Kim Edwards, a singer-songwriter from Lehigh Valley, PA, whose signature sound synthesizes story-driven folk, sweeping orchestral compositions, and openhearted lyricism, is preparing for the release of her full-length album, Vignettes.
Her latest single, "Steinbeck," is inspired by iconic American novelist John Steinbeck, and in particular his classic 1930s novel, Grapes of Wrath. Over five minutes long, the song -- co-produced with Jared Salte of Salt Shaker Studios -- depicts the epic life story of a young man who travels west in search of better fortune after the Dust Bowl devastates his family's land.
"Steinbeck" is a welcoming appetizer of what's to come on Vignettes, which will also feature tracks based on Edwards' poignant personal experiences, all illustrating her range as a musician and storyteller.
We got to chat with Edwards to learn more about her musical journey, her upcoming album, and much more.
How has 2025 treated you so far? Any notable highlights?
2025 has felt like a whirlwind. It's been a long time since I've released an album, so the whole process has taken a little getting used to again, especially the promotional side. Self-promotion doesn't come naturally to me, but I'm lucky to have a great team of people who help and support. One highlight was the opportunity to perform three of my songs on PA Live!, a local lifestyle/entertainment talk show. It was my first TV appearance, and I was nervous as all get out, but it went smoothly, thankfully!
So your recent single, "Steinbeck", was loosely inspired by the classic 1930s novel, Grapes of Wrath. What drew you to this specific era and narrative?
Years ago, I went through a John Steinbeck phase and read several of his novels and short stories in quick succession, and The Grapes of Wrath probably left the deepest impression on me out of all his works. Clearly, I had it in the back of my mind when I started writing "Steinbeck" as part of a 30-day songwriting exercise; it gives such a rich backdrop for a story. The Grapes of Wrath is epic in its depiction of the Joad family's struggle to survive their circumstances, and "Steinbeck" sort of spilled out in the form of a mini-epic in this story of a fictional character's life and his longing for a home of his own.
Does the songwriting process differ for you when depicting a fictional character versus drawing from personal experience?
Somewhat. I think when I write a story-song around a fictional character, there's an opportunity to write a more narrative-driven lyric than I usually tend to do. Fewer feelings, more descriptors and details. It can be a greater challenge in some ways because there can be more of an element of world-building to it compared to writing a song from personal experience. But these are also some of the most interesting songs to me, and they are the ones that feel especially rewarding to have finished.
Speaking of the songwriting process, what sparks your imagination, or inspires you to pick up the guitar and create a new song?
There are many places I draw inspiration from: stories in the form of books, personal experiences, my friends' experiences, conversations, movies, etc. Sometimes I feel more inspired to create after spending time around other artists and songwriters and seeing/hearing their work and their processes.
But, generally speaking, I don't often get the spontaneous urge to put pen to paper and write. For me, that's where a songwriting community like Thinking Outside the Blocks has been a huge help in recent years. TOTB is a low-pressure group that assigns songwriting challenges and offers peer support and review, among other things. I've found that even a light deadline and some gentle accountability gives me that push I need to finally get a song out.
In past years, I've set aside the month of January to write a song a day, just as an exercise to flush creative the pipes, so to speak. It's always surprising to me how many songs were inside, but it took that catalyst to bring them out. I wasn't always like this; when I was first writing songs, they seemed to spill out with very little provocation. But as I've gotten older and my time has become scarcer, I find that it takes way more intentionality for me to write a song.
Let's talk about your upcoming album, Vignettes. What was your greatest challenge and success while making this album?
Vignettes has been a long time in the making. In 2020, I started recording demos at home for this album with the intention of fully producing it myself. I wanted to keep it really minimal, really simple; mostly piano and strings. But between work obligations, family needs, and just life in general, I never found the time or energy to take it beyond the demo stage. I also realized that I wanted more for these song arrangements than I was capable of producing on my own. So the greatest challenge was just getting to the point of recognizing that I needed to bring in other people if I ever wanted this album to come to fruition.
My son was born at the end of 2022, and 2023 was just a blur of all the things that come with new parenthood. But by the beginning of 2024, I finally felt ready to tackle the album again, so I reached out to Jared Salte who had produced my singles "When We Were Young" and "Far." I sent him all my demos and notes, and he came back with rough drafts that were above and beyond what I had hoped for. Jared is an incredibly talented producer, musician, singer, and string arranger, and I am so grateful for his magic touch that truly brought this album to life. Working with him and having my songs realized to their fullest potential has been the greatest success of making this album.
What feelings or themes do you hope to convey with Vignettes?
I think some people might listen to Vignettes and think it's a sad girl album, but to me it's less about sadness and more about empathy. The album is made of ten individual vignettes, each with their own story to tell. My hope is that perhaps a few of these songs will feel like an old friend that meets people where they're at… a friend that is content to quietly sit with you in your feelings for as long as you need.
What are one or two pinnacle moments for you as an artist?
The pinnacle moment of my career so far culminated in an opportunity to open for The Beach Boys a few years ago — I've been a huge fan of them ever since I was a little girl, thanks to my parents who raised me on music from the 50s and 60s. I first met the band in 2013, and they were all so kind and gracious to me. We kept in touch throughout the years, and I would visit them on the road whenever they played in my area (and still do!). They have become dear friends that I cherish, and THAT is the pinnacle moment for me… yes, when they asked me to open for them, it was absolutely a pinch-me moment that I still have trouble believing actually happened… but the real joy, and most meaningful part, has been in building friendships with some really wonderful people in the band and crew.
What are your goals for the rest of the year?
Outside of music, I enjoy film photography, and one of my goals is to complete a photography series of portraits of people I greet on my walks around the neighborhood. It's just a personal project, but it feels good to work creative muscles across different artistic disciplines.
But my main goal for the rest of the year is to continue to promote Vignettes as best I can. I am really proud of this album, and I hope it finds its way to the people who will love it as much as I do.
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