Diane Birch | |
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Diane Birch performing at the J&R Music Festival 2009 |
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Background information | |
Born | January 24, 1983 |
Origin | Michigan |
Genres | Soul, blues |
Instruments | Piano/Rhodes/Wurlitzer/Vocal |
Years active | 2009— |
Labels | S-Curve |
Website | www.dianebirch.com |
Diane Birch (born January 24, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter.
Contents |
Birch was born in Michigan and her father was a Seventh-day Adventist preacher whose work took him to several countries. As a child Birch lived with her family in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sydney, Australia. When she was ten, her family returned to the United States of America, and settled in Portland, Oregon. Diane attended Portland Adventist Elementary School and later, Portland Adventist Academy.[1]
Birch began studying piano using the Suzuki method at the age of seven and she listened to opera, classical and church music while growing up.[1]
Birch moved to Los Angeles to compose music for films and instead played piano at the Beverly Hotel and L'Orangerie. 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. Birch moved to London, signed a publishing contract and wrote most of the songs that appeared on her debut album.
In 2007, she moved to New York after signing with Steve Greenberg's S-Curve Records.
Birch's debut album, Bible Belt, was released in 2009 on S-Curve Records and received supportive reviews in Rolling Stone, Paper Magazine and the Huffington Post.[2]
In 2009 Birch appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Late Show with David Letterman, the Carson Daly Show, Jimmy Kimmel, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the webcast, Live from Daryl's House [3]
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 (film)'.[4]
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.[5] Birch performed shows in Osaka and Tokyo. In September, Birch released the single track "Gee Whiz It's Christmas" on Amazon and iTunes. Birch also co-wrote and sang the song "Too Soon to End" by Alain Clark.In December Birch released a digital only EP called "The Velveteen Age".
In addition to keyboards Birch also plays guitar and the violin.
Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
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US | UK | ITA | |||
2009 | Bible Belt
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87 | 77 | 26 | |
2010 | The Velveteen Age
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Year | Song | Album |
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2009 | "Valentino" | Valentine's Day |
"Too Soon to End" (with Alain Clark) | "ColourBlind" |
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | ||||||
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US | CAN | ||||||||
2009 | "Nothing But a Miracle" | — | — | Bible Belt | |||||
2010 | "This Corrosion" | — | — | The Velveteen Age | |||||
2011 | "Wind Up Bird Song" | — | — | Wind Up Bird Song (Single)[6] | |||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Year | Title | Director |
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2009 | "Nothing But a Miracle" | Moh Azima |
2010 | "Valentino" | Dennis Liu |
"Rewind" | Gavin Elder |