Album Notes

What happens when a Maine girl schooled on Linda Ronstadt, 80's rock, and early blues gets a degree in finance then decides to join a band and write songs? You end up with the soulful, sensual and intelligent independent release, She Really Is, from Kirsten Thien.

From her early days growing up in southern Maine, Kirsten performed frequently, often gravitating toward songs from Linda Ronstadt's Greatest Hits and getting her father to back her up on the acoustic guitarsoul and rock music, Kirsten's talent and potential as a vibrant and alluring performer emerged and the calling to the world of music became undeniable.

Just before graduation, Kirsten was spotted by a member of the Federal Focus Jazz Band, and was invited to be the first vocalist for this D.C.-based band featuring New Orleans-style Jazz and Blues. This being her first real exposure to jazz and blues, Kirsten found a whole new well of musical influence and inspiration. So after graduation-instead of taking a job on Wall Street-she continued to front Federal Focus and also took a job as lead singer in a D.C. rock band.

Now New York City-based, Kirsten released her debut LP with a kick-off party featuring her all-star band at the legendary Bitter End in New York City. Compared to today's gutsy pop artists like Nelly Furtado, Sheryl Crow and Norah Jones, Kirsten's songs, voice and performances are unique, powerful, and thoroughly satisfying.

Kirsten's debut, She Really Is, began as a demo project as she embarked on her solo career. She enlisted the help of veteran producer and fellow Mainer, Con Fullam of Maine Radio and Television. Less than a year later they had finished the impressive full-length album, She Really Is. Sounding more like a label effort than an independent release, She Really Is features, among others, prominent New York area musicians Ira Siegel (Jewel, Madonna) and Frank Vilardi (Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin).

"The payoff for me as an independent artist and performer comes every time someone tells me they keep this album in their car or CD changer next to major-label purchases and they listen to my album all the time," says Kirsten. "That just tells me we've really reached people with these songs-that my job is to keep writing and performing so I can somehow enhance the lives of more and more listeners."

Kirsten's song 'She Really Is a Rock Star' was chosen for its energetic, catchy thematic tie-in to the off-Broadway modern dance and music production "RockStars NYC." In addition, Kirsten's performances in New York and beyond have drawn in new listeners who crave grooving, soulful pop/rock with lyrics they can relate to-that mean something to them.


Produced by Con Fullam of Maine Radio and Television, "She Really Is" features prominent New York City musicians Ira Siegal (guitarist - Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Jewel); Frank Vilardi (drummer - Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin); Seth Glassman (bassist - Cyndi Lauper, Bonnie Tyler); and Irwin Fisch (keyboardist - Emmy nominated soundtrack composer).