Biography
In 1990, at the age of 24, Kim Stockwood launched her stage career by taking part in folk evenings held inside a neighborhood tavern located in her birthplace of St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. By year’s end her sets had become popular enough to claim every weekend slot at the same venue. While handling these performances she continued a daytime position that drew upon the English and business coursework she had finished at college. Treating the move as an experiment, she relocated to Toronto in 1992 to test whether a recording contract might be secured. Upon reaching the office of EMI Music Publishing president Mike McCarthy, she spoke with him for an hour before stepping onto his piano bench to deliver her version of Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” She departed with a publishing agreement, and five months afterward she obtained a recording contract from EMI. Three years later the label issued the limited-edition promotional EP Greetings from Bonavista to journalists ahead of the official street date for her first full-length album.
While searching for a title, Stockwood recalled the Newfoundland town of Bonavista where she had spent much of her teenage years creating mischief; the same community had also been home to both her grandmother and her mother. The album included guest appearances and co-writing contributions from Guess Who/Bachman-Turner Overdrive guitarist/vocalist Randy Bachman, alternative pop/rock musician Matthew Sweet, and producer Jim Rondinelli, who had previously worked with Sloan. Both Sweet and Bachman supplied guitar on the track “She’s Not in Love,” and Bachman co-wrote “N.A.S.H.V.I.L.L.E.” with Stockwood. She later noted that she typically meets collaborators such as Bachman and Sweet after colleagues suggest writers or musicians worth contacting.
Despite modest radio exposure, Bonavista reached Canadian stores to limited commercial response. Seeking ways to improve sales, an EMI executive overheard one of Stockwood’s rehearsal numbers while she prepared for upcoming concerts; the executive inquired about the upbeat pop/rock song and the label subsequently chose to issue the album internationally the following year. The reissued edition added two new pop/rock selections, “You Won’t Remember This” and “Jerk,” that departed from the original country-rock orientation. The international version of Bonavista arrived on October 1, 1996, accompanied by the Jerk CD single. The single attracted attention in Sweden, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Poland. Altogether Bonavista yielded four hit singles: “She’s Not in Love,” “Jerk,” “You Won’t Remember This,” and “Enough Love.” Stockwood earned multiple East Coast Music Award nominations for the Jerk single and her debut album, a Juno nomination for Best New Artist, and the SOCAN Airplay Award for “Enough Love.”
After the international release, Stockwood toured Canadian festivals throughout the summer of 1997. She also served as a correspondent for CTV’s program E and hosted that year’s pre-Juno Awards party. While in Toronto the following October, Squeeze vocalist/guitarist Glenn Tilbrook received a copy of Bonavista from Stockwood; impressed, he invited her to his home in England that December. Their sessions produced several songs for her second album. Additional collaborators included Bass Is Base’s Chin Injeti, the Payolas’ Paul Hyde, and noted songstress Jann Arden. Recording and songwriting had already begun before the England trip, and Stockwood continued work in the studio with producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda, known for his work with the Rheostatics and Barenaked Ladies. Management changes followed when Bruce Allen, previously associated with Anne Murray, Econoline Crush, and Bryan Adams, became her manager.
In the summer of 1998 EMI Music Publishing organized a songwriters’ camp in Devon, England, selecting fifteen participants that included Stockwood. Although her second album was already scheduled for pressing, she was required to form daily writing teams and present new material each evening. One afternoon she was paired with English songwriter Abenna Frempong, who had written for Vanessa Williams, and producer/songwriter Peter Vettese, whose credits included Seal, the Cure, and Annie Lennox. Within twenty-five minutes the trio completed “12 Years Old.” After the evening performance drew strong applause, Stockwood recognized its hit potential and instructed her label to stop production so the song could be added and used as the album title. The track aligned with the record’s overarching theme of vulnerability typical of that age.
That September, Stockwood previewed material from the forthcoming album by opening for Irish legend Van Morrison in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and St. Johns. In December she filmed a nightclub-singer scene for Global Television Network’s program Traders at the Matador in Toronto. The episode aired on March 18, 1999, and introduced the title track of 12 Years Old. The album reached Canadian stores on March 30, though it remained available only as an import elsewhere. That spring the track “Moon Beneath My Feet” appeared on the season finale of Dawson’s Creek. On June 4 the video for “12 Years Old” climbed to number two on Canada’s MuchMoreMusic chart. Four days later Stockwood appeared on Canada’s Pamela Wallin television show, where Wallin described her as a “whirling dervish.”
A summer and fall tour across Canada began on June 13 and concluded on November 30, taking Stockwood through St. Johns, Montreal, Halifax, and additional cities. On November 22 Dawson’s Creek again featured her music when “Puzzle Girl” from 12 Years Old was broadcast. During the tour Stockwood contributed the Dean Martin standard “Marshmallow World” to EMI’s Christmas at Home collection. In the spring of 2000 she reunited with East Coast Music Award recipient Gordie Sampson for a writing session, marking her first new material in three years. She simultaneously became an on-air personality at Toronto radio station CHUM and hosted that year’s Canadian Music Awards.
Over the next several years Stockwood hosted additional events including the NABS Annual Fundraiser, Saturday Night at the Junos, CTV Junos Red Carpet, and the ECMA Industry Awards Show. Recording activity remained limited until she formed the earthy alternative pop/rock trio Shaye with Tara MacLean and Damhnait Doyle. The group issued its debut album The Bridge in 2003; the single “Happy Baby” earned a Juno nomination, a SOCAN Award, and a Canadian Radio Music Award. While touring over the following years, Stockwood gave birth to her second son, Sam, in 2005. In the summer of 2006 she recorded the Christmas collection I Love Santa, which contained traditional holiday songs together with two originals, “I Love Santa” and “Home This Christmas” (co-written with Tim Bovaconti). The album appeared in October 2006, the same year Shaye released its second album, Lake of Fire.
