It’s rare that an artist can just float into a jaded music scene and calm it down for a minute, make it take notice, and remember what it meant to just groove to the beat. We had the pleasure of catching up with such an artist, and her name is Diane Birch.
Thomas Starks, PopWreckoning: Good Afternoon Miss Birch, How are you? I’m Thomas Starks with PopWreckoning. 
Diane Birch: I’m good…I’m good. Sorry I’m in a cab, can you hear me?
PW: Yes I can, sounds like you’re on the move.
DB: (chuckles) Yeah, always.
PW: So where are you now, as in what city?
DB: Right now I’m in New York City.
PW: Now you just finished a tour am I correct?
DB: Yes I did, whew. Glad to be back in New York. I missed it.
PW: I bet. So I’ll get right to it if ya don’t mind? Now Bible Belt is your “debut” LP am I correct?
DB: Yes it is my first record.
PW: Now is that with a label? Meaning do you have any underground works as well, like an unlabeled LP before this?
DB: Oh no, none recorded anyway, this was the first.
PW: Really great first outing by the way. “Nothing But a Miracle” is truly a great song.
DB: Aww, thank you, I really appreciate that. We worked hard on it.
PW: So you’re a bit of a world traveler, where do you call home?
DB: Well, my parents moved us around a lot. He was a pastor, but I would say Portland.
PW: That’s kind of my old stomping grounds. I love the Roseland. So you have a bit of a worldview but also I read that “Valentino” was written about an imaginary friend, I love that.
DB: Well, I spent a lot of time on my own growing up, certainly. I don’t have imaginary friends now, just something I did. I liked creating.
PW: That’s fair. So is that a part of your process, in writing, I mean? I was listening to the contrast in songs, I played “Fools” and “Nothing But A Miracle” back to back about 10 times.
DB: Yeah I wrote “Fools” first, and about a year later wrote “Nothing But A Miracle” so there was a big difference in feeling over the year.
PW: So you certainly ran the gamut of emotion of the year then huh? I respect that. So did you think when you were playing in Prince‘s living room that you had finally arrived?
DB: Ya know, it was less that, and more that I felt validated. Here I was writing these songs, and someone comes along and wants me to play them. I began to say to myself “I can do this.”
PW: So what’s the next big project for you, sometimes artists immediately go back to studio to keep it rolling. Is that your case as well?
DB: Oh mentally, I’m on my 7th record. I know that’s really far ahead and I tend to do that, so I’m trying to “live” in this record right now. It’s hard because I’m always moving forward.
PW: Well I have to say I truly admire this record, you put a lot of honesty and heart into it, I respect that.
DB: Well, thank you. That means alot.
PW: So I promised I would only keep you for 20 minutes and I will remain a man of my word, but one last question Miss Birch. Since beginning this record and now, what is the most memorable moment to date?
DB: Wow, there are so many. I’d say being on Letterman was pretty amazing.
PW: Well. I thank you, Miss Birch for talking with me and I want to encourage you to keep doing this as long as you can. We need more of you. I hope you have a great rest of the day.
DB: Thank you, Thomas, and take care.
Diane Birch: website | myspace
