First reaction..."Oh HELL no! I'm not going to like her! She's one of those people...she's thin, gorgeous, and BLONDE!" Did I mention that she is younger than me? Did I mention that she has a dharlin' (misspelled intentionally) personality. UUUGH! Sometimes a girl...no a sistah, can WIN YOU OVER completely!
This was the case with my new girlfriend, Abbi Walker! She was a total breath of fresh air, one that she exhibits on her "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" EP. (http://www.abbiwalkermusic.com/). We had spoken briefly via email, and some text, but never personally. However, our emails were hilarious. When I read her bio, and watched her vimeo, I knew we were destined to be joined at the hip! (https://vimeo.com/65641532) I had to LOL when the material she sent over prior to our interview included a note about Abbi being a preacher's daugher (Abbi says she wasn't the rebel preacher's daughter that I was! PFFFTT!!!), being a pretty good shot, and could start a fire faster than her peers, I KNEW the friendship was meant to be! And even despite her BLONDENESS, HER ADORABLENESS, and her THINNESS, she and I would still be forever friends.
Who is Abbi Walker? I like to call her a Texas, Rockabilly SONGSTRESS. Abbi says J-MO calls her a cross between Adele and Miranda Lambert. Here is what the pro's say --
"Abbi Walker is a fresh, edgy, southern soul and country artist with the talent and personality as big her home state. Raised in South Texas as a Preacher's kid, Abbi was heavily influenced by gospel music, Southern culture, and Texas grit. An independent artist and songwriter, Abbi is confident, funny, and as sassy as they come. Taught to sing by her grandmother on an old upright piano at the age of just 3, Abbi fell in love with the art of music and songwriting immediately. "I learned early on that being a songwriter was an incredibly important part of being an authentic artist. The ability to say well what you want to say, the way you want to say it is extremely important to me as an artist and as a person. It just does not go well if someone tries to speak on my behalf or tell me who I should be. I am the same way with my music..."
Abbi says, "I approached this EP wanting to do two things really well. The first was to create a record that melodically sounded like all of the things that go on inside of me: music I love: deep rhythms, harmonies, sass, rock, chord structures that make me feel alive and happy… This is the soundtrack to my life! Second of all, I wanted to write and record songs that lyrically sounded like the conversations I have with my friends and family. Southerners are naturally some of the funniest people on the planet, and Southern women are just pistols. This record is in many ways, a celebration of those strong, crazy, hilarious, loyal Southern Women. There's no one else in the whole world like them. Phrases like "Sister fell off that crazy train", "I ALWAYS keep it classy", or "Girl, you just need to pick up your skirts and RUN from that man. He is nothin but trouble!" are just normal conversation pieces in my life. I wanted to make music that would make women smile, laugh, cry, and sing along. I really feel like we did that, and did it well!"
Abbi worked with producer Rick Alvarez in Texas to record all 6 original songs for her "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang EP", released in April of 2013. Country music legend Lloyd Maines, played pedal steele on two of the tracks, including the heartbreaker "Old Southern Love", which tells an incredible story of a Tennessee couple facing the rising waters of the flood of 2010. In addition, Grammy winning fiddle player Bobby Flores left his mark on the record with his smoking solo work on the title track and several others.
Abbi Walker is a force to be reckoned with, and she is ready to take country music by storm, even as an independent. Her Kiss Kiss Bang Bang EP is a sweet kick in the mouth of southern goodness, Texan grit, and rock and roll.
I say, let the girl kick the boys to the curb, and rock on with her bad self! Abbi Walker, I love that you are sticking to your guns (revolver I would guess), and making the music that you love, a little country and little bit rock and roll (funk, punk, and junk rock and roll)!
Note to yourself - My favorite part of our time together was that Abbi brought her Grandmother with her to this interview. I was in Heaven. (Pun intended, again, given that we were in a renovated church!) You all know how much I love my GRANNY! So, it was another factor in the REENE/ABBI friendship.
A special thank you to the fine people, especially Miguel and David, at Mark's American Cuisine (http://www.marks1658.com/) for allowing us to sit upstairs at the restaurant for our meeting.
Can a girl get an AMEN? Rock on sista, Run RUN Baby, KISS that SOUTHERN SOUL, and be GROWN, off into the WILDERNESS, and kicking that NASHVILLE FLOOD! Cheers to your EP, KISS KISS BANG BANG! Wishing you mucho grande success!