Kristen Bales is an indie-alternative/rock artist out of Indianapolis, Indiana. With a voice that at times appears relaxed and pristine, like the sweet crooning of Norah Jones, but at times crashes against the heavy, soul-filled tones of Janis Joplin, Kristen turns to roots of jazz to exemplify genres of blues, rock, and soul.

 

Kristen formed from a project that began in 2012; a self-titled EP simply titled “Kristen Bennett” which followed several years of touring across the country, writing, and creating. A native of the Midwest, Kristen became a familiar face among the Ohio River Valley, appearing regularly at local festivals, the Underground, and collaborating with independent filmmakers to cultivate a soundtrack for the indie flick, Titans of PS-271. In 2013 she recorded her EP “Someone Else’s Eyes” in the infamous Gaither Studios.

 

In the spring of 2015 Kristen spent four months in Nashville, Tennessee recording, writing, and cultivating her live show at the Contemporary Music Center. The brief season culminated with a national tour, nearly six studio recordings, and over 20 local shows. Nashville left traces of an entirely new sound—roaring guitars, haunting vocals, and resounding melodies.

 

Years later, the band has transformed from a small indie-folk number to a combo that resounds with the likes of Elle King, Alabama Shakes, and Lake Street Dive.

 

This past year Kristen hosted a soft release of Merry Little EP, a living-room EP with the staple jazz trio twist on classic Christmas tunes.  

 

This next year brings new faces and fresh beginnings for the band as Kristen takes to the road to promote the release of the new single, "West Coast". At the end of 2022, a full length album rings in the New Year with a long overdue metamorphosis of the old folk band, into a new groovy era for Kristen.