While searching for a title, Stockwood recalled the Newfoundland town of Bonavista where she had spent much of her teenage years creating mischief; the same community had also been home to both her grandmother and her mother. The album included guest appearances and co-writing contributions from Guess Who/Bachman-Turner Overdrive guitarist/vocalist Randy Bachman, alternative pop/rock musician Matthew Sweet, and producer Jim Rondinelli, who had previously worked with Sloan. Both Sweet and Bachman supplied guitar on the track “She’s Not in Love,” and Bachman co-wrote “N.A.S.H.V.I.L.L.E.” with Stockwood. She later noted that she typically meets collaborators such as Bachman and Sweet after colleagues suggest writers or musicians worth contacting.
Despite modest radio exposure, Bonavista reached Canadian stores to limited commercial response. Seeking ways to improve sales, an EMI executive overheard one of Stockwood’s rehearsal numbers while she prepared for upcoming concerts; the executive inquired about the upbeat pop/rock song and the label subsequently chose to issue the album internationally the following year. The reissued edition added two new pop/rock selections, “You Won’t Remember This” and “Jerk,” that departed from the original country-rock orientation. The international version of Bonavista arrived on October 1, 1996, accompanied by the Jerk CD single. The single attracted attention in Sweden, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Poland. Altogether Bonavista yielded four hit singles: “She’s Not in Love,” “Jerk,” “You Won’t Remember This,” and “Enough Love.” Stockwood earned multiple East Coast Music Award nominations for the Jerk single and her debut album, a Juno nomination for Best New Artist, and the SOCAN Airplay Award for “Enough Love.”
After the international release, Stockwood toured Canadian festivals throughout the summer of 1997. She also served as a correspondent for CTV’s program E and hosted that year’s pre-Juno Awards party. While in Toronto the following October, Squeeze vocalist/guitarist Glenn Tilbrook received a copy of Bonavista from Stockwood; impressed, he invited her to his home in England that December. Their sessions produced several songs for her second album. Additional collaborators included Bass Is Base’s Chin Injeti, the Payolas’ Paul Hyde, and noted songstress Jann Arden. Recording and songwriting had already begun before the England trip, and Stockwood continued work in the studio with producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda, known for his work with the Rheostatics and Barenaked Ladies. Management changes followed when Bruce Allen, previously associated with Anne Murray, Econoline Crush, and Bryan Adams, became her manager.
In the summer of 1998 EMI Music Publishing organized a songwriters’ camp in Devon, England, selecting fifteen participants that included Stockwood. Although her second album was already scheduled for pressing, she was required to form daily writing teams and present new material each evening. One afternoon she was paired with English songwriter Abenna Frempong, who had written for Vanessa Williams, and producer/songwriter Peter Vettese, whose credits included Seal, the Cure, and Annie Lennox. Within twenty-five minutes the trio completed “12 Years Old.” After the evening performance drew strong applause, Stockwood recognized its hit potential and instructed her label to stop production so the song could be added and used as the album title. The track aligned with the record’s overarching theme of vulnerability typical of that age.
That September, Stockwood previewed material from the forthcoming album by opening for Irish legend Van Morrison in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and St. Johns. In December she filmed a nightclub-singer scene for Global Television Network’s program Traders at the Matador in Toronto. The episode aired on March 18, 1999, and introduced the title track of 12 Years Old. The album reached Canadian stores on March 30, though it remained available only as an import elsewhere. That spring the track “Moon Beneath My Feet” appeared on the season finale of Dawson’s Creek. On June 4 the video for “12 Years Old” climbed to number two on Canada’s MuchMoreMusic chart. Four days later Stockwood appeared on Canada’s Pamela Wallin television show, where Wallin described her as a “whirling dervish.”
A summer and fall tour across Canada began on June 13 and concluded on November 30, taking Stockwood through St. Johns, Montreal, Halifax, and additional cities. On November 22 Dawson’s Creek again featured her music when “Puzzle Girl” from 12 Years Old was broadcast. During the tour Stockwood contributed the Dean Martin standard “Marshmallow World” to EMI’s Christmas at Home collection. In the spring of 2000 she reunited with East Coast Music Award recipient Gordie Sampson for a writing session, marking her first new material in three years. She simultaneously became an on-air personality at Toronto radio station CHUM and hosted that year’s Canadian Music Awards.
Over the next several years Stockwood hosted additional events including the NABS Annual Fundraiser, Saturday Night at the Junos, CTV Junos Red Carpet, and the ECMA Industry Awards Show. Recording activity remained limited until she formed the earthy alternative pop/rock trio Shaye with Tara MacLean and Damhnait Doyle. The group issued its debut album The Bridge in 2003; the single “Happy Baby” earned a Juno nomination, a SOCAN Award, and a Canadian Radio Music Award. While touring over the following years, Stockwood gave birth to her second son, Sam, in 2005. In the summer of 2006 she recorded the Christmas collection I Love Santa, which contained traditional holiday songs together with two originals, “I Love Santa” and “Home This Christmas” (co-written with Tim Bovaconti). The album appeared in October 2006, the same year Shaye released its second album, Lake of Fire.
Albums
Singles
