Kristin Hersh

Kristin Hersh is an American singer, songwriter, and author, born on August 7, 1966, in Atlanta, Georgia. She is best known as the co-founder of the alternative rock band Throwing Muses, formed in 1981 with her stepsister Tanya Donelly. Hersh's music is characterized by its raw emotion, complex structures, and introspective lyrics. In addition to her work with Throwing Muses, she has released several solo albums and leads the punk-influenced trio 50FootWave. Her solo career began in 1994 with the album Hips and Makers, and she has since released multiple critically acclaimed works, including Crooked (2010) and Wyatt at the Coyote Palace (2016) .+11+11+11The Big Takeover+7+7+7

Beyond her music, Hersh is an accomplished author. Her memoir, Rat Girl (2010), later published in the UK as Paradoxical Undressing, is based on a diary she kept at 18 while touring with Throwing Muses, dealing with bipolar disorder, and being pregnant with her first child. The book was named #8 in Rolling Stone’s “25 Greatest Rock Memoirs of All Time” . She has also written Don't Suck, Don't Die: Giving Up Vic Chesnutt (2015), a reflection on her friendship with the late singer-songwriter, and Seeing Sideways: A Memoir of Music and Motherhood (2021) .A-Z Quotes+3+3+3+1+1

Hersh's candidness about her mental health and her creative process has resonated with many. She has spoken openly about her experiences with bipolar disorder and how it influences her songwriting. In her own words:

"Drugs are just big pieces of tape they stick over warning lights."BrainyQuote+3A-Z Quotes+3Goodreads+3

"The songs keep on writing themselves, and I really love them. It's as close as I get to a religion."AllGreatQuotes+1A-Z Quotes+1

"Now I know I’ll never be numb again. A mother is condemned to feel everything forever. And I’m finally afraid, condemned to fear everything forever. But that makes sense: feel someone else’s pain, feel someone else’s everything. And he’s my baby, so everything’s okay." .Goodreads+2Goodreads+2A-Z Quotes+2

These reflections highlight Hersh's deep connection to her music and her unwavering commitment to authenticity in both her personal and professional life.