It’s been 6 years since I released a CD! hard to believe how time flies, but it was 2007 when I released ‘Under’ upon my return from Australia. Sabine (my wife) and I run our own music production company, so actually, I’ve (helped) put out many CDs over the last 6 years – just not my own (this includes 3 ArtemesiaBlack CDs with Sabine, so sort of mine I guess…).

Seems my own music sort of got set aside to help others, but last year, I began to notice I had quite a few new songs recorded – stuff I’d been working on in between client work. I also noticed that I had several songs from previous CDs that had never been released and that didn’t really fit genre-wise with the new material, so I was thinking multiple releases. Then I got the little brain worm – seems as though so many folks listen to iTunes in ‘shuffle’ mode, so why couldn’t I release a CD with ‘unrelated’ material and just make it a ‘playlist’ of Kenny music? I also realized there were songs from the first 4 albums that hadn’t really gotten too much attention and that were never finished off quite to my liking, so I thought this could be a retrospective as well. So it all started to come together in the form of CD #5, ‘Shuffle’.

The new songs are obviously just ‘new’, and the unreleased songs were mostly from the ‘Fuzzyland’ album which was released in 2004 – they were cool songs, but Mike Freitas (who played drums on that album and helped me co-produce) and I decided they didn’t fit, so they sat incomplete until last year.

The very first album, the 2000 release ‘Eating The Cannibal’ was a super limited release, and it was one of my favorites of all the albums being so experimental and being my first ‘child’. That album was started in the second of 3 basements that were my studios in the early years (thus Basement 3), and recording for that disc started some time in the early or mid 90’s. It was recorded to a single black face ADAT(8 tracks, bouncing, yadda yadda). I was very happy that the machine (after an initial error message) actually started and played the VHS tapes so I could get the material into Pro Tools….phew!!

‘Rising’ which was completed in 2002 was my first Pro Tools recorded album, and I was just never fully happy with that disc, though it got good reviews. ‘Fuzzyland’ came along in 2004 and was a ‘success’ in my eyes, with help from Mike Freitas, Gordon Gurley, and Jerry Ososkie. The first 3 albums had all sorts of great musical contributions from so many folks I’d played with over the years, but there was never a band to support them and there were never CD releases for any of them because of this.

It was after the release of ‘Fuzzyland’ that I started to seriously realize that I needed to play live shows to support my ‘children’, but having tried to put together bands a few times earlier, I decided to see if I could do it as a solo act, and thus started the more singer-songwriter approach that so many of you are familiar with in regards to my performances.

The solo acoustic thing was a lot more difficult and life changing that I ever imagined it might be: playing with a band, as I had always done, was one thing, but being responsible for the whole ‘thing’ was another, and I quickly realized that my singing, with the inability to do multiple takes in a studio, was a problem. I’d also never really loved the sound of my voice, as I’d learned to sing in really loud bands/situations, so producing a knife-like cutting sound was the result to get through all the volume, and that was just not a tone that really worked for me as a lead singer. I took voice lessons and studied acoustic guitar players for a year before I ever did a ‘show’, and the first shows were pretty rough by my estimation.

As 2006 rolled around, I’d started to get the hang of it and the song writing had taken a direction that reflected the performance format, but it was not quite standard singer-songwriter fare. Later that year, I ended up in Australia as many of you know to meet Sabine and play music.

With a lot of time to work on my craft, I came up with some methods of playing acoustic guitar that made it sound a little more like multiple musicians, and recorded the majority of what would be the CD ‘Under’ on a mini recording rig I brought down with me. This is also the time that the first ArtemesiaBlack album was born, and Sabine and I started playing together. Upon returning to the US, I played a lot of solo shows and even toured the west coast a few times, and then toured the whole US when Sabine arrived on our shores in 2008.

Then the mobile recording I’d started in Australia ended up being the start of our music production business as I began recording other artists in the fashion I’d always recorded my own albums. Still heavily influenced by all the acoustic music I’d heard during those years, I did begin to record some new material here and there, but I began missing some of the more layered instrumentation of my earlier approach, so some of that has crept it’s way back in just a little…. : ) As far as songs from old releases that appear on ‘Shuffle’, they have been re-sung and remixed to sound more like I’d always imagined them. And here we are in 2013 with me trying to remember how to play my songs in preparation for a CD launch.

I am very happy with how this CD came out and I hope you will all enjoy the variety and quality of this release – it is sonically the best thing I’ve done (as i now mix/produce constantly), and though I tried to make this CD purposefully ‘shuffle-like’ in it’s odd song to song relationships, I am surprised, actually, at how coherent it ended up sounding.

You can purchase Kenny Schick’s Photobook Mannequins here http://www.lulu.com/shop/kenny-schick/mannequins/hardcover/product-21345026.html

A fine art photography study of mannequins across the USA and Australia. A cynical comparison between human and fake — facades and reality — soul versus soulless — and the fine line between animated and non-animated. With a lot of the darker feelings about mannequins in the past, Kenny Schick now enjoys how beautifully crafted and alive some mannequins can appear, and is especially drawn to older ones that exhibit wear and tear/texture.

 

Artist: Ken Schick
Album: Shuffle
Label: Independent Artist
Website: https://www.kennyschick.com
Genre: Alternative Folk/Pop
Sounds Like: BEck Technical Grade: 10/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 10/10
Commercial Value: 10/10
Overall Talent Level: 10/10
Songwriting Skills: 10/10
Performance Skill: 10/10
Best Songs: 10 Feet Thick, Thank You, Games, None More Black, City of Angels
Weakness: None
CD Review:
Schick’s 5th solo studio Cd – ‘SHUFFLE’ is Americana with colors of rock, punk and jazz, influences from a multi-genre past. Songs of longing, loss, hope – about love and politics and always thought provoking in his intense and deliberate lyric writing. Schick has a loyal following, and for good reason – his has very entertaining live shows, there is passion, laughter, tears, craftsmanship, and thought provoking lyricism. The shows take listeners on a journey with much interplay between him and the audience. Kenny is a generous performer and uses his quick comedic sense to balance the intensity of the songs, which often explore the darker realms of human experience.

The CD gently takes flight with psychedelic “Closer Intro” and jumps quickly into Track 2 “Thank You” a soothing acoustic lullaby that gradually builds into a passionate rock ballad complete with hooky acoustic guitar chops and playing meshed against catchy vocal melody and a grand slam chorus. This intro track sets the tone rather well for this CD, with its feel good groove and clever lyrical content. Track 3 “10 Feet Thick” dishes out yet another impressive track with its steady flowing rock rhythm, and heartfelt vocal melody from Schick and infectious persona. Track 4 “Cereal” serves up yet another interesting track with hypnotic lyrical content, strong melodies and impressive vocal flair again from Schick. As the CD slowly unfolds I can hear many musical influences reminiscent of classic