She has been homeless, she been on TV, She attracts fairy tale like love stories and she has been heartbroken. Experiencing every high and low makes her the artist she is, Kristen McNamara. A northern California native, hippie at heart. Raised on a small ranch, selling chicken eggs on the corner was not enough. She moved out at age 16, to pursue her music career. Starting with funerals, San Francisco Giants and 49ers, then ending up as a finalist on CBS's Star Search in 2003, USA's Nashville Star in 2006 and FOX's American Idol in 2009. The image and costumes along with wearing paint on her body representing her love for art and painting on stage, is only part of who she is. Playing dress up is a hobby which stems from theatre and dance experience as a child as well as 2 shows daily 6 days a week in Branson, MO in 2003. Kristen then moved to Nashville, Tennessee holding underground songwriter music nights with Nathan Lee in an industrial building. She experienced working with everyone from John Rich, to Wynonna Judd then picked up and moved to Hollywood.
Her range spans 4 octaves, and her song catalog is in the 1000's in all genres of music. Kristen wrote over 200 songs last year, (she claims it's due to bad luck with men and boys, not talent) and often produces vocals for artists in Los Angeles, Nashville and New York. Executive Producer, Mikal Blue found Kristen to be a rare talent 4 years ago and has been working with Kristen on writing for her record for the last 15 months. New York production team, Peter Macchia and David Andronico took the last 6 months with Kristen, researching her influences to create her unique "sound".
She is the girl who will do anything to capture a hit song. Recently Kristen drove from California to Key West, FL to write "Duval Street", you can find on the music page. Her Irish name, McNamara means "Man of the Sea". Always connected with the beach, Kristen plans to do an ocean themed record. She felt it was important to find herself as an artist before she jumped into starting a record. You will notice, most of her material posted is written in metaphorical form to go along with the theme of water and ships out at sea. Personally requested by Cher, Kristen most recently did guide vocal work for the new motion picture, "Burlesque". Born and raised to entertain, there is no stopping her now. Kristen and her teddy bear "Ophelia" currently live from a suitcase and travel to where inspiration, music and art take them.
