Kim Virant
If you were a rock fan in Seattle in the early nineties you were a fan of Kim Virant and her band, Lazy Susan. With their Stonesy double guitar stomp and Kim’s charismatic vocals, Lazy Susan ruled the club scene, working their way from small venues to routinely selling out 1000 person capacity rooms. Local Seattle rock radio stations KISW and KXRX played Lazy Susan’s first locally released album, Twang, and soon the labels were calling. Kim and Lazy Susan found themselves closing in on a deal with Hollywood Records but sadly the deal blew up and it was time for Kim to move on.
Kim soon launched a solo career that picked up where Lazy Susan left off. Her two records focused on an Alternative-Country/rootsy guitar-based sound. Through the late nineties Kim and her band played a long list of killer shows including opening for Page/Plant, Pearl Jam, and John Doe. In 2003, Kim decided it was time for a change and began working with local producer and recording artist Pete Droge (If you Don’t Love Me (I’ll Kill Myself)/The Thorns). Kim and Pete recorded a 4 song EP that put Kim’s voice in the center of great songs and sparse arrangements. The collaboration was a major springboard for Kim and she soon contacted producer Jonathan Plum (Brandi Carlile, Mary Lambert, Pearl Jam) about doing a full-length record. Recorded over 3 years, mainly at London Bridge studio in Seattle, Songs from a Small House, released in 2007, continued Kim’s journey from rock frontwoman to singer/songwriter.
On January 20th, 2014, Kim released her first single for London Tone Music, a powerful, anthemic, roots-rock ballad, co-written by Kim and Bryan Cohen of Radio Raheem. Producer Jonathan Plum, is once again at the helm, with modern production that perfectly showcases Kim’s earthy powerhouse vocals and introspective lyrics. Sometimes compared with Stevie Nicks, and sometimes Natalie Merchant, Kim’s voice has evolved into a compelling instrument that always takes center stage.
