CD Release info, Jonte, Praying Small up and running, MD-ing a new rock musical in July & some other random goodness!
I haven’t posted in weeks! The MAJOR excuse I have is that I’ve been finishing up production for my 3rd full-length CD, Sell-out. I’ll spare you the gloriously gory details, but I will tell you that 5 of the tracks are co-produced by the brilliant Ellis Miah & 4 are co-produced by a tremendous artist named Kazzer . Track 10 will be the version of Hallelujah that I’ve been performing around town for the last 5 years or so, produced by yours truly. I’m beyond excited that Seth Von Paulus who runs shop and engineers at Linda Perry’s studio will be mixing the tracks.
I produced vocals for Jonte a few weeks ago. Incredible artist. First off, he showed up the first day of recording in an emerald green beauty queen/talent competition dress, some high-ass heels and a full face of make-up. Flawless. He was performing at “United For A Cause”, a charity event at The Highlands in a few days and had 4 tracks without proper backing vox recorded on them. We rocked it out in my studio and he blew the ROOF off of The Highlands. No wonder it’s said that Beyonce and Rihanna got their style from Jonte!
Praying Small opened at the Noho Arts Center a few week-ends ago. I got hired originally to compose original underscoring for this play, but at some point I was hornswoggled into doing ambient sound effects for the play as well. I spent about 50 hours total on the sound effects which were cut a few days before the opening to everyone’s great relief! Frankly, because they were horribly distracting to the play. We’d perceived this from the start, but I come from a theatre background and I was taught to give the director what he wants. 50 hours later… Anyway, go check out the play. It’s wonderfully written and acted and my original music remains the underscoring for the play.
I’ll be music directing an LA reading of a new musical that Kristin Hanggi, director of Broadway’s Rock Of Ages & Ben Dector, an LA film and TV composer are developing. The reading will happen in July. Anything Ms. Hanggi involves herself in is a project worth being a part of. I’m honored to be working with her again.
I’ve got some gigs coming up. The shows that are booked are my New York CD release performance and Open Artist’s “We Are Golden” benefit concert here in LA. My NYC release party is Monday, August 9th at 8pm at Rockwood Music Hall. For you New Yorkers, it will mark my first performance in New York City in over a decade. Yikes! The “We Are Golden” concert is on Monday night, September 27th at Arena Night Club in Hollywood, CA. We have some big names for you this year, all to benefit Lifeworks‘ mentoring program for LGBT&Q youth. I will also be doing a CD release performance in Los Angeles and in my hometown of Watertown, NY in August. More info to come!
Also producing music for Kelly Meyersfield, Phoebe Carter, Kurtis Simmons and some other uniquely talented artists this Summer.
Here’s a vid of an artist I’m working with named Giulietta that I’ve mentioned previously. This is an unplugged version of her first single, “Here We Go (again)” arranged by us and shot and recorded in my studio. She’s MAJOR.
That’s all I got. Word to yer mama. XOXO KP
Fay Wolf, Laura Bell Bundy, Ticked Off Trannies, & a new song on iTunes!
More time than I would have liked has lapsed between my last posting and this one, but for good reason. The last few weeks have been wall to wall. I saw some great art, had some exciting writing sessions, and went into full production for my next full-length album. That combined with teaching and producing demos for my clients makes for a busy, happy KP.
I saw singer-songwriter Fay Wolf perform at the Hotel Cafe last week. She’s a chill, piano playing, very pretty young lady whose songs are quirky and melancholy. Her voice is clear and sexy. I’m guessing there is some musical theatre in her past. Her EP, Blankets, has only been out a couple months and she’s already had a few placements on Grey’s Anatomy. Her music is VERY film and TV placement friendly. Check out her website for more info.
My BFF Darryl Stephens opened a play called Boys In The Band last week which is a fascinating piece of theatre for several reasons. The play was written by in 1968 and apparently it was the first play to put gay characters on a stage. The play is set in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where six of Harold’s closest friends are throwing him a birthday party. Add a copious amount of alcohol & an ultra-straight, surprise visitor from the party host’s college days and mayhem ensues. I attended the preview before opening night and saw it again the following week with a friend from out of town. Honestly, the first time I saw it, I was NOT a fan of the writing. I couldn’t understand why anyone would write this story. Also, the actors hadn’t yet settled into their roles. I left depressed and exhausted. However, my 2nd experience of the play was an ENTIRELY different one. The actors took a lighter and more humorous approach to the play’s very dark and bitchy dialogue to great effect. This shift allowed me to see some good in the writing. -And though these characters depict only a small slice of all gays on the planet, these people DO exist. I know some of them! Historically in 1968, once the gay community adjusted to seeing themselves depicted onstage in this play, there was a serious backlash from those who didn’t like the WAY in which they were being represented. This reaction seems inevitable when a piece of art is created around a minority group. There is valid concern about further stereotyping the group and putting them into an even worse light. But I think it important to realize that these are but a FEW characters who happen to have certain habits or mannerisms which perhaps have very little to do with the minority group that they are part of. Maybe they act a certain way because they were abandoned by a family member, grew up in a super rich and highly conservative environment, etc. -But these backlashes obviously come from an emotional place and sometimes create an irrational or OVER reaction. Sometimes I think we all need to relax.
