Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Thriving" by Kiersten Blue

By Bob Makin
originally published: 06/02/2023

Asbury Park singer-songwriter Kiersten Blue’s latest single, “Thriving,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. PHOTO BY JEFF CRESPI

Sometimes all as not as it seems on social media, and those who seem to be doing well might not be.

The truth of such situations inspired Asbury Park singer-songwriter Kiersten Blue’s latest single, “Thriving,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Thriving” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on June 2 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin or MixCloud.

“The lyrics of the song sort of outline the pain behind beauty standards and the ‘online image’ we portray,” Kiersten said. “I think a lot of us struggle with stuff behind closed doors but really only show off the highlights, and it causes us to constantly compare ourselves to others. Someone told me I was ‘thriving’ when behind the scenes, I really didn’t feel like I was, and that’s  what inspired me to write this song.”

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If Kiersten isn’t thriving, she sure is Makin Waves.

A graduate of the Lakehouse Academy, the Patti Smith-meets-Hope Sandoval songstress returned to Lakehouse Recording Studios to record “Thriving” with a house band who took the emotionally charged song to a whole other level.

“The lyrics were written exclusively by me, and the initial chords and melody on acoustic guitar were also written solo, but the song really took form in the studio,” Kiersten said. “I really love taking a song I wrote acoustically and watching it transform into a fuller sound. Working with a session band is a great collaborative experience!”

Kiersten is makin just as many waves  with a bevy of high-profile summer shows.

They include those with a full band by the season’s end.

“I have many shows lined up to play, including a few full band gigs in August that I'm super stoked to play!,” she said. “I’ve been writing consistently and plan to record and release a bunch of new music this fall. I am doing a direct-to-vinyl session on Aug. 4 at Leesta Vall Sound Recordings. They are one-of-a-kind live takes of selected songs from my catalog, ‘musical Polaroids,’ essentially, that can be purchased at https://leestavall.com/products/kierstenblue.”

Upcoming shows include June 3, Point Pleasant Summerfest; June 4, The Grove at Shrewsbury; June 7, 902 Brewing, Jersey City; June 10 and 24, Brook 35, Wall; June 16, Baronet Rooftop After Party, Asbury Park; June 17, Brick Plaza; July 9, Riley Park, Bradley Beach; July 10 and Aug. 14, Wonder Bar, Asbury Park; Aug. 19, John & Peter’s, New Hope, Pa.; Aug. 30, Asbury Park LIVE on the boardwalk.

Those last three gigs for the typically solo singer-songwriter will be with the aforementioned full band.

To find out more about Kiersten, click www.flowcode.com/page/kierstenblue.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected]

About the author:

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New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

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