The Sweet Success of Kimmi Bitter

Kimmi Bitter. Photo by John Hancock.

I remember watching her at the San Diego Music Awards, standing there in a killer retro outfit, looking like a classic star out of another era. It hit me then—Kimmi Bitter has become something extraordinary. It felt like this transformation happened overnight but in reality, she’s been grinding nonstop for years to get here. Seeing her own the stage, it was clear she’s built something incredible.

In an industry that’s always chasing the next big thing, Kimmi’s over here steering clear of the modern trends, reviving that old-school country soul with a sweet-as-apple-pie vintage aesthetic that makes you sit up and pay attention. Just this year, she has had incredible accolades, and they don’t seem to be slowing down. 

Check out the momentum of awards she’s been handed:

• Whiskey Riff’s Top Debut Albums 2024: Old School Album
• 2024 Song of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards (won): “Aquamarine”
• 2024 Best Country/Americana Artist: San Diego Music Awards (nominated)
• #10 Roots Music Radio Album Chart: Old School Album
• #1 Alt. Country Specialty Chart: Old School Album (four  consecutive weeks)
• #24 Americana Album Radio Chart: Old School Album

Getting to know Kimmi Bitter and her music over the years has been legitimately exciting. She’s always in motion. When she’s not on tour, she’s lighting up all the coolest venues around town. Her online presence? Engaging, consistent, and totally on point. Her website is sleek and easy to navigate, too. You’d think she’s got a whole team behind her making it all happen. But nope—Kimmi’s running this show solo, and her hard work is paying off in spades.

We recently sat down together and got to talking about the ride so far—her career, her no-nonsense approach to music, and the grit it takes to stay in the game. Kimmi’s hustle is relentless, and it’s all part of her DIY ethos. In a business that’s always speeding ahead, she stays true to her vision. No shortcuts, no compromising. But don’t get it twisted—it’s been tough, and she’s earned every bit of success through sheer determination.

Lauren Leigh: You’ve had an unbelievable year. Tell me about your favorite show so far this year.

Photo by Dennis Andersen.

Kimmi Bitter: I feel like recently this past year has just been so great—so much growth. Every tour I’ve done started out small and within my means. I started off as just a duo with Willis and I, and then I grew it to a trio, and now we’ve upgraded the van. The last two months on the road were so good. There were several shows that were cool in different ways. We did one in Tahoe that had this amazing backdrop called the Boathouse Theater. You could see a gorgeous lake from the window behind us. Super beautiful, and something like 80 people rolled out. It was like, ‘who knows about me in Tahoe?’

We ended our tour, opening up for a band called Old 97s in the Bay Area, and I don’t know if that’s maybe the largest crowd I’ve performed for outside of the SDMAs. It was a sold-out show of around 600 people. It was packed and had such cool energy. Gorgeous theater, amazing Green Room. The most amazing showers. I always think the last tour was the best one, but then the next one always tops it.

Oh! And fresh, fresh news: the Old 97s have invited me to go on tour with them. I’m jumping in with them mostly in the Southeast. I’m so excited. (As of this article being published, Kimmi and her band have completed this tour and they’re now performing on several stages for the iconic Americanafest in Nashville. 

LL: That is so exciting! Okay, so tell me in your own words what has sparked or allowed your songs to get the attention of the Americana Music Association radio charts.

KB: I noticed that with all the big players in Americana music, there’s a gal named Angela Backstrom [Americana Radio Promoter] who was the common denominator. I filed that away in my head, and when I felt like I had a product that was ready, so I pitched it to her. And she accepted it, which she doesn’t do often, so it was really cool. She got my music in front of people I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to reach.

LL: It’s amazing that you had the foresight to wait until you had a product that she would accept.

KB: First impressions matter so much. I had a product I didn’t send her because I didn’t feel like it was good enough. You just know when you’re there. Even with this last album, it’s hard not to think about all the things you hate about it. I had confidence because of “My Grass Is Blue,” but I didn’t even want to release it.

LL: Seriously?

KB: When I first heard it, I thought I sounded like Kermit the Frog. I was like, “Willis, I can’t release this.” But Willis said, “You have to release it. We just spent all this time on it.” So, I did, and now I listen to it and think it sounds great. It’s that weird false perception of yourself that we sometimes have.

LL: Like body dysmorphia, but for your voice.

KB: Exactly. I’ve been trying to be more conscious of just accepting compliments. I think I make people uncomfortable if I don’t. When I try to tell people about mistakes I hear, I’m convincing them to not like me. Why am I doing that?

Kimmi and I find ourselves laughing about the “Gemini” nature of certain celebrities, like Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan. These stars project an image of unwavering confidence and bold self-assurance, as if they’re challenging us to adore them without question. Yet, in more intimate interviews, their demeanor shifts drastically. They reveal a more vulnerable side, filled with self-doubt and introspection, much like any other artist. This duality fascinates us—it’s almost as if embracing the spotlight and putting oneself out there so boldly requires a touch of the psychotic. The tension between their public personas and private insecurities highlight the complexity of their artistry, and I see that in Kimmi’s own bold artistry. 

