Music
Press
One of those local singers who manages to be under the radar and all over the place at the same time, Kimberly Summer might be dismissed as just another sun-kissed chanteuse, but for the intelligently melodic original tunes she displays on her debut CD, Listen. Her voice, though, is her real ticket – it's a deep well with a full bucket of blues at the bottom. Produced by local folk svengali Chris Rosser, Listen aches for airplay. - Mountain Xpress May 11, 2005
By Jeffery Spivey, ‘05
Kimberly Summer wants everyone to hear her music, but that’s not why she named her first full-length CD “Listen.”
“It’s more of a reminder to listen to what’s going on around me,” the 2000 Flagler College grad said. The 13-song collection of acoustic folk recalls experiences from her life, her friends’ lives and events occurring around the world.
“I write about everything. It’s easy to write about what you’ve gone through,” the singer-songwriter said. The release of “Listen” this year was the result of hard work and a tedious process. To bring her songs to life, Summer teamed with North Carolina producer and musician Chris Rosser in a local studio, and feedback has been good.
Ashville, N.C., paper The Indie, calls Summer’s music “ a sweet, soft serenade of wounded sincerity.”
Summer plans to have music from “Listen,” which is currently available on iTunes and CdBaby.com, featured on television or in a movie in the near future.
- Flagler Magazine
You can hear a strong conviction in her voice as if she is painting a sel-portrait. She shoots a straight arrow and gets right to the point. - Carol Elliot
A bright red guitar is the only thing that draws focus away from the angelic voice of Kimberly Summer. Her sound vacillated from mellow tones similar to Aimee Mann to a hollow ring reminiscent of the flow of Stevie Nicks. - Dylan Parks
When West Lafayette native Kim Morton traveled in 1996 to Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., she thought a psychology degree was all that she would get. The 27-year-old did not expect to be bitten by the music bug after performing some of her original folk-rock tunes for the first time in 2000. Five years and a move to Asheville, N.C., later, Morton is now known as Kimberly Summer as she often tours the eastern side of the country. Blessed with a voice that could make Natalie Merchant and Sarah McLachlan sweat, Summer and her red Alvarez acoustic guitar will revisit her hometown with a pair of performances. She is touring in support of her debut full-length CD, Listen.
- The Journal and Courier, 6/10/05, by Tim Brouk
Discography
Kimberly Summer
Listen 2005
Kimberly Summer Acoustic
Dreamer's Heart-EP 2002
Photos
Bio
Kimberly Summer has established herself as an accomplished and rising singer-songwriter in the folk rock/pop rock genres. At first listen, Kimberly’s voice is what takes in her listener. While Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, and Jewel comparisons are the most common, onstage Kimberly’s voice is 100% original. As Melanie McGee puts it, “Kimberly’s voice is her real ticket—it’s a deep well with a full bucket of blues at the bottom.”
Beyond the voice, though, are Kimberly’s multi-layered lyrics. Introspective and open-ended, Kimberly's words play out like a choose-your-own-ending novel. With songs of love, faith, failure, and dreams, there is no avenue her words do not explore. Kimberly’s expansive collection of songs can be attributed to life experiences and nearly 9 years of stage experience.
A Hoosier by birth, Kimberly left her hometown of West Lafayette, IN, for the beaches of St. Augustine, FL, when it came time for college. While earning an Honors degree at Flagler College, Kimberly gained precious writing material and honed her talents while amazingly keeping them hidden, choosing her audience to be the walls of her room. But after her first public appearance in 2000, Kimberly’s music was then her life's passion. She began playing at every venue possible, and after recording her EP "A Dreamer's Heart," Kimberly took her act to the road in the summer of 2002 for three months of promotion. Her first tour, spanning 10 states, was a success, as Kimberly gained valuable stage experience, positive feedback, and the always memorable road trip adventures.
After her marriage and a move from Florida to North Carolina, Kimberly’s music was aching for studio time. So in May of 2005, Kimberly teamed with Asheville producer Chris Rosser and other Asheville based musicians, River Guerguerian and Joe Ebel, to complete her first full length CD, a 13 song production appropriately titled “Listen.” “Listen” found its way to the radio, to the hands of her fans, and most recently, to a variety of MTV shows, including “Made” and “Backstage Pass.”
Now relocated to Columbia, SC, Kimberly is excited to bring her music and her trademark red Alvarez guitar to a college town. In addition to playing as many venues as possible, Kimberly has plans to record another CD in the summer of 2008.
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