Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer is excited about the new CD 'Divine Discontent.' It's more sophisticated than the band's first effort, which included the hit 'Kiss Me.' View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Sixpence coins its own sound, image

Tempered by record industry battles, Sixpence None the Richer plays the Birchmere Wednesday night

By MICHAEL ZITZ

Date published: 2/13/2003

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

When the sweetly heartfelt single "Kiss Me" became a Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit in 1999, it seemed as though Sixpence None the Richer could kiss its problems goodbye.

Instead, the San Antonio pop band has kissed off three different record companies over two agonizing years before finally releasing its follow-up album, "Divine Discontent," on the Reprise Records label.

Five years passed between the 1997 release of the group's self-titled major label debut album and the new CD's arrival on store shelves.

The success of "Kiss Me" actually hurt Sixpence because labels were looking for more of the same and that wasn't the kind of thing the band wanted to keep doing.

"It was tough," lead singer Leigh Nash said during a telephone interview. "We were frustrated that it took so long to release the record."

"Divine Discontent" is a more sophisticated work, but it remains to be seen if it will have the same radio appeal.

"I really love it," Nash said. "It was such a labor to get it out, I think I love it more than I would have if it had come out in more of a timely fashion. Because of that, it's really close to all of us."

Sixpence, which plays the Birchmere Wednesday night, also had to battle media perception that it was a Christian band. Members of the band are Christians and had roots in Christian music, but they no longer make what's traditionally considered Christian music.

"Mainly, what's frustrating about that is that usually it's mentioned sarcastically," Nash said. "When it's used, it's 'That's not cool.' That's really the main issue. If it wasn't such an issue for people to talk about and write about we wouldn't have as much problem with the label.

"Our world view is very colored by our faith, like most people who have a faith they adhere to," Nash said. "In that sense, our music is Christian. But we're not trying to convert anyone. We're just making music as human beings."

Nor is her faith an unquestioning one. She's said she can't understand how God lets bad things happen to good people.

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Date published: 2/13/2003