"THE OFFICIAL MYSPACE PAGE FOR KRISTEN MCNAMARA"
PURCHASE KRISTEN'S LATEST CD AND OTHER MERCHANDISE AT WWW.KRISTENMCNAMARA.COM - CLICK ON "STORE"
Actress? Comedy? Producer? Yes, Kristen goes further than just singing. She is an all around entertainer. Kristen has a rare ear for music, and producing. If Kristen were old enough when "HeeHaw" was still on TV, she would have been the star of the show. Many folks have said, "Saturday Night Live is missing out without having Kristen"!
You can watch some of her comedy blogs at- http://www.usanetwork.com/series/nashvillestar/webexclusives
/contestantblogs/index.html Weekly blogs were a part of Nashville Star, and Kristen made a big wave with hers every week. Lobster Bob? Hillbilly Hot Tubs? What's next?! Visit www.KristenMcNamara.com for more information and pictures!
Kristen McNamara, 20 years old, was born August 5, to Bill and Nancy McNamara. Kristen was born in Templeton, a small town on the Central Coast of California. In 1987, she moved with her family to the Northern California town of Angwin, located in the heart of California's Wine Country, population 2,000. Kristen attended school in the nearby town of St. Helena. Singing in chorus at school and church was not enough for Kristen-she yearned for more. Starting with nothing but a tape of Patsy Cline singing "Crazy" Kristen trained herself to sing every song perfect. She thought in the studio you only had one chance. Thinking that way so young trained Kristen for her soon to be successful career. Just a few of Kristen's influences (for different reasons, production, voice, songwriting, performance, etc....) Can be found under "Influences"
Kristen has worked with great artists and producers as well as released and produced her own CDs. With perfect pitch, her vocal range spans 4 octaves, with an unusually mature sound. Starting at age 14 Kristen visited many radio stations getting up at 3:00AM to sing live in the studio for her huge fan base in California. As the radio DJs and Television stations fall in love with Kristen's unforgettable songs and sound, fun personality and her "born to be a star" classic vintage style looks. Kristen knows exactly who she is and knows in her heart it's meant to be. Kristen's other love would be writing songs with her guitar and piano sitting in the Gulf of Mexico on a white sand, aqua water beach with a fishing pole at side! Her preference in music style is Country and Southern Rock and is also known for her songwriting and performance in Pop/R & B/Rock.
Kristen started producing her own records at the young age of 15. She was able to sing and perform different genres and that only grew with age. Record companies believe it's important to have a grasp of what audience you are appealing to. As an artist, thinking outside the box, Kristen took charge and perfected each idea. Two extremes could easily confuse the record industry, unless you really pull it off with perfection. Kristen has been able to do so, writing songs that cross into either genre. Her appearance is easily accepted by all audiences, and so is her voice. This day and age, music is a rough road. It's not easy to please, and not easy to get heard. Why box yourself into one thing, if you can pull off more than one? Kristen stands strong in her belief that it's "All about the song"...!
A note from Kristen:
"If Clive Davis thinks it's a hit, then I am taking the pop/rock opportunity". "If Joe Gallente and Renee Bell think it's a country hit, so be it. I can't box myself in with the talent that God gave me. It doesn't mean I don't know who I am. I just know more of what I can do, and I have polished and carved on both ideas. I would be shooting myself in the foot to walk away from either offer or stick to shopping myself as one thing, it's just who will get it first? I enjoy TV, cameras, interviews, and anything else that involves entertainment. I love music, and will not ever live my life without creating it. I walked away from a rather large pop offer in New York with a major label a few years back because I wanted to do country. Some say it was a bad move, some say it was smart. I felt more accepted in country, as Britney Spears and N'Sync were the 'thing' at the time. I didn't feel I would fit in at that moment. I don't regret doing so, I have learned a lot since, and wasn't ready then. I have grown, and feel I have a spot in the music business, no matter what genre it is....forever. I love music, and love writing and producing it. I believe it's important to have a drive and idea, while being open to constructive criticism. The internet is an important tool right now. Records aren't selling, so we have to make up for the slack. Most artists want someone to do it for them. I am all about being involved, and helping create my spot in this business. I know unsolicited material is not accepted in most businesses involved in the music business. It doesn't bother me, I figure I will create a buzz, and the right person will come along eventually, but that won't keep me waiting. I don't have time to twirl my thumbs. People want good music, whether it's Pop, Rock, R & B, Folk, or Country, with the