Edinburgh-based singer/songwriter Kim Edgar released her debut album, butterflies and broken glass, on 25th February 2008.
It’s no surprise that Kim describes the album as a set of short stories, rather than songs, with a collection of children’s stories and a degree in English Language & Literature under her belt:
“I hope that these stories about the everyday, in its beauty and its broken-ness, will tell a familiar story to many people - to those who have observed acts of kindness as well as acts of cruelty, and those who find hope in life’s details.”
Growing up with a love of words and music, Kim read avidly and studied classical piano and music theory from an early age.
But her passion for the writing of Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos and Suzanne Vega led her away from classical music into writing and performing her own songs, which have been described as “strangely uplifting, despite the well-phrased, sombre lyrics” and “a comfort blanket for the disillusioned soul.”
A warm and engaging live performer who “positively smoulders” on stage, Kim has been performing to wider audiences since
Burnsong, a Scottish search for new song-writing talent, brought to attention her ability to distill emotions into thoughtful, compelling songs.
After being selected as one of 17 winning unsigned songwriters from over 800 submissions, Kim was invited to take part in a week-long Songhouse in 2006, collaborating with Chris Difford, Karine Polwart, Michael Johnston, Emma Pollock, Sushil K Dade, MC Soom T, and King Creosote.
“It was a dream come true,” says Kim, “to have this chance to collaborate with such accomplished songwriters during a focused, stimulating week in beautiful surroundings.”
Karine Polwart performed her collaboration with Kim, “One, Two, Three, Four, Five” as a duet with Paolo Nutini on the Hogmanay Show 2006 (BBC Scotland), and invited Kim to record piano arrangements of two Scots ballads for her recent traditional album, The Fairest Floo’er.
Mattie Foulds, Karine’s producer, offered to produce Kim’s own album, and the Scottish Arts Council supported the project with a creative development grant. “butterflies and broken glass” features songwriting collaborations with Sushil K Dade, Chris Difford and Emma Pollock, as well as musical support from Karine and her band.
With recent live performances at UK festivals including Celtic Connections, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Big In Falkirk, The Two Rivers Folk Festival and Buxton Festival Fringe, and live sessions on BBC Radio Scotland, Kim’s songs are attracting positive media attention, including a five star review for her album from Norman Chalmers (Scotland On Sunday), album of the week from Iain Anderson (w/c 10 March 2008) and airplay from Janice Forsyth and Tom Morton (BBC Radio Scotland).
Other UK stations including SIBC, Real Radio, BBC Radio Tees, Leith FM and ETC FM are championing Kim’s music, and Radio 2 recently selected Kim as a finalist from over 2000 songwriters to participate in the Radio 2 New Songwriters Academy 2008.
Kim performed at Showcase Scotland as part of Celtic Connections on 25th January 2008, and at the Folk Alliance in Memphis Tennessee from 20 – 24th February 2008. The album launch party took place on 22nd March in The Lot, Edinburgh, and was followed by a tour support for Karine Polwart in April and a Tune Up Tour with her fellow Burnsong collaborators in May 2008.
It’s no surprise that Kim describes the album as a set of short stories, rather than songs, with a collection of children’s stories and a degree in English Language & Literature under her belt:
“I hope that these stories about the everyday, in its beauty and its broken-ness, will tell a familiar story to many people - to those who have observed acts of kindness as well as acts of cruelty, and those who find hope in life’s details.”
Growing up with a love of words and music, Kim read avidly and studied classical piano and music theory from an early age.
But her passion for the writing of Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos and Suzanne Vega led her away from classical music into writing and performing her own songs, which have been described as “strangely uplifting, despite the well-phrased, sombre lyrics” and “a comfort blanket for the disillusioned soul.”
A warm and engaging live performer who “positively smoulders” on stage, Kim has been performing to wider audiences since
Burnsong, a Scottish search for new song-writing talent, brought to attention her ability to distill emotions into thoughtful, compelling songs.
After being selected as one of 17 winning unsigned songwriters from over 800 submissions, Kim was invited to take part in a week-long Songhouse in 2006, collaborating with Chris Difford, Karine Polwart, Michael Johnston, Emma Pollock, Sushil K Dade, MC Soom T, and King Creosote.
“It was a dream come true,” says Kim, “to have this chance to collaborate with such accomplished songwriters during a focused, stimulating week in beautiful surroundings.”
Karine Polwart performed her collaboration with Kim, “One, Two, Three, Four, Five” as a duet with Paolo Nutini on the Hogmanay Show 2006 (BBC Scotland), and invited Kim to record piano arrangements of two Scots ballads for her recent traditional album, The Fairest Floo’er.
Mattie Foulds, Karine’s producer, offered to produce Kim’s own album, and the Scottish Arts Council supported the project with a creative development grant. “butterflies and broken glass” features songwriting collaborations with Sushil K Dade, Chris Difford and Emma Pollock, as well as musical support from Karine and her band.
With recent live performances at UK festivals including Celtic Connections, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Big In Falkirk, The Two Rivers Folk Festival and Buxton Festival Fringe, and live sessions on BBC Radio Scotland, Kim’s songs are attracting positive media attention, including a five star review for her album from Norman Chalmers (Scotland On Sunday), album of the week from Iain Anderson (w/c 10 March 2008) and airplay from Janice Forsyth and Tom Morton (BBC Radio Scotland).
Other UK stations including SIBC, Real Radio, BBC Radio Tees, Leith FM and ETC FM are championing Kim’s music, and Radio 2 recently selected Kim as a finalist from over 2000 songwriters to participate in the Radio 2 New Songwriters Academy 2008.
Kim performed at Showcase Scotland as part of Celtic Connections on 25th January 2008, and at the Folk Alliance in Memphis Tennessee from 20 – 24th February 2008. The album launch party took place on 22nd March in The Lot, Edinburgh, and was followed by a tour support for Karine Polwart in April and a Tune Up Tour with her fellow Burnsong collaborators in May 2008.
Female vocalists