The sun sets on Venice Beach, Calif. (irene. / flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/irenetong/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
What if California isn’t all sun, surf and Sierra? What if California is full of jaded lovers coming to the West Coast for absolution?
That’s where you’ll find Diane Birch.
Birch, 26, released one of the most entertaining, aching and yet hopeful albums of 2009, and Bible Belt acts as a place where a contemporary singer with a Carly Simon voice meets soul, gospel and rock. Put Bible Belt onto your iPod or CD player, and you’re immediately transported to a San Francisco café with a view of the sunset or a dusty, bucolic winery in Napa Valley, wondering how you got there and how you’re going to escape without leaving your heart on the floor. You have hope, though, and Birch will have you toe tapping before long.
She’s the daughter of a preacher who moved his family all over Africa before settling in the United States. Birch learned classic piano, moved to Los Angeles, and played a few venues before recording demos on MySpace. Then Steve Greenberg, he who propelled Joss Stone and Norah Jones into the music stratosphere, worked with her to create Bible Belt.
So, I’ve got California on my mind, and Birch is providing the soundtrack for my daydreamin’.