…forced segue into…Ticked Off Trannies, an indie feature film that my friend Willam Belli stars in, showing at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival in NYC. To me, It’s obvious at first glance that this film is pure camp, in the style of a vintage John Waters film. The trailer is silly, yet highly provocative and I’d bet money that the selection committee for the festival was banking on this film creating controversy. -And they were right. A portion of transgender community was up in arms and picketing against the film & it’s inclusion in the Tribeca Film Festival. Picketing transgender activists expressed outrage at the films inaccurate & silly depiction of transgender people. -But the irony of it all is that every screening of the film is nearly sold out at the festival and its gotten tons more press than I’m guessing it actually deserves, including an article in the New York Times! I’ll be attending the festival in NYC so I’ll let you know how it goes!
Probably my favorite performance of the last few weeks was Laura Bell Bundy’s spirited performance on the American Country Music Awards this Monday night! I had the pleasure of working with Laura Bell a few years ago when I co-music directed and vocal arranged the original LA production of an 80s rock musical called Rock Of Ages. Laura Bell was cast to play the lead. She was sweet, professional and a tour de force in the role. She went on to play the lead role in Legally Blonde, The Musical for which she won a Tony Nomination. Following her run as Elle Woods, she returned to her native roots and recorded a country album which got her a record deal with Mercury Nashville. Over the last few months, I began to notice Laura Bell’s new career gaining fast momentum. The music video for the first single, “Giddy On Up” was released, brilliantly choreographed by RJ Durell (the original choreographer for Rock Of Ages) and Nick Flores. The popularity of the video earned her a best video nomination and a featured performance at the ACM Awards. There are few things more inspiring than to see a talented, deserving friend become a star. I finally downloaded the entire CD this week, called Achin & Shakin, and what I really love about it is that it’s a gorgeously produced “classic” country album reminiscent of a Dolly Parton or Loretta Lynn album. It’s the kind of album that will stand the test of time. -And it reminds me that despite Taylor Swifts insistent claims, her album is not a country album, it’s a pop album with a dash of slide guitar. 
In other news, a pop song I wrote with the uber-talented Ellis Miah was released on iTunes. It’s called Ascention (the artist – hopefully on purpose – chose the archaic, biblical spelling) and was recorded by Guilietta Russo. What’s most exciting is that the producer of the album is David Kershenbaum who is known for his production work with Janet Jackson, Bryan Adams, Joe Jackson, Supertramp, Cat Stevens, Tracy Chapman and Joe Jackson…the list is endless! The song and the album are available on iTunes…so check it out & buy it if you like it. It’s a songwriting favorite of mine.
-More news, but I’ll save some of it for next time. I will say that my new album should be finished by May 30th! If you are an independent artist, you understand that we have to create our own deadlines, manage our own projects…and PAY for them! I’m teaming up with a brilliant music manager named Rich Overton. Stay tuned for more info regarding the CDs release & concerts in LA and in NYC (August).
It’s going to be an incredibly busy and productive Summer. Let’s make 2010 the year of the artist. XOXO Kyle
Songwriting, Vocal Coaching, Megalomaniac Vid & Skyline
-Been a great week for songwriting. Ellis Miah (his pooch Roscoe on left), Seth Van Paulus and I are working on a country song for a stunning 16 year old Native-American girl. She is the new Patsy Cline with an iconic, rich, classic voice well beyond her years. The song is being written on top of a sweet and brilliant guitar motif that Seth came into the session with. I also started creating a new song with Guy B and Leo Moctezuma. -A good one too. I hope we finish it.
Darryl Stephens and I are constantly working on our original soundtrack for a movie we’ve written. I can’t wait for the first reading. I’m excited to hear how it reads. The potential for this project is SCARY. The songs are fun. We’re kinda giddy about it.
I don’t talk about it much but I’m also a vocal coach. It’s beyond rewarding on a regular basis. I work with some pretty extraordinary artists. I ALSO music direct. Hello Mr. Hyphenate! Tonight I had a productive rehearsal with a boy band I M.D. called Skyline (in photo below). We are back to work after a short hiatus. The group has gotten their business together, they’re working with new management & now they’re putting together an EP that they can shop to labels. It’s a matter of time for them. They are talented, good guys.
I have a bunch of other projects rolling around in my head that I’ve got to put down on paper. I’ve got a little creative bottle-neck happening. It’s time for a plan of action. I’m obsessed with finishing what I start & I’ve got a TON of writing and producing to do for various projects. But I’m getting it done… sometimes I just have to relax and not get wound up about it.
I finished editing my “Pop Goes The World” Performance but I haven’t figured out how to add video here yet, but a link I CAN do. This video was my first experience with editing in Final Cut Pro. I’m in LOVE! -Kicks IMovie’s ass. :P To get things done as an independent artists, you’ve gotta be a one man band. Producer, editor, promoter, booker, publicist, etc. Look ma, I’m a video editor. :P
Have a great week!
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