Kim Petrarca is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Providence. She was involved in the New England music scene for over 10 years before she released her debut EP, Leave It Where It Lies, in the summer of 2015. Shortly after the release, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue her dream of becoming a successful singer-songwriter. She has recorded and released three EPs, a country single, an original holiday track, and most recently, a single after her move back north.
Her style of indie folk rock is lyrically driven, honest, and simple, making her songs meaningful and relatable. She mostly writes deeper songs with passion that comes from the heart. Kim’s wisdom, light, and witty satire make for a show you’ll want to catch again and again. We recently caught up with Kim and asked a few questions.
Kelly Marino (Motif): Where are you from, and who or what influenced your music career?
Kim Petrarca: I was born and raised in RI. My parents always had music on the radio, in the car, and at the house on weekends. I loved dancing, singing, and performing from a young age… My mom would sneak me into The Station to sing cover songs on Tuesday nights. I played my first official gig at Main Street Coffee in East Greenwich.
I was drawn to singer-songwriters and music that made me feel. I’m a sucker for lyrics that resonate or paint a picture. I was lucky enough to play with and be inspired by some amazing local musicians. When I started playing gigs, and once I focused on my originals, I was really inspired and influenced by Bob Dylan, Carole King, Butch Walker, Ani DiFranco…
KM: What’s your sound and/or genre? How many albums do you have, and how do you promote your expertise?
KP: If you Google me, you get “folk.” I say singer – songwriter.
I have released 3 EPs, one country single co-written with Jordan Miller, one holiday song, and a single last year, which is part of my upcoming EP. I use social media as a free tool to promote shows, news, and other updates. I also use my website and mailing list. I’ve yet to dabble in the TikTok of it all…
KM: How do you approach songwriting? Melody or lyrics first?
KP: I’m a word girl. The lyrics come first; the melody follows. There is no right or wrong way. It’s whatever works for the creator.
KM: What kind of places and vibes do you enjoy performing at?
KP: I love playing smaller, more intimate rooms. The Parlour, Myrtle, anything playing in the round I really enjoy.
KM: What experiences have been the most memorable in your music career?
KP: My most memorable solo music experience was opening up for Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs on the first two shows of their 2023 fall tour.
I was in an original band called Grey Sanford in my twenties with Greg and Andy Roch, Neil Gagnon, Mike Geer, and Jon Carosi. We opened for Badfish at Lupos to a crowd of almost 2,000. That was really awesome playing to a sold-out crowd!
I am so excited to be part of the RI Folk Festival family, co-hosting the Gazebo Stage with Anthony Loffredio. This will be my third year affiliated with the festival. I urge everyone to donate or attend. It’s free. It’s a beautiful day filled with local artists, musicians, vendors, and real folk music! (Sunday, August 30 at Crescent Park in East Providence, noon – 6 pm.)
Visit Kim’s Facebook page and website for news and updates. You can also find her music on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, and more!