Hailing from Rosewell New Mexico, Kristine Mirelle is a young singer songwriter whose talent has taken her across the globe!  With a sound that’s been described as the Mexican love child between the late Amy Winehouse and Beethoven, Kristine is set to take the industry by storm. We were lucky enough to have an interview with Kristine. Here, amongst other things, she  talks about what inspires her, her ventures as an entrepreneur and whats to come with her new album!

When did you know that music was what you wanted to get into? Did you have that one particular moment, or was it a gradual process?
I started piano lessons when I was four years old so as long as I can remember music was in my life. All of the members of my family also all play multiple instruments and sing so it was never a decisions like, “I’m going to make music”. It was more of what my family did when we were together so it was a very natural place to be. It’s where I find the most comfort.

You’re also an entrepreneur! How did “Lil’ Kristi’s”, your Mexican food brand, come about?
My father has multiple brands of Mexican foods and also a factory that manufacturers Mexican food products. He was always inspiring to me because when we were younger we didn’t have much, but I watched as his hard work created a better life for our family. Growing up he always encouraged me to make sure I was thinking about my future and to secure it through different opportunities. One day he told me I should create my own brand and two years later I created “Lil Kristi’s”!  They’re in about 50 stores in New Mexico now and it’s been really exciting to see it grow so quickly.  It was a lot more work than I was anticipating but it’s been a lot of fun!

What else would be a strange or interesting fact that not many people know about you, or would be surprised to find out?

When I was twelve I was so nervous when I was on stage performing that I completely peed my pants. Pretty embarrassing. Things can only get better from there!

For those who haven’t heard your music, how would you describe your overall sound using 3 imaginative words?
Soulful, imaginative, sexy!

What would you say is unique about your sound?
I’m a big mix of what I grew up listening to and playing. Modern pop music, meets classical pianist, meets 60’s Motown group! I’m an old soul and it shows in my music!

Who would you say are your main influences?
Amy Winehouse, Duffy, and The Black Keys.

Is there one song in particular, by any existing band or artist, which you wish you’d written?
Back to Black by Amy WInehouse. Its magical.

Is there anything that inspires you when you are writing the music and lyrics to your songs?
I’m inspired by life in general: My experiences, the experiences of others, and my own attempt to try and look at my life through the 3^rd person and write about it. The creation of a song can be a crazy thing to fathom: I’m thinking, “how can I tell my story but make it sound good to a melody, make the instruments highlight the vocals, and also tell my story with rhyming words?” I mean, how are humans even capable of these things? I think every song is fascinating and a miracle to even exist because all the elements have to work. They don’t even have to quite make sense, they just have to work.

Is there a message or a particular sense of feeling which you want people to take away from listening to your music?
I just want people to walk away with some sense of stimulation. I love all aspects of life: The good, the bad, the bad that feels good… I love it all.  Even if a song is painful sometimes it just helps to hear that someone else went through what you are going through. Music has the power to heal, lift, and encourage people. It can also make people feel sexy and adventurous. Either way, they’re all exciting parts of our life that can be brought out through a simple song.

You’ve performed in many places around the world. Which was your favorite place?
I would say my favorite place to perform was in Bangkok Thailand. I had been performing and teaching in a special education center for a few weeks. The kids were so much fun. It wasn’t a big concert that I did,  mainly classroom performances and assemblies, but it truly was the best time of my life! I am doing the same thing in Peru in April and really think it will be amazing once again!

If you could choose to go on tour with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Amy Winehouse. Her sound was so raw and never forced… almost like she wasn’t writing a song but just telling her story with every painful detail and every happy moment too. She had a gift that seemed so effortless.

What do you hope to have achieved in 10, maybe 15 years?
I like to live day my day and in each moment. I’m the type of person who feels lucky every morning I open my eyes so in 15 years, if I’m blessed to still be living and breathing, then I’ll for sure still be creating and performing music so I know I’ll be happy.

What do you hope the rest of 2013 brings for you? Anything in store for your fans?
I’ll be finishing up my new album! It’s been a few years since my last release and I was usually very good at releasing one every 12 months or so. To take a 3 year break was pretty unusual for me. But I was growing, exploring, REFLECTING, and healing and those four things are so necessary for every human being. In this album, I feel no boundaries and just like any type of art, we randomly choose to highlight certain parts of our character through each piece. When this album is finished, I’m curious to see which parts of my life I will ultimately be sharing.

Make sure to visit Kristine on her:
Official Website: http://www.kristinemirelle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinemirellemusic
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/kristinemirelle
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristinemirelle