Chicago Sun-Times: K.C. Clifford lives the redemption of her folk music

Saturday, February 13, 2010

You might think that the perfect place to start out as an aspiring singer-songwriter would be Nashville, epicenter of country and American roots music and a city absolutely stuffed with music industry types and other aspiring singer-songwriters. But that last part is actually the problem.

“It took three to four years to start finding out who I was as a songwriter, and Nashville, believe it or not, didn’t help,” says K.C. Clifford. “I mean, it did help to be a sponge and soak up the influence of all these amazing other songwriters. You know, as much crap as comes out of Nashville, there’s also a lot of value there and a lot to be learned. But I’m a girl with a guitar. That’s nothing new there. I felt so ordinary there. It wasn’t until I got outta town and started playing for people who were dry cleaners instead of an audience that was nothing but other songwriters that I finally started finding out who I was.” Read More…

The Oklahoman: Performer Sheds Pounds, Inhibitions

Friday, February 12, 2010

When she lost more than 100 pounds, K.C. Clifford also shed insecurities, musical boundaries, creative roadblocks — all the things that made the difference between a promising talent and a contender. With her latest disc, “Orchid,” the Oklahoma City singer-songwriter now feels free to go deeper with her sound and her subjects.

“In my writing, the walls came down across the board,” said Clifford, who will perform songs from “Orchid” during a two-night compact disc release party today and Saturday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley.

“My inhibitions kind of went out the window on some level, and I got really honest about certain parts of my heart. As deeply personal as these songs are, I think there’s a universality that I haven’t accessed before in my writing.” Read More…

Oklahoma Rock Blog: K.C. Clifford Embraces Destiny with "Orchid"

Friday, February 12, 2010

K.C. Clifford will hold a two-night album release celebration this Friday and Saturday night at the Blue Door in Oklahoma City.

Her new album, Orchid, was funded by her fans, who raised $20,000 to help with recording costs, album promotion and tour expenses through her “Become My Record Label” project.

FLASHBACK: K.C. Clifford Fans Raise $1000 for Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

As a singer/songwriter, you are a storyteller. Collectively, what kind of theme do you think prevails from the stories you tell in the songs on Orchid?

Orchid is a collection of songs about survival, the human condition and redemption, a more grown-up version of love that doesn’t come with unrealistic expectations, and the reality of death, grief and sorrow. Within those themes, Orchid also deals with social justice and hope.

I understand you have musical influences from folk, opera, country, and bluegrass artists. Can you describe how this manifests itself into your music?

Most people don’t know I fronted a punk band in Nashville called Built Like Lizzie; it wasn’t always acoustic guitars for me. I was pretty wound-up and pissed-off back then, and I loved the unleashed feeling of the genre. My punk alter-ego wore a lot of black and too much eye-liner. We recorded a 3-song demo that is rarely let out of the vault. Maybe one day I’ll do that…

My songwriting naturally mellowed as I got older. I was increasingly inclined to write acoustic-based material, and eventually found my voice as a singer-songwriter.

The female forerunners of the Americana movement are evident in my music: Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith. But I also bring some influences you wouldn’t expect. I love Karen Carpenter, Carole King and Chicago 17, bands like Over the Rhine and The Sundays, and I could listen to musical theater soundtracks all day and be happy as a clam. I am a singer, first and foremost. Because of that I have a strong appreciation for committed, no-holds-barred vocalists of multiple genres: Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, & Dusty Springfield. I love great vocalists, melodies, and lyricists. Read More…

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