February 17, 2010

Kim Reimer

Just got an e mail from local musician Kim Reimer.

Hey everybody. Myself and bandmates are playing at Forbidden Flavours (851 Cavalier Drive) this Saturday, February 20 at 8:00 p.m. It will be our final gig at Forbidden Flavours as they will be closing their doors.
My husband Ron has returned from Afganistan and will be there, as will our baby Reid, born Dec. 13, 2009.
Look forward to seeing you there!



If you listened to our show Better Than Chocolate on CKUW, you'll remember Kim Reimer. We often played her songs and once she guested on Better Than Chocolate.


If you missed her appearance, here's a bit of info:

Singer-songwriter Kim Reimer taught herself to play guitar at the age of 21. While music has always been a part of her life, Kim's decision to buy a used guitar set her on the road that would eventually lead to the release of her album Let's get away. Influenced by Fleetwood Mac, Jewel, the Dixie Chicks and Sheryl Crow, Kim's passion for strong lyrics and melody is evident in her songwriting.


After studying at the University of Manitoba, Kim moved to a small Alberta town. To alleviate her homesickness, she began writing songs. Kim soon realized that she wanted to pursue a career in music. Kim says, "There is nothing I love to do more than to sing and play guitar. It's a natural high for me when all the instruments and voices come together to make a beautiful sound. I like to express myself through my songs and love when others connect to my lyrics."


For Kim Reimer, finding a balance between personal experience and things that others can easily relate to is a crucial part of songwriting. "Usually I write songs either about myself or something I've been through, or sometimes they are about someone I know, or a situation that someone I know has been through. In this case, I try to put myself in their shoes and think about how I would feel if I went through that experience."


After performing in Edmonton, Kim returned to Winnipeg, where she met Jim Stoeber of Tegancat Music. They collaborated on a few songs for Listen, a various artists' album released in the spring of 2007.

They continued writing for Kim's solo project Let's get away. When asked about the collaborative process, Kim says, "The collaboration is what makes the songs. When each person brings their life experience and musical experience to the table to inject into the song, it makes for higher quality songs that are more relatable to the listener. It also leads each person to challenge themselves to work and think in ways they maybe wouldn't have on their own, thus making them grow as a songwriter."


The name of Kim's band, the 62 Impalas, comes from her song 62 Impala 409 which she describes as a "song with attitude... about a guy who is more in love with his car than with his girlfriend". But in the end, the girl has the upper hand, as she admits that the car "may be one of a kind, but so am I". With Kim's passion for strong lyrics and melody, and her versatility and drive as a performer, it's a claim that promises a bright road ahead.


Kim says that one of the most challenging, but also most fun, songs to write was the swamp music tale of Kalena. Though it is a story set in the bayou, the personal element is present in the name of the song itself. Kalena comes from a combination of Kim's name and that of one of her best friends, Lena Hozaima, who also plays mandolin and sings in her band. Other band members/vocalists are Jim Stoeber (guitar, bass), Janice Baris (keyboards, percussion), and Ron Torpey (drums, percussion).


Have a great day. How can you miss - you're in Winnipeg!

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