In 2006, after eight years of fronting the critically acclaimed Colorado-based band, Newcomers Home, and releasing her first solo record, Watch Them Fall, as a side project—singer/songwriter Katie Herzig retreated to the solitude of her bedroom studio. There, she single-handedly recorded and produced Weightless, a tour-de-force of innovative sonics and songwriting whose tracks have been prominently featured on NPR, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, E.R., Smallville, and, most recently, on two episodes of television’s highest-rated drama, Grey’s Anatomy.

Following the release of Weightless, Herzig left Colorado for Nashville and immediately started to catch the attention of other artists. Her song “Heaven’s My Home” received a 2007 Grammy nomination for best country performance by The Duhks. She was also invited to open shows for The Fray and join PASTE Magazine and American Songwriter Magazine sponsored tours.

Performing Songwriter Magazine wrote, “Katie Herzig possesses gravity-defying powers on her latest release, balancing heavy and mournful lyrics with light pop melodies that bounce and float into the stratosphere.” PASTE Magazine’s Jason Killingsworth said, “Katie Herzig has a whimsical side that I love. Her music doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the lyrics always [have] a sharp emotional edge to them. I’m a huge fan.”

And now, on May 13, 2008, Katie Herzig’s fans can expect her most adventurous and satisfying album yet: Apple Tree.

While Apple Tree is every bit as melodic and emotionally incisive as Herzig’s previous records, it is nonetheless a bold and assertive step forward. According to Herzig, “Weightless was very much a do-it-yourself, homemade project, but the recording of Apple Tree became very collaborative and pushed me to places, performance and production- wise, that I might not have gone on my own.”

Working as her own producer, Herzig teamed up with Nashville multi-instrumentalist and producer Cason Cooley (The Normals, Derek Webb) for five tracks—as well as with two members of The Fray team, producer Aaron Johnson and guitarist David Welsh on the track ‘Hologram.’ Herzig: “The song ‘Hologram’ was actually written partly in response to a conversation I’d had with Aaron, who said he missed how I used to belt when I sang with the band. So it felt appropriate to record that song with him.”

Though Herzig is the sole author of most of Apple Tree, two of the songs (‘I Will Follow’ and ‘I Want To Belong To You’) were co-written with well-known songwriter Kim Richey. “I’ve learned so much writing with Kim,” Herzig says. “Especially about patience. Allowing the songs to take the time they need to develop, rather than rushing to finish them and ultimately settling.”

Patience is also a trademark of producer Cason Cooley’s contribution to Apple Tree. “I’m always in such a hurry to get my ideas recorded,” Herzig admits, “but Cason helped slow me down. He is an explorer with an incredible ear for melodies. He also helped hand-pick many of the musicians we asked to play on the record.” Nashville recording artists Sandra McCracken and Ruby Amanfu also lent their voices to a few songs on the project.

As on Weightless, Herzig again worked side-by-side with Grammy winner Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, John Prine), who mixed the album, helping to massage two years’ worth of songs and the work of three producers into a cohesive artistic statement.

The result is Apple Tree: a spellbinding, uniquely immersive listening experience that deftly manages to be at once playful and impassioned—challenging and comfortable—intimate and epic. From start to finish, Apple Tree firmly stands as something Herzig should be proud of, as it’s quite possibly her best album to date. She’s managed to blend her honey-sweet voice and superb songwriting skills to make an album bountiful with both playful energy and heartfelt, lyrically rich songs.

“Sweeter Than This” -Music Video

Kim Richey with Katie Herzig - “Jack And Jill” (Second Cup Café)

Katie Herzig - The official site.
Katie Herzig’s Official MySpace page.