DIANE BIRCH

Singer-songwriter Diane Birch took half her lifetime, and traveled across the globe, to get to America, where she literally found her voice and made her remarkable debut, Bible Belt in 2009. Now three years on, following worldwide touring success, Birch is readying to release her sophomore album (Darklight) in early 2013. Writing both alone and with acclaimed Dap Kings-drummer-turned-producer, Homer Steinweiss on much of this new record, together with Aqualung’s Matt Hales, Eg White (of Adele fame) and Barrett Yeretsian, her new collection of songs mark a distinct progression for Diane, who lays bare the emotional roller-coaster of her life over the past couple of years, with the break-up of a long-lasting relationship, and her dance with the light and dark of self on the road to womanhood. Her first album, Bible Belt, was recorded in New York City and New Orleans with a formidable team of Grammy-winning producers: S-Curve Records founder Steve Greenberg, soul legend Betty Wright and Mike Mangini. And among the players accompanying Birch were guitarist Lenny Kaye of The Patti Smith Group, bassists Adam Blackstone from The Roots, and George Porter of The Meters, acclaimed drummers Stanton Moore of Galactic and Cindy Blackman of Lenny Kravitz fame, saxophonist-about-town Lenny Pickett, and trombonist Tom “Bones” Malone, along with veteran singer Eugene Pitt, lead vocalist of fabled Brooklyn vocal group, the Jive Five.