Three Peas in a Pod: Diane Birch

Although Diane was born in Michigan, her childhood was spent on the move as the daughter of a preacher, living between Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia, before her parents finally settled in Portland, Oregon. When she was in her early teens, Diane absorbed a unique and cosmopolitan perspective on life that shines through her music and makes a simple categorization of it impossible.

Diane Birch sounds like an old favorite, with all the sparkle and magic of a breakthrough talent. People say she sounds like a combination of early Carol Kin, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, with a little Joss Stone and Cat Power mixed in. Bible Belt is only her first record, but it’s one of the most accomplished albums you’ll hear all year. From the opening track “Fire Escape” to the closing “Magic View,” Diane’s stunning voice is mesmerizing.

I didn’t know what to think of her at first when I read she had in a “Goth” phase. But when I listened to her CD, her music relaxed me. I love it. I now listen to it when I sew. It has soul and I can tell the music and words came from her heart.

You see that widget on the left hand sidebar? For every person who buys a CD from that widget, $1.00 is donated to Autism Speaks.Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed an unprecedented $128 million in new research funding through 2014 to uncover the cause(s), prevention, treatments and cure for autism, making it the nation's top private funder of autism research. And this charity is very near to my heart as my son has autism.

Listen for yourself to the music with soul!