Melbourne’s Jaimi Faulkner has built a well deserved reputation as gifted songwriter, exciting live performer and accomplished musician. Brought up on a diet rich in Blues, Country and Folk music, Jaimi’s music logically reflects these genres, but with a quality and voice that is uniquely his own.

It’s been a sure and steady rise on the Australian music scene for this likeable young performer, his talents having had time to develop and mature naturally since the 2004 release of his impressive debut, Last Light at the age of 21.

Since then he’s toured regularly both here and overseas, won the Australian Blues/Roots Performer of the Year, represented Australia at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, performed at major festivals and been handpicked to support the likes of Chris Whitely, Jeff Martin & Chris Isaak.

January 2009 saw Jaimi Faulkner hit the studio to work on his new studio album, Kiss & Ride. Recorded over three months with ARIA award winning engineer Lloyd Barratt (Mia Dyson) at Melbourne’s Sound Park Studios, Kiss & Ride features the addition of backing vocal harmonies and melodies not apparent on previous releases, with the sound of soul music also added into the mix.

The sounds of folk and blues influences are a feature on Kiss & Ride, but listeners will also hear music inspired from the time Jaimi spent in Memphis, visiting Stax Records and immersing himself in the sounds and flavours of soul music. Jaimi was also lucky enough to meet the legendary soul singer, Reverend Al Green at his Full Tabernacle Gospel Church. The results of this ‘baptism of soul’ are a success; Jaimi’s voice is well suited for the raw soul grooves that you hear in Light A Candle.

The songs on Kiss & Ride relate to themes of love, separation and the highs and lows of a life lived on the road. Album opener Down is about the conflict a musician often feels when juggling dreams of success and happiness in their professional and personal lives.

Second track Highway Life penned in Clarksdale Mississippi; just prior to Jaimi performing with ‘Big Jack Johnson’, features the sounds of the south with its use of slide guitar and captures the joy of an artist doing what he loves.

Some of Jaimi’s favourite earlier tracks are revisited on Kiss & Ride; with Shame and Back To You given new leases on life on the album, while I’ve Been Waiting Some Time, a long time live favourite, makes its first appearance on a release.

The album features a standout band; Daniel Farugia (The Bamboos) on drums, Tim Keegan (Liz Stringer Band) on double and electric bass, Berish Bilander (Vika & Linda Bull) on Hammond organ and piano, plus special guest appearances from Kylie Auldist, Jason Heerah (Josh Owen/Australia’s Got Talent), Liz Stringer, John Bedggood (Bernard Fanning) and Stephen Grant (C.W. Stoneking)

Kiss & Ride sees Jaimi Faulkner continue his rise on the Australian music scene, releasing his finest offering to date. Kiss & Ride will be released in June 2009.