Quick Q and A with Jennifer Kimball
 by Kathy S-B  ·  20 February 2009

Jennifer Kimball is one of our local folk goddesses. There I said it. Jennifer’s heartfelt responses to my questions tell a lot about her as a person and as an intelligent songwriter. Check out Jennifer’s website, which contains lots of good stuff including an incredibly wonderful photo of Jennifer as Miss Somerville. Go sneak a peak and while you’re at it, listen to Jennifer’s music. Also, while you’re doing some websurfing, don’t miss this rare video of Jennifer during her Story days.

If you could describe yourself in three words, what would you say about yourself?

Head in the clouds, boots in the dirt, one hand on pruners in plants, one hand on the ukulele, singing with my son Waylon.

Who would you say is the biggest musical influence in your life?

Beatles — because my little brother and I used to listen to Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper’s ALL THE TIME; Yellow Submarine, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer and Magical Mystery Tour were simply gigantic hits in our house. There’s really no way to know how far all that music got under my skin. I certainly don’t write a pop song the way those gentlemen did — not many can! But I adore it nonetheless and long to write that way.

Vying for “biggest musical influence in my life” are the medieval writers I learned in high school: Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Josquin des Pres. Singing that stuff a cappella with 12–13 other folks in a church cloisters always sent chills through my soul. Now, singing with Kris Delmhorst, Rose Polenzani and Anne Heaton sends some of those same shivers. . .

One of your reviewers said that you’re less self-absorbed than most singer-songwriters. I’d say that’s a big compliment to the universality of your songs. When you write, do you try to take yourself out of it to a certain extent and think about that “everyman / everywoman” out there who will be hearing what you have to say?

For any critic to say that any writer is “less self absorbed than most” is a compliment. Sure, especially in the ‘folk’ world. But notice he didn’t say she is NOT self absorbed. Now that would be something to write home about!! I long to write songs that express things which are deeply felt and universally understood. That don’t seem exclusive to me and my little world of experiences. Sometimes I’m more successful than others. And yes, I would say I make a conscious effort to keep what I write in the realm of ‘accessible to most.’ Sometimes the most ‘personal’ of my songs seem to hit other people hardest — “This is My New Vow” and “Don’t Take Your Love Away.” But not everyone wants to ‘go there.’ And that is totally understandable. Both songs take you through some really dark places.

The last time we spoke, you mentioned your love of landscape design. How are things going with that part of your life? How is your balancing act of family life, school, and music going?

I am studying landscape design at Harvard and loving every minute of it. It’s not the Graduate School of Design, but it is graduate level work nonetheless. And I’m working towards getting a certificate in landscape design (from the Landscape Institute of Harvard and the Arnold Arboretum). Having been a part-time gardener for almost 10 years — a great job to have when you’re still trying to be a musician — I want to take this work to the next level. Landscape design combines some serious passions for me: design with horticulture, and hands in the dirt with hands clean at the drafting table. For years now music has meant money going out of our lives. And part-time ‘other’ work has held us together. So this is a conscious effort to change careers in midlife — while still keeping my toes in the music world. The rich musical and academic communities of Cambridge and Somerville make it easy to keep involved in music and go to Harvard at the same time!