Kim Beggs is a wanderer.
But she’s also very rooted.
It might have something to do with her heart.
“My heart tells me to get along my way,” she said, sitting in a busy local coffee shop.
It’s a line from Wanderer’s Paean, the title track on her new CD.
“We spend a lot of time not listening to our hearts,” said Beggs.
“But we all have different songs in our hearts that guide us through life.”
Beggs’ songs, or paeans, recently took her across Canada and have earned her a showcase in Austin, Texas, at the upcoming South By Southwest Festival.
“I sing about what I’m thinking,” she said.
“My brain feels really chaotic and sometimes in social settings it’s hard for me to verbalize what I’m thinking.
“But in songs my ideas are concise.
“And this gives people a better understanding of me.”
The best compliment Beggs ever received was from her mom.
She sat down with her daughter’s CD, listened to all the lyrics, and then turned to Beggs.
“I agree with you,” she said.
It brought tears to Beggs eyes just remembering it.
“We spend our lives thinking we’re so different from our parents,” said Beggs.
“And I’m so lucky to have reached a point where I can express myself.”
Beggs has only been home for a couple weeks, and wasn’t sure about doing a release concert in Whitehorse.
Wanderer’s Paean was released in Toronto in October.
Planning a concert’s a lot of work, she said.
“And I didn’t want a big shindig up at the arts centre.”
Then she remembered a CD release she’s been to at Steve’s Music last winter.
“It’s such a nice space, and I remember it being cold outside and full.”
So, Beggs decided to give her hometown a taste of the new stuff, before heading out on a Western Canadian tour in January.
The CD release concert is Saturday at 8 p.m. at Steve’s and Rose Music. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $12 at the door.
Come early to get a seat.