The Round Table

Just last month we (re-)introduced you to Kimberly Caldwell, a former American Idol finalist (Season 2) who is gearing up for the release of her debut album, Without Regret. She set the tone with her first single “Mess of You,” a solid pop-rock song that showcases her trademark throaty vocals, Ms. Caldwell is out to show the world she’s a multi-faceted artist and while it’s been nearly seven years since she last graced the music stage, her return is sure to get people talking.

Recently, we had the opportunity to ask Ms. Caldwell some questions about her return to music, her country roots, and of course, how a “new” artist gets hooked up with legendary songwriter Diane Warren. Check out the interview below – and don’t forget to pre-order Without Regret (July release).

TRT: Your debut album “Without Regret” is (finally!) set for release nearly 7 years after your amazing run into the Top 10 contestants of American Idol (2003). Fans want to know — what took so long?

KC: Right after I was on American Idol, I was lucky enough to land a job working on television, but it left little time to really focus on my true passion, which is songwriting and singing. So, I’m glad that I put everything else aside, for now, to dedicate 100% of myself to this album.

TRT: Lead single “Mess of You” beautifully showcases your powerful rocker-chick vocals, very reminiscent to past performances on American Idol. Did you intentionally lead with this song to remind fans of your vocal chops?

KC: All of the songs on the album, including “Mess Of You,” challenged me vocally and I’m really able to show my fans how much my voice has matured and how much I’ve grown as an artist through “Without Regret.” “Mess Of You,” in particular, for me, has a great message. If you get in a messy situation, remember that you’re the one that put yourself there and you’re the one that can take yourself out of it.

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The name Kimberly Caldwell might ring a bell, that is, if you got sucked into American Idol when it was still considered a novel idea rather than what it’s become today. Even though Caldwell made it into the Top 10 finalists during season 2 of American Idol, her path to music stardom hasn’t followed the prototypical AI formula (read: rush an album to distribution to capitalize on ratings). Rather, it’s been a slow build for Caldwell, who is finally set to release her debut album Without Regret (April 6th).

Check out the music video of her lead single “Mess of You” after the jump. Honestly, I forgot how much I enjoyed her powerful, raspy vocals – which sound like a mix between Kelly Clarkson (strained) and Melissa Etheridge. If you like what you hear, you should definitely check out Caldwell’s official site for a free download of “Say Love” off the upcoming album.
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