LL: It’s really encouraging for me to see someone really going for it. Not to say that I gave up, but my idea of success has dramatically changed. It is beautiful to watch someone in their late 30s being like, “This is normal, wonderful, and totally okay to pursue—especially for women.”

Kimmi Bitter (center) with friends Nena Anderson and Allice Wallace. Photo by John Hancock.

KB: That is something that I struggled with for sure—such as aging as a female in this industry. I’m not even that old, but I’m old for the industry—which is so dumb. I feel like I’m fighting a clock. But I do feel like I’m in a newer, cooler generation where 30 is like what 20 was and I guess I can reap the benefits of that and buy a little more time. I mean, I wasn’t good in my 20s. I was terrible. Even in my early 30s I still have so much more improvement to go. I think putting a timeline on it can be really limiting on your creativity. We just have to keep pushing or else we’ve already lost.

LL: If you could be anywhere a year from now, what do you think is possible for you?

KB: I feel like I’m on the cusp or at a threshold of getting to more of a national level. I would love to have a team. I’m my own booking agent, my own publicist, graphic designer, everything. I think doing it all by myself is slow, and I’d love some help now. In a year, my dream is to have a legit booking agent. I’m particular about my branding, and I’m very good with the business side of music, but the next step would be having help.

LL: There’s some extreme sacrifice that comes with DIY touring. What’s that experience been like for you?

KB: Lack of sleep and instability. I don’t do hotel rooms unless the venue gives it to us. We sleep in the van a lot—sometimes just on the side of the freeway if it’s late. Cracker Barrel parking lots are great; they have designated spaces for people to sleep in their cars. That took us three years to discover. Otherwise, we were trying to be incognito in our bright yellow van.

LL: Your van has become kind of an iconic part of your branding.

KB: The first one especially! We had to upgrade to one that’s reliable, but obviously we had to get a yellow one again.

Kimmi and Willis with their yellow van.

LL: Are you going to miss it when you blow up on the national scene?

KB: Fingers crossed, no. I thought I was going to miss the old van because it was so full of character. Velvet interior. Wood. Once we got the new van, I don’t think about the old van ever. We’ve already outgrown this new one and we’ve only had it for a year, but at least it can tow a trailer. But no, I won’t miss it. I crave the finer things in life.

Kimmi’s yellow van isn’t just for getting from gig to gig—it’s part of her brand. It reflects the realness she brings to her music and her grit in facing the tougher parts of the road. It’s a testament to her commitment. This queen is willing to put in the miles, no matter how rough the ride, to chase something bigger.

The Making of Old School

LL: Okay you haven’t written a song in a year.

KB: Yeah.

LL: Are you stressed at all about it?

KB: Kind of. I am going to work on a new album. And with a deadline, you ARE going to work on new songs. I am going to get to work this winter with the same writer and producer as the most recent one. Michael Gurley is my producer. Speaking of team, he helped me craft the album we just did—Old School—and we co-wrote “My Grass Is Blue.”

LL: And it is carefully crafted.

KB: That is him. He is an insanely gifted songwriter and musician. The genre I want to do, you have to do for reals and the real way. You can’t just be like ‘I want to do sixties retro country and half-ass it, you have to really know what you’re doing. The harmonies and chords, he fills it all. He has many more years on me, so he has so much more knowledge than I have at my age.

LL: How did you meet him?

KB: My dad went to high school with him. He had a band called DADA and they had a one-hit wonder in the ’90s and built a cult following. It’s very ’90s alternative rock. Nothing like the music we make. Nothing. His band has inspired me to just want a cult following. Because you live your normal life and it’s manageable. But when you do choose to go on the stage, you’re a superstar. But we crossed paths again in maybe 2022. My band was actually a backing band for DADA songs at the Pour House. My dad volunteered us as his backing band, and I was like “Oh my God, Dad!” But we opened up for DADA with some originals and afterward we started talking about classic country. We were like, ‘Let’s write a song together!’ so we wrote “My Grass Is Blue.” Then we thought maybe we should do a whole album. And, so we did. When the stars aligned, it really made sense for us to have this co-writing partnership.

LL: The album is so, so good. The level of nostalgia hits is out of this world. It’s like putting on a Patsy album.

KB: I tried to make this album four times and I never found the right team. If I was going to make a retro album, I needed to sound like I know what I’m doing, and I knew I needed to find a teammate to do it. When Michael and I started writing together—that was the missing component to bring these songs to my exact vision. I didn’t fully have all the skill sets on my own. So, he’s the co-writer, but he just has this incredible ear, and he knew how to produce it. I never had a producer before. We didn’t stop on the album until it was perfect. There was no time limit. We didn’t say “We have to get this done this week,” we just went on it for a year. He said, ‘whenever you’re ready, we’re done’. He found me an engineer that was really incredible, [Enoch Jensen, East Lake Studio]. It was a home studio, but it worked.

