Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Paper Knife) - This ain't your mama's gospel music. Kim-Char Meredith was an established Christian singer-songwriter from Honolulu with hundreds of church gigs under her belt and three Na Hoku Hano Hano Award nominations (Hawaii's version of the Grammy) when she came "out" in 1996. Many churches quickly closed their doors to Meredith, but she knew God never would. Meredith's new CD release, Paper Knife, is a joyful return to her Christian music roots after 11 years away - and this time Meredith is singing God's praises as an out lesbian.
Paper Knife (on Meredith's indie imprint, Kim-Char Music) is set for a November 20 release. It will be available online at cdbaby.com and in retail stores via Super D Distribution. Kim-Char Music is partnering with fizzkicks.com to offer prepaid mp3 download cards at concerts and on the artist's website, www.kimcharmusic.com
Advance copies of Paper Knife (full CD) are available to radio and media upon request.
Meredith wrote all ten of the songs featured on Paper Knife and is accompanied by some of Nashville's top session musicians and vocalists. As icing on the cake, the songs were mixed by award-winning engineer George Clinton (Reba McIntire, Martina McBride) and mastered by legendary Motown engineer Bob Olhsson (Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson).
In Paper Knife, there are no lyrical tributes to her cherished life-partner of 11 years and Meredith's focus is strictly on one's relationship with God. The message of God's healing power runs throughout Paper Knife. In track four, Restore the Love, Meredith sings: "Though the fabric has been torn, You can knit our hearts together and restore the love, all the love - for You are healing." This track could easily be theme song to Meredith's relationship with the church.One senses Paper Knife is an olive branch of sorts, extended to both gay and Christian communities with the hope of celebrating faith in Christ as common ground.
Kim-Char Meredith has found success as a "mainstream" pop/rock artist since coming out, receiving a Hawaii Music Award for Favorite Pop Recording Artist (for Slender Line of Lavender, released in 1998). 2003's Give and Take was co-produced with the Grammy-nominated production team at Hobo House on the Hill and received rave reviews. As a live solo performer, Meredith has played well-known acoustic venues including Eddie's Attic (Atlanta), Genghis Cohen (Los Angeles) and the Bluebird Cafe (Nashville). She has proven capable of wowing arena-sized audiences as well: "Meredith's performance, when she opened for Melissa Etheridge...was perhaps the best concert pairing of the year." (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
"My songs, this new recording, it's all about the love..." says Meredith. Whether she's singing secular songs in a club or sacred music in a church, "whether on disc or live, no one can express sheer joy and happiness better than Kim-Char Meredith" writes reviewer Jed Ryan. Listen, tap your toes, pray and rejoice along with Kim-Char Meredith. You'll love it (and so will your mama, really)!
