Some musicians experience an essential moment—an epiphany, if you will—when the veneer of impediments and “reasons why” holding them back from a headlong plunge into their passion peels away to reveal the heartwood of a true artist. For Kevin McCarthy; a songwriter, singer and principal of his label, Corkmusic; that moment occurred when he realized that music was a vehicle with which he could communicate ideas and feelings for which words had failed. The critics picked up on that ability from the start: when his debut album, “Anchors Away” was released, a review in “Discovering Artists” revealed “His voice is smooth and the tunes are dreamy and indefinable as far as genres go, which adds to the album’s appeal.” His latest album, “Hiding In Plain Sight,” has generated the same excitement from critics, old and new fans alike. The work was produced by McCarthy, Jerry Becker, and bassist Jeremy Bleich, with performances by an eclectic cast of musicians “whose technical and creative abilities are second to none.” McCarthy started writing music at 16, but his exposure to piano, trumpet and drums began a decade earlier. The solid foundation might be the explanation for the flowing, natural interaction between his lyrics and music; a quality that Discovering Artists characterized as a “soaring acoustic and electric sound with a feel of jazz and folk.” He describes his artistic process as “melodic progression then lyrics,” fueled by his interpretation of what is observed and what feelings are invoked. That approach carries through to what he wants for his live audiences. “When they’re leaving a show, I want them to feel like they just shared a kaleidoscope of intense feelings,” McCarthy says, “like challenged, ecstatic, lost, found, electrified.” Bringing that level of refinement to the stage and recording studio has been no small feat. In 2003, McCarthy started his label and released his debut album. In the subsequent seven years, he’s lived an up-and-coming musician’s life, covering 150,000 miles on the road in locations from Rhode Island to San Francisco. Being driven as he is, McCarthy has continued to record and collaberate with many well respected artists/musicians such as; Stewart Myers, Brian Jones, Jessie Harper, Joshua Smith, Kurt Kotheimer, Mike Gamble, Noah Jarrett, Conor Elmes , and more. 2010 promises to be an exciting year for Kevin with the release of an album. The album will feature long time friends and collaborators Joshua Smith and Kurt Kotheimer. The session was recorded live to tape, and mixed by Stewart Myers, Joshua Smith, and McCarthy. The warmth and direction is apparent in both the musicianship and the trio’s collective approach to McCarthy’s songwriting. Considering the trajectory and course this songwriter/guitarist’s career has taken, it is apparent that his music, is and continues to be, time tested and genuinely embraced.