internet, I believe it will sell just fine. I am currently in the studio creating my sound, and cutting my new songs. We will see what happens. I will continue to shop myself in both markets, Country and Pop. I will naturally have to start with one, then eventually with time and success introduce a more broad genre. To do so without losing your fans, remaining on radio, and without making a fool of yourself... is tricky, but can be done with the right team, gracefully. My heart loves both, and so do my fans. Some may roll their eyes and say, "Kristen doesn't know who she is".... Three Names: Shania Twain, Faith Hill & Michelle Branch. Don't tell me it's not possible, because you've already been proved wrong! I believe if given the right tools, time, and promotion, my songs could easily be a crossover genre, without a second thought. We tend to get outrageously positive feedback when playing live gigs. Our audience is a wide open field of people. Everyone from teens, senior citizens, children, parents, young adults and more. I write about everything, my life, my stories, and people can relate to that. It's a no brainer to me, only after seeing the reaction from others. I believe in my music, and those who have helped support my career. The reality of it is, without the hand of a large business, Record Company, booking, or any higher connection, it's almost impossible to break through. I have been to many of the major labels as a teenager. Time has changed, and I am ready to show the new me! The business is so crowed, and the expectations are above sky high. I see the big picture, I think our music will flip the record industry on it's rear end so fast it won't know what hit it, but it sure would be smiling again. If I don't make it as an artist, I will produce records and manage artists. Although.... there are too many "if's" in that sentence! I will do this, whatever it takes.... I will do this. It's all about the song"....!(Kristen)
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The following are examples and highlights of just some of her accomplishments:
2006 Nashville Star Top 6 Finalist on USA Network
2005 Blue Bird Cafe Nashville
2004 Texas State Fair Main Stage Entertainer
2003 Country Tonight Featured Vocalist, Branson, Missouri 2 shows a day 6 days a week for 6 months
2003 CBS Star Search Finalist
2003 and 2000 ESPN Performer, East West Shrine Game Pac Bell Park
2002 November and December Conman Country Radio Syndicated Radio
Program
2002 Guest Vocalist,San Francisco Giants, Barry Bonds Day
2001 Guest Vocalist, San Francisco 49er's
2001 Performer, Country Fest, Laguna Seca
2001 Guest Vocalist , Grand National Rodeo, Cow Palace San Francisco
2000 Performer Blue Bird Cafe' Nashville
2000 Performer Douglas Corner Cafe' Nashville
2000 Guest Vocalist, San Francisco 49er's
2000 Guest Vocalist, East West Shrine Game, Pac Bell Park
2000 Performer, Grand National Rodeo, Cow Palace San Francisco
1999 Guest Vocalist, Napa Valley Air Show
1999 Guest Vocalist, Flag Day, Moffett Field, San Francisco
1999 Guest Vocalist, Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School Graduation
1999 Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School Music Scholarship
1999 Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School Chorister of the Year
1999 Fifth Place, California State Vocal Competition, Sacred1999 First Place , California State Vocal Competition, Country
1999 Grand Champion California State Vocal Competition, Pop
Along with headlining some of her own shows, Kristen and her band have had the opportunity to open for great Country Acts such as Lonestar, Collin Raye, Diamond Rio, Montgomery Gentry, Kenny Chesney, Kevin Sharp, Travis Tritt and Glen Campbell. Her performances have spanned from Nashville, to New York and California. Kristen has worked with a number of legendary producers such as Andy Goldmark, Guy Roche , Narada Michael Walden, Gary Cirimelli and D. Scott Miller. Kristen has been the guest vocalist for the San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Giants. Recently, Kristen released her second CD, "RESTLESS" which includes four songs that she wrote as well as seven other original songs.
At age 13, Kristen began performing, at 14 she was recording her first CD. At age 15, Kristen gave her first concert in San Francisco at the Palace of Fine Arts. A benefit concert she did for the Children's hospital in San Francisco. That was the beginning of many more concerts to come, working with some of the most legendary Country artists of our time. The San Francisco Chronicle describes her as "the next Celine Dion or the NEW Patsy Cline". Mike Thomas from the Pacific Sun writes "she has an uncommon vocal blend of God-given pipes and emotional reach - she's a precociously gifted country pop artist." When reviewing her new CD he states "Her first solo composition, " ..1 Fan" is a surging gritty country rocker with a killer chorus"!
Please visit www.KristenMcNamara.com for more details and music!
Nashville Star was a wonderful memory of Kristen's! To have Kristen sing vocals on a demo or to book a show please send an email to:
[email protected] Thank You!
