Diane Birch

Diane Birch (born January 24, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter.

Early life

Birch was born in Michigan. At the age of seven Birch began studying piano using the Suzuki method. While growing up she listened to opera, classical and church music.^[1] As a child Birch lived with her family in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sydney, Australia - her father was a Seventh-day Adventist preacher whose work took him to several countries. When she was ten, her family returned to the United States of America, and settled in Portland, Oregon. Birch attended Portland Adventist Elementary School and later, Portland Adventist Academy.^[1]

Career

Early in her career Birch moved to Los Angeles and set out to compose music for films but instead played piano at the Beverly Hills Hotel and L'Orangerie. During this period Prince heard her perform at the Polo Lounge in 2006 and invited her to join him at his home for a music session with his band. Later, Birch moved to London, where she signed a publishing contract and wrote most of the songs that appeared on her debut album.

In 2007, she moved to New York City after signing with Steve Greenberg's S-Curve Records. Birch's debut album, Bible Belt, recorded in New York and New Orleans, was released in 2009 on S-Curve and received supportive reviews in Rolling Stone, Paper Magazine and the Huffington Post.^[2]

In 2009 Birch made a number of television appearances to promote her album Bible Belt, including: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Late Show with David Letterman, Last Call with Carson Daly, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the webcast, Live From Daryl's House ^[3] Birch was interviewed on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday on June 14, 2009, on which she performed several of her songs from Bible Belt.^[4]

Her song "Rise Up" was the Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week in October 2009 and her song "Valentino" appeared in the movie Valentine's Day.^[5]

In 2010 Birch was the opening act for Stevie Wonder at the "Hard Rock Calling Festival" in Hyde Park and Nîmes, France and Nick Jonas and the Administration.^[6] In September, Birch released the single track "Gee Whiz It's Christmas" on Amazon and iTunes. In December Birch released a digital only EP titled The Velveteen Age , on which she performs covers of songs she enjoyed while growing up.

In 2013 she was featured in English rapper Devlin's song "Rewind," singing a chorus based on her original version from Bible Belt.^[7]

In addition to keyboards, Birch also plays guitar and the violin.

Her second album, titled Speak A Little Louder, was released on October 15, 2013 in the US.

January 31, 2016, she released her first self produced album, Nous. The album was recorded in Berlin, Germany.^[8]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended play

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Other appearances

Music videos

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Diane Birch.

• Official website
• Diane Birch: The 'Bible Belt,' In Eclectic Song from National Public Radio
• Diane Birch live in concert from NPR station WXPN
• Diane Birch at the Internet Movie Database
• Diane Birch performs Rewind as part of Guardian How I wrote series