Kristin
Mueller is a busy woman. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to
New York (via New Hampshire) in the late 90's. By this time she
had a good run playing her own guitar/ songwriter music in clubs
throughout the Northeast but longed for a chance at the big city
of dreams. After a few years of being unable to create a reliable
band of folks to play with. She split the city for the lovely shores
of a Cape Cod summer. By a strange twist of fate her new cape roomate
had a drum kit hidden in the closet. Kristin had found a new expression.
At
the end of this summer vacation, Kristin moved back to the city
with her new kit. Soon after a new friend and musical transplant
from Boston (Mr. Sam Mallery) needed a drummer to complete his band
called the Hidden Driveways.
Without much thought/resistance Kristin was hired. After seeing
a Gloria Deluxe performance
she asked leader Cindy Hopkins if she needed/wanted some drum support.
Mary Guidera & Cindy Wheeler of the Caulfield
Sisters asked if Kristin would join their forces after they
saw a Hidden Driveways show. Eventually, Kristin found herself drumming
for Clare Burson and Lucinda
Black Bear as well.
Such
is the good luck fortune of being a chick drummer in the city.
All
along, Kristin has been recording her own songs. And every once
in awhile she gets a chance to perform them with the help of some
of the fantastic and talented musicians she's met in her stay around
NYC. One of these musicians is the remarkable Austin Hughes (of
M Shanghai String Band
and VPN) with whom Kristin
formed the musical duo kristin:austin
in 2006. Austin and Kristin are recording and performing each other's
songs with a view toward releasing a kristin:austin album.
The kristin:austin music intertwines harmonies and styles
expressed through voice, guitar, dobro and a tenor banjo.
All
the while, Kristin keeps recording at the studio she build in Jersey
City (helpfully placed within walking distance of her home). She's
recently finished recording an album of her quiet songs and and
this is due to be released in August 2006. This will be Kristin's
first solo album.