August/September 2008
Music TRIBE - Debut CDs
First
Love Note of Kim Arrington
By Lyric, Music Journalist
In the city of Durham, the name Kim Arrington is synonymous with Arts and Education. It's not uncommon to find her provocative poetry and stories in local publications or her name on the bill at community venues, especially where youth are involved.
A graduate of North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, Kim is best known for teaching youth through performance using poetry, drama, music, and audio documentary to tell stories. Through her numerous writer-in-residencies, Kim has taught poetry, song and has performed for thousands of youth, families, and recovering addicts, sharing the stage with The Last Poets, The POEM-CEES, Nnenna Freelon, and the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble.
Her moving poetry performances have landed her a nomination for Best Female Poet of the year (2005) by the National Underground Spoken Word and Poetry Awards. Kim is also the founder of Greased Scalp Press, a publishing company dedicated to assisting first-time authors and under-represented voices with the production of their books. The press released Kim's first volume of poetry, the lapis dwellers, which was voted the Independent Weekly's Best Poetry Book in the Triangle in August 2005. Her latest endeavors include a full length play, a sophomore book of poetry, and the recent debut of her first music CD, First Love Note of Kim Arrington.
TRIBES: Kim, what sparked the title First Love Note of Kim Arrington?
Kim: I wanted to call the CD, First Love Note of Kim Arrington because of its double meaning. For me, it's important that I honor the sides of me that write the songs, sings the songs, and live the songs. Quite honestly, I tackled with the "first" part because it was going to be the first time that I had the courage to publicly share all those sides. The process of this CD started when I sang for the first time at four years old and wrote my first song in the second grade. A hundred years from now, I am humbled that someone will blow the dust off my CD and know about my life. The "Love Note" part suggests the instant intimacy you get when you listen to my songs. Imagine you found someone's love letters in the stall of the girl's bathroom. You want to read it, but what if it was your love note and someone found it, that's the"First Love Note of Kim Arrington."
TRIBES: And, what can your listeners expect when they open and hear the love note?
Kim: I remember Lamont Tisdale, the first boy I liked in kindergarten. Everyone has loved someone. Most of us are always in transit from loving to being loved to loving again. I really played around with genres from rock to ska to soul, so all folks could be invested. I guess I'd describe myself as a musical yard sale. I hope folks see all the different sides of themselves in "First Love Note of Kim Arrington."
TRIBES: Tell us about some of your life experiences that influenced the CD.
Kim: Hey, I've played the cop and the robber. "Love Note" spans from the times boys have made me cry, to when I made them cry. And, I think my sense of humor about love comes through. "Bargaining" and "Sight Unseen" are about my hope to find the right kind of love for me. "White Dress" is about my belief in marriage when it's between two folks that get it. "Rollin Stone" talks about a man who wanted nothing more to love me, but I wasn't ready because I needed to make my dreams come true first, like in The Alchemist. "28 Days Late" is about thinking you're pregnant by someone that you don't have a real, love connection with. "Hurry On, Silly Boy" is about not settling for second-class love from a man who's already involved. I write about real life shit that's happened to me that we're all faced with. Getting caught up and forgetting common sense is a human thing-and so are big ass u-turns! Get the full interview now!
Also visit www.myspace.com/kimarringtonsings.com to listen and learn more.
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