LL: If it’s good enough for Billie and Finneas, then it’s good enough for me.

KB: Absolutely! You don’t need a glamorous studio—you just need a glamorous team. It’s not even about their resume, it’s about their work ethic. I have worked with people who were like, “Oh, I know you want to do this retro thing but we gotta find the new trend. There are trends we have to sneak in.” And I knew that wasn’t going to work for me because it’s not authentic.

LL: As an artist, when you really know what you want and find people who understand your vision, it changes everything, doesn’t it?

KB: That’s the hardest part—finding people that get it. I’ve been through four albums with people who were great, but they didn’t fully get the vision. When I said I wanted to make a 1960s country album, I meant it. It’s the music I love, and I wish it were on the radio, so I’m going to make it.

Kimmi with Willis Farnsworth. Photo by Kristy Walker.

LL: Willis is in your band and he’s your boyfriend. Did it start out that way?

KB: No, we were friends for a year. We met through the music scene. He had his own band, I had my own band, but we always shared a love for old rock ‘n’ roll. I always thought he was so cool because he wore bell-bottoms before they came back in style. Especially for guys—he was wearing them in 2012! And he’s always had sideburns. I’m obsessed with old fashion, and I thought it took so much confidence to look that way when I knew it wasn’t the trend. He fits in well now, but eight years ago? It was bold. We bonded over Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, and a year later, when his band dissolved and I dissolved mine, we just started playing together and never stopped.

LL: I remember the San Diego Music Awards a couple of years ago—the first award of the night. You won, and I saw you two sprinting from the entrance to the stage. We were all shouting, “She’s here!!” You had just arrived right on time. It was incredible.

KB: Oh my God. I remember that! I was convinced I wasn’t going to win, so we were just hanging out, drinking Juneshine in the parking lot, totally chill. Then I heard our song playing from outside and we were getting our bags checked. I thought, “Okay, they’re probably just announcing the nominees,” but it kept playing. That’s when I was like, “Wait, maybe I won!” Someone yelled, “Where’s Kimmi Bitter?” I still had my purse on! I ran in so fast. I’m just glad I made it. I would’ve been so bummed if I’d missed that.

LL: What other accolades have meant a lot to you this year?

KB: I was nominated for Best Country Single in the music blog Saving Country Music. That was a cool one. But the best one was being featured in Whiskey Riff. I didn’t even know they knew I existed! I was scrolling through their blog, and suddenly I saw my picture right there. I was like, “Wait, what?!” It was for Top Debut Album of 2024. I was stoked!

Winner Kimmi Bitter & partner Willis Farnsworth at the 2024 San Diego Music Awards. Photo by John Cocozza.

LL: Talk to me about what the San Diego Music Awards mean to you.

KB: Oh, it means so much. San Diego is my hometown, and I worked hard to get recognized here. It wasn’t overnight success—it was years of grinding. San Diego’s a huge town. To be nominated among so many talented musicians is something I’m really proud of. I’m not one of those people who say awards don’t mean anything. I want the award! Growing up, I never got awards. I got participation ribbons, so when I finally won Best Americana Country, I was like, YES!

I remember going to the SDMAs about ten years ago when I wasn’t even performing regularly and thinking it was so out of reach. That was my first experience. It was the year Low Volts won everything that year and my friend said, “Oh, that’s Low Volts, he’s all the rage right now, he’s really new and up and coming.” From that moment I wanted to strive to be recognized in San Diego, but it seemed so out of reach. I was too afraid to even play in front of people and so incompetent at guitar. But I wanted that one day.

LL: It’s a beautiful testament to how hard work really pays off.

KB: It’s kind of played out that way for me and I hope it continues to. I don’t really know how it all works. I just believe in hard work. I know I’m not the best singer, but I know I am one of the hardest workers and if I want something—I work relentlessly at it. I never give up until I get what I want. And once I do, I get bored and move on. I haven’t fully gotten everything I want in music, so I’m going to keep at it.

Kimmi Bitter is apple pie, whiskey, and thigh-high boots. She has a sharp vision, a work ethic that won’t quit, and a level of realness that hits you right in the heart. She is charging toward greatness with no brakes. From that iconic yellow van to the blood, sweat, and soul she pours into every damn song. She’s not just another country artist—she’s a force of nature. New music is in the pipeline, and she’s dreaming big, so don’t think for a second she’s slowing down. If you’re not paying attention yet, now’s the time—Kimmi Bitter is just getting started and it’s an absolute pleasure to witness. 

Kimmi’s music is streaming on all platforms and her tour dates are regularly posted on her website, Kimmibitter.com.