Austin, Texas based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and award-winning songwriter Kit Holmes has spent a lifetime working (her first paying gig came at the age of 13!) in music. She's performed, composed, arranged, produced and engineered for solo artists, bands, festivals, small businesses, trade associations, churches and theater groups across the country.
KIT HOLMES: Bio
Songwriter and Composer
Kit began her songwriting career at the age of 9 when she composed a song about her dog, "Patches", complete with ukulele accompaniment. She debuted her first original “love song” (which was sufficiently pubescent and moody) during a school variety show at the age of 13. She continued to write through high school where her piano proficiency, love of jazz and theatrical productions took center stage. The result was a number of intricately beautiful instrumental pieces she still performs today.
Kit moved into composing music for original theatrical productions including “Psuedo-Video, Gidget Goes ‘80’s” (Grand Rapids, MI) and “Self-Made Man”, the story of cross-dressing jazz musician Billy Tipton. The show was produced by the theatrical collective Pulling Threads (Athens, GA) and Kit portrayed the title role. She felt she “channeled” Billy in writing the music and lyrics for the haunting “Suits Me.”
Though Kit wrote and performed her original songs with all kinds of bands in all kinds of musical genres throughout the years, it wasn’t until 2001 that she put her focus entirely on becoming a great songwriter. She credits a fellow writer and former band-mate in the late 1990’s with introducing her to the craft of lyric writing…and rewriting…and rewriting!
“Up to that point, I’d thought of myself as a pretty good composer but just figured I didn’t have the same “gift” for writing lyrics. I knew my lyrics didn’t ever really seem to connect with people, but I didn’t know why. The first time I witnessed someone actually editing their stream-of-consciousness or “inspired” lyrics, the light bulb went off and a whole new world of expression opened up,” says Kit.
It seems Kit got things pretty “right” in 2004 when she entered her first-ever song contest and earned a Finalist nod in the “Pop” Category with “Take Me Back” from her debut CD release, “All I Know”. That album produced two more award winners: the title track (3rd place, Inspirational Category) and “Swing Set” (Finalist, Instrumental Category).
The title track to Kit’s latest CD “It’s a New Day” captured a 3rd place win (Inspirational Category) and became the theme song for the Austin Area Inter-religious Ministries (AAIM). This CD has become a “must-have” for fans of New Thought music around the country since its release in September, 2007. The awards and recognition just keep on coming.
Instructed and encouraged by the likes of songwriting greats Steve Seskin, Eliza Gilkyson, Robert Anderson, David Roth, Chuck Cannon, Cris Williamson, Pat Pattison and many, many others, Kit continues to hone her already amazing songwriting chops.
Musician
Piano and keyboards are where Kit's natural talents as a musical artist are most apparent. After years of session work and playing in both original and cover bands - from jazz to rock and country to musical theater - Kit's vocabulary on the keys is extensive. Vocals run a pretty close second, as do guitar, bass, percussion and just about any other instrument she puts in her hands! Recent studio work includes keyboard tracks on Nu-Jazz trumpeter and composer Duane Carter's "Never Say Never" album project and singer/songwriter Janet O'Connor's "Strawberries" album project. Recent sidework gigs include those with legndary bassist Eddie Watkins, Jr., singer/songwriter Betty Soo, songwriter and performer Chris Pfeiffer, jazz vocalist Lisa Clark, the Katie-O Combo, and Las Vegas-based vocalists Richel Kompst and Jay Josephs. Kit is also a member of the New Thought music group, The Light Travelers: four independently successful performing songwriters who have joined forces (and about a dozen different instruments) to create "Music to do the world a world of good."
Performer
Kit's gigs have been as diverse as the styles of music she embraces in her writing. Recent peformances include songwriter showcases at Austin's famed Saxon Pub and Threadgill's, headlining at the awesome listening room The Bugle Boy (La Grange, TX), television appearances Fox's "Good Morning Austin", Co-headling with legendary bassist Eddie Watkins, Jr. at the No Place Like Holmes-produced "Good Grooves Gathering", headlining Whole Foods Market (flagship store in Austin), Mozarts on the Lake, Eddie's Attic (Decatur, GA) fundraisers for Austin Music Foundation, guest appearances at New Thought churches and conferences (sharing the stage with beloved artists Michael Gott, Rickie Byars, Karen Drucker, David Roth and "Devotion"), benefits (sharing the stage with the legendary Cris Williamson) and house concerts around the country.
Teacher and Inspirational Speaker
“All roads lead to…” As Kit’s musical and personal adventures began to converge, an interesting new path emerged.
In 2007, Kit found herself invited to speak, teach and consult not only about songwriting and the music business but also about her journey of personal and spiritual growth. She’s been well-received at places such as Celebration Circle in San Antonio, TX and now presents workshops on Songwriting and Spirituality.
In June 2010, Kit will complete her training as a Licensed Spiritual Counselor (RScP) through United Centers for Spiritual Living. Her plans for world domination via love and laughter are unfolding beautifully!
Audio Geek (Engineer) and Producer
From 1989 to 1995, Kit was head of the audio mastering department of a large compact disc manufacturer outside of Atlanta, GA, where she and the crew cranked out literally thousands of titles from RCA, BMG, A&M, Arista, Windham Hill, Word, and more. Kit opened her own mastering facility, "The Music Kitchen" in 1995 where, for the next 6 years she digitally mastered and/or produced more than 300 music and spoken word projects, provided live sound for events ranging from private parties to outdoor concert series and had production credits as engineer, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist on more than 30 independent album projects. In early 2001, Kit produced the innaugural season of the highly successful Ashford Manor "On The Lawn" concert series in the charming, eclectic town of Watkinsville, GA. Since moving to Austin, Texas in late 2001, Kit has gained a reputation as a top-notch professional live sound engineer, working for touring artists such as Omar Lopez (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Suzanna Choffel and John Pointer. She’s engineered showcases for South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) and has run sound on the main stages for festivals including Old Pecan Street Festival and The Austin Pride Festival. In 2008, Kit became the house sound engineer for the Austin Music Foundation and the Whole Foods Market “Music at the Market” concert series. She continues to run sound for gatherings of kinds, corporate events, church organizations and house concerts. She’s also highly regarded as an event organizer and producer.