"A poignant songstress hinged on the synergy of Klim's vocals and piano. No doubt a true pianist, Klim imbues a quiet, soulful radiance that is steadfast in her chilling soprano and tight arrangement. And just when Klim cajoles listeners with her crippling fragility, she is able to shatter it, sweep the pieces under her piano bench, and crown it with a rascally wink."
Aaron Jenkins - The Mercury (Pottsville, PA)

"Kate Klim might be the new Carole King. There I said it. Not just because she writes and performs her songs on the piano, but because her songs show wisdom beyond their years, drawing on experiences from her personal life, but expanding those lessons to include a broader view on the meaning of relationships and people in our lives. They're not just about her, they're about all of us, and one has to wonder, how does this kind of insight come to someone so young? Carole Kings songs have been around or years. I'm betting Kates will be too."
-Crit Harmon, Producer (Martin Sexton, Mary Gauthier, Lori McKenna)

"Kate Klim has been striving for success all her life it seems. In her younger years, it was movie stardom she aspired towards, but an unfortunate audition for the forgettable Michael J. Fox comedy Life with Mikey at age 11 seemed to put the validity of Kate’s desires into question. Poor, young, downtrodden Kate Klim had to seriously rethink those dreams, and the result was a brutal realization that they may not be the best course of action.

No matter. Kate may have given up on those marquee idol dreams at that tender age, but lucky for her (and the WERS audience at large), she turned to music to achieve the success she has always wanted. The title of her new album—her first professionally produced, self-released unit of work—seems to reflect this sense of resilience in Kate: Up and Down and Up Again.

The fact that the album is beautifully produced and soulfully performed by Ms. Klim is worth noting—Kate’s piano in particular sounds like its singing its own vocal line—but it’s essentially beside the point. What is more important is the fact that these 11 songs certainly represent something to the artist, and they most definitely represent something to the people who hear them. Kate’s easy-going combination of modern folk and soulful pop has been turning heads for the past several years. Phrases like “new face”, “rising star”, and even the title “Best of Boston” have been thrown around since Kate decided to pour her heart out on record instead of film.

She was surrounded by music all her life: At the age of five (virtual light years before that aforementioned audition), Kate’s family got a piano, and she began receiving lessons soon after. Her family relocated a few times, from the Midwest to the East Coast, Kate relying all the while on a steady diet of Carole King, Paul Simon, and later on, contemporaries like Patty Griffin, Jonatha Brooke, and Sarah Maclachlan.

This reliance on music certainly paid off for Kate. Up and Down and Up Again contains the heartfelt, infectious melodies reminiscent of Kate’s predecessors, combined with the artist’s own story. Her voice, vulnerable but strong in its conviction, combines with the soft melodies created by her spare backing band. It culminates into a primal, earnest cry for the basic resilience of the human spirit. And it’s catchier than anything you’re liable to hear anywhere else. Kate Klim has found the success she has strived for since childhood, and now only in her mid-20’s, she still has plenty more to offer."
-WERS 88.9FM, Boston


The Siren Six:

What inspires you?

Kate Klim: I find nothing more inspiring than other musicians. Whenever I go to a really great live show, ideas are buzzing in my head as soon as I walk out the door. I want to make other people feel like that particular artist just made me.

What was the first album you bought? The first concert you attended?

I'm not that old, but I definitely remember having the Bangles "Everything" on vinyl. My first concert was Lollapalooza when I was 12. I was convinced that the Channel 6 news was going to interview me about how I could be so young, yet so cool. I went with my dad.

Do you prefer to perform live or in the studio? Why?

Both are great. I guess you can never really match the feeling of connecting with an audience. But there are always off nights, new settings and things like that. Those nights I would probably say studio.

Why do you offer MP3s of your music on the Web?

My favorite day is free sample day at the supermarket. If you like it enough, you end up buying it. And I love that someone could be listening to me now, and wouldn't even know it.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

I have a friend who told me not to measure my success (or lack thereof) against the successes of others. I think that's beyond important when you're a performer.

Was there ever a moment when you contemplated giving up music?

About 15 minutes ago. And twice yesterday. I've talked with other musicians about this. The nature of being an artist is that some days you feel so proud of what you do and some days you feel absolutely terrible. I've never seriously wanted to give it up. I couldn't if I tried.

- Siren Song Online Magazine