We were lucky to catch up with Kristin Carter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kristin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is my debut album “Full Bloom” which was released on April 5th. I envision this album like a garden of songs. Some of the tracks represent flowers that are soft and bright, some are heavy and poignant. I wanted to represent how all experiences, the good and the bad are all necessary parts of a full life, because a garden of one type of flower wouldn’t be a very full garden. As someone who processes the world through music, it was a very cathartic process to work through my emotions this way, and that’s what makes Full Bloom is so meaningful for me because it’s a creative reflection of my early adulthood.

The album walks through a multitude of topics; the elation of physical chemistry (“Euphoria”), the conversations we struggle to have (“The Waltz”), quiet moments of love (“Love You Forever”), slow-paced indulgence (“Lazy Sunday”), loss and grief (“Your Side of the Blue”), and many others.

I crafted this album with collaborator and friend Marcus Ramsay who co-produced it with me. Marcus and I have been playing together for many years, it was so joyful and rewarding to be able to make this album with him. It was my first time stepping into a producer role, which was challenging and exciting. I learned a lot in the process because we had to roll with changes and limitations that were unexpected.

For example when recording the song “I’m Still Here”, the original instrumental track we had intended for the song wasn’t useable. We had to rethink the process and find a way to produce it without the original studio setting. I started using my voice to imitate the new instrumentation I wanted to hear, sent that to Marcus and we ended up liking the ‘all vocal’ approach so much we decided to explore it more. I set up a small dome in the corner of the room by taping a blanket to the window to create the right environment, and began recording layer after layer of harmony until we had it built. It was a happy accident and learning process for me, but I’m so glad it happened because ‘I’m Still Here” is now one of my favourite songs on the album.

It’s a little surreal to me that the album is finally out in the world, after working on it for so long. The messages people have been sending me about what the songs mean to them, or what memories they inspire for them, are so special to me. It really validates the impact that music has, and its ability to connect people. I’m really grateful for that.

Kristin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up in a small oceanside town just south of Vancouver, BC, Canada. I grew to love and learn music through singing in choirs. I joined my first one when I was about 5, and was lucky to be part of one all the way through university. It’s an incredibly safe way to learn when there are many other people singing around you. The community you gain is amazing, I credit some of the conductors and peers I had for instilling such a strong love for music in me. Harmonies and balance felt like water to me, I needed it in my life to feel grounded.

I started writing music a few years ago after my lengthy commute made it so I couldn’t join a choir. I started writing on the skytrain (an above ground subway in Vancouver) to pass the time. Slowly I started performing around town, although I was incredibly nervous performing alone (still am). That led me to where I’m at today and what I’m most proud of: my debut album ‘Full Bloom’. It represents years of work, and a journey to learn and love creating.

What I hope people take away from the album is a gratitude for the diversity of life and all that they have gone through to get them where they are today. Life can be beautiful, challenging, and spontaneous – we need all of it to round out a full life.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Go buy a ticket, and watch live local music! The more people who attend and support, the more valued local music and artists will become. I think this will result in artists getting rewarded in ways that allow them to continue to create consistently. There are a lot of upfront costs to creating, and the impact of support goes a long way at the local level. If we want music to continue to grow we need to get out there and support it.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It’s when I can see that my music has moved someone. Music is such a powerful and vulnerable tool to connect with people and their emotions. I’m always so grateful when someone shares what one of my songs means to them, or what it made them reflect on. It’s a reminder for me to be more patient with the world, we are all trying our best and everyone has a story.

Contact Info:

• Website: thekristincarter.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristincartermusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristincartermusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl98snq7dX0
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristincartermusic https://open.spotify.com/album/3A4AOKFCkVO4HGjikwjCT0

Image Credits
Liz Rosa