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Kristine Wriding’s singer-songwriter life story began  not with a shout, but a whisper and that’s fine with her, she says.  She has no aim to be a one-hit-wonder. Her plan from the start was for honing her songwriting and performing skills while learning all aspects of networking and marketing.  

She has no interest in the pop culture singing contest shows, where so many artists are praised for being one-of-a-kind, even as the coaches and judges mold them into anything but.

Kristine was the only girl of three kids in the Weise family; who played the saxophone okay as a kid,  but it wasn’t a passion.  

Kristine did enjoy singing, though.  She sang in church choir.   She got the roles of Cinderella and Glenda the Good Witch, in two Chisago Lakes High School musicals.  (To director Seaburg, she sends her best wishes.)

Yet, it wasn’t until late in high school when she learned some guitar chords from a friend, that Kristine found her groove.  

After graduating with the Wildcat Class of 2008 she earned a graphic design degree, and then had “the talk” with her parents, DeWayne and Kaye Weise.   
They gave their blessing  when she said she had to see how far her singing and songwriting would take her,  “For a year” her mom recalls.  “We told her to apply herself as if she was in school and see what happens.”  

That first gig, in a sandwich shop in Coon Rapids, where Kristine was paid in free food and whatever landed in the tip jar hooked her.  From then on-- audience feedback and on-going fan support and vindication of her messages still fuel her creativity and drive.  She discovered she had a lot to say through songwriting.  She describes her melodies and lyrics as “mostly positive, inspirational, thought-provoking.”  Music that makes you think but doesn’t depress you, she adds.
Nashville became home in 2012 for about three years. Through connections and chance encounters, she learned about performing,  writing and how the music business works.  She found on-line music communities like “Songtown” that are opening invaluable windows.

Maybe it was that innate Minnesota Nice thing she had going for her in Nashville, but she also credits a brother-- who has autism.

The experience of having a sibling with special needs instills a patience and accepting nature Kristine thinks rendered Nashville easier to navigate. She mused, “You might be bartending (which she did) and be fixing a drink for somebody who ends up being really important in the business.”  

Wriding is now married to a Marine Corps member, who she has accompanied on adventures to a number of assignments in the U.S. The couple resides in Colorado now; but Wriding wanted to return to her hometown to throw this CD release party and hang around for about a month.   Chisago City’s party location is centrally located to her fan base too.  She has longtime “Wriding Club” supporters in Wisconsin, northern Minnesota and the Cities.

Catch up with Kristine’s accomplishments and be a part of this album release celebration, at WineHaven Saturday, April 21.  Wriding will perform favorites and some new tunes with musician friends in a fun, intimate social night.  See www.kristinewriding.com for details and ticket info and remember to opt into the e-mail list.  WineHaven is off Karmel Avenue and Highway 8.

If you miss the release party she will be back at WineHaven, singing during one of the summer wine festivals, and she is also booked at the MN Horse Expo and the Country Stampede in Kansas this summer.

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