music and Birch’s globetrotting childhood as the daughter of a missionary preacher. 

image: amazon.com

Birch learned to play piano by ear at the age of seven as a student of the world renowned Suzuki method, and she’s been developing unique vocal trademarks since then.  Showcasing a voice that slings power and pain across stylistic and temporal boundaries, Birch’s songs encompass all of the breezy joy and yearning of historical pop hits along with lyrical heft and musicality to rival proven greats like Carole King and Adele.  Birch's music is immediate and heartfelt, avoiding the chronic detachment that plagues many trendy songwriters and indie bands. 

Originally intending to compose film scores, Birch, a Michigan native, was discovered in 2006 at the age of 23 by the one and only Prince at a piano bar in the Beverly Hills Hotel.  An impromptu jam session with the cultural icon opened the door for Birch to pursue singing as a full time career.

Bible Belt, regardless of overt religious undertones in the title, was intended as an expression of freedom from the restraints of externally imposed spirituality.  Birch’s debut introduced the world to a singer with genre-bending capabilities and the potential to expand into jazz, soul, dance, and rock. Arrangements on that album are sparse and cohesive, featuring Birch pounding out retro tinged songs on an antique Wurlitzer piano.  “Rewind” was exquisitely reworked by English rapper Devlin, becoming a top ten hit in the United Kingdom.

image: flashwounds.com

Speak a Little Louder solidifies the artist’s nature as a fearless experimenter who is constantly evolving.  It’s hard to imagine skipping a single track because each song is brought to complete fruition with a wider palette of instruments to paint with.  Additional electronics are implemented to crystallize Birch’s visions.   The standout track, “Frozen Over,” includes percussion reminiscent of the late ‘80s Stevie Nicks song “I Can’t Wait,” and indie-tinged rocker “Lighthouse” sounds like a supercharged Florence + the Machine ballad.  Prince’s influence can be heard on “Love and War,” an irresistibly hook-driven torch song.  The album is surely one of 2013’s best.