Wonder Women: Kim Butler’s Journey Through Fretless Bass and Community Rebuilding

Kim Butler is a multi-instrumentalist known for her work on fretless and fretted bass, as well as electric and acoustic guitar. After years of performing in the Philadelphia area, she relocated to Asheville, where she’s become a vital part of the local music scene. In this Wonder Women feature, Butler opens up about her influences, custom gear, livestreaming during the pandemic, and her commitment to community support.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a multi-instrumentalist playing fretless & fretted bass as well as electric & acoustic guitar.  I have performed with a variety of renowned Asheville-area performers, including Will Ray, Chicago blues man Mr. Jimmy, Peggy Ratusz, Jason DeCristofaro and Ray Ring.  Nationally, I have performed with or opened for The Hooters and Tommy Conwell. I’ve also performed at a political fundraiser with Carole King.  Prior to moving to Asheville in December 2019, I was a longtime resident and musician in the Philadelphia, PA area.

Who were your influences?

Jaco, Mark King (Level 42), Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Bernard Edwards, Janice Johnson ( A Taste of Honey), Meshell Ndegeocello, Gail Ann Dorsey, Larry Klein, Wes Montgomery, Carole Kaye, Chuck Rainey, Duck Dunn, Paul McCartney, John Entwhistle, Larry Graham, and Jim Fielder (Blood Sweat & Tears). 

What drew you to the music industry?

I wanted to be able to make all the amazing sounds I heard on the radio…

What would you want to change about the music industry?

I think a little less ego, sense of entitlement and self-importance would go a long way…although I imagine you could say that about any industry.

What’s an average day like for you?

A typical day may have some recording, writing, practice and, later on, a gig. If I’ve had a run of multiple gigs in a row, I will take a “veg day”: rest my hands as well as my body.

You know bassists are all about the gear. And I’m definitely a gear nerd. So I have to ask…any recent game-changing acquisitions to your toolkit?

I’m soon going to be the proud owner of a custom-built short-scale fretless bass…I’m kinda short, have small hands, and this baby is built to fit me. All my life, I’ve played instruments designed for men or larger people…it’s about time. Now I love my ‘76 fretless P…but it weighs as much as me (lol), and it’s a bit of a backbreaker…

We usually hear about the downsides of being a female in the music industry. Let’s flip the script; do you see any benefits?

I think that once women find their passion, we are relentless. Throw any thing at us, we’ll not only learn the parts, we’ll play it better than you could have imagined.

What are you woodshedding right now?

Actually, I am teaching myself to play less…every now and then an old habit of overplaying rears its head, so I’m working on less is more.

How did you handle working through the Covid shutdown?  How did technology help (or hinder) you?

Live-streaming became my best friend…seriously. I had just moved to AVL from Philly, I did not know a soul in AVL. I was just getting my feet wet, going to jams, open mics etc…and then the world shut down completely. Then I discovered Facebook Live, and I decided to start doing a weekly livestream that I called “Happy Hour”. Sometimes I played bass along with tracks, sometimes I did solo guitar while singing. And each one was themed, ie “Friday With Frank” (Sinatra), “One-Hit Wonders”, “Ladies of Laurel Canyon”, etc. At any rate, it kept me busy, plus I learned a lot technology-wise.

Dream artist or band to collaborate with?

In my sleep, I dream of playing with Joni Mitchell.

Important cause or issue that you support?

Well, as you know, we had this minor weather event in Asheville called Helene…many of us in the arts community have been doing fundraisers to support our businesses, neighbors and friends as well as several charitable organizations including BeLoved Asheville, Manna Food Bank and ReString Appalachia. And I’ve been a longtime supporter of LGBTQ+ causes.

New artist (this can also be new artist to you..meaning an artist that is established that YOU are just getting into…but ideally we’d love to promote emerging artists) that we should all know about?

My cousin Brock Butler and his longtime band Perpetual Groove…

What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Get a bass that fits…seriously, don’t just learn your instrument and the notes. Become one with it. Listen to it, put your ear on the wood, the body, and absorb the vibration. Practice not just because you HAVE to, but because you WANT to. And get out of the house and go play. If you don’t have a band, go to a jam, as many as you can…

Any current projects that you can tell us about?  

I love a wide variety of music, and my current projects are:

OVADYA – a female centric progressive all original band, blending hard rock with middle eastern modalities and a touch of Appalachia.

COMPANY SWING, an all-female funk, swing, jazz & blues band. The group is a frequent performer at The Biltmore Estate.

The WTF BLUES PROJECT (WTF=Women To The Front), formed as an off-shoot of Asheville’s Women to the Front music festival.

I also perform with various local musical luminaries, including Katrina “Kat” Williams, a finalist on America’s Got Talent.  In my spare time, I’ll occasionally perform with my wife,  Heather, as 2Chix & Friends.  This is a fun cover band that began when my wife began teaching herself drums

Any final thoughts?

No matter what your dream is, even if it’s not music-related, give yourself entirely over to it…

You can find Kim online on Facebook, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Instagram, and Streets of Asheville.

If you have instruments, music gear, or arts supplies to donate to help Asheville Musicians, you can contact Brittany at [email protected].  

Kim offered a resource list of organizations to help Asheville (and the surrounding areas) recover  – 

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project | Farmer recovery and food access programs

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge | Amazon Wishlist purchase of needed supplies

Asheville Arts Council aka ArtsAVL. As the county’s official designated arts agency, ArtsAVL directly supports arts professionals and businesses through connection, advocacy, and grants.

Asheville GreenWorks | Clean-up efforts, when it is safe and responsible to do so

Asheville Humane Society | Care for local animals, free pet supplies for the community

Babies Need Bottoms | Distribution of diapers and other infant care supplies

BeLoved Asheville | Distribution of critical necessities for survival and stability

Blue Ridge Pride | Recovery supplies, mental health counseling, and housing + healthcare assistance for WNC’s LGBTQIA2S+ community

Bounty & Soul | Food distribution and disaster relief in Black Mountain and Swannanoa 

Bridging the Gaps WNC | Supplies + support for marginalized community members

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue | Recovery + rebuilding

Center for Craft | Unrestricted grants for Asheville artists

Community Foundation of WNC | Recovery and disaster relief across WNC

Eblen Charities | Warm clothing, gas cards, and menstrual supplies distribution, housing assistance

FIND Outdoors | Restoration and reopening of public lands, emergency preparedness education, and employee assistance

Food Connection | Meal delivery across WNC

Hearts with Hands | Distribution of food, hygiene products, and other necessities

Homeward Bound of WNC | Relief for members of the unhoused community and people in permanent supportive housing

Hood Huggers International | Aid for historically disenfranchised communities in Asheville

Junior League of Asheville | Assistance for families with emergency needs and long-term recovery efforts 

Legal Aid of NC | Free legal support 

MANNA FoodBank | Distribution of food, water, and hygiene supplies

Meals on Wheels – Asheville & Buncombe County | Meals for homebound neighbors 

OpenDoors Asheville | Supplies and transportation for families in need

Pisgah Legal Services | Free legal support

Poder Emma | Emergency home repair in the Emma community

Restring Appalachia | ReString Appalachia is a nonprofit organization initiated by the music history podcast American Songcatcher,supported by over 250 musicians, instrument makers, nonprofits, venues, visual artists, actors, and media outlets, dedicated to getting quality instruments back in the hands of those who lost them due to natural and economic disasters.

SeekHealing | Free emotional first aid for survivors

Southside Community Farm | Distribution of necessities to homes in historically under-resourced communities

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County | Mobilizing volunteers, supporting youth recovery, coordinating with nonprofits, grassroots groups, and emergency operations

Valley Hope Church | Hot meals, water, counseling, and other services for the Swannanoa community

Veterans Treatment Court of WNC | Support for area veterans’ recovery

YMCA of Western North Carolina | Staff support, facility repairs, and community assistance

Explore Asheville has also launched the Love Asheville From Afar initiative, a database of local businesses and organizations to support through purchases or donations. You can submit your nonprofit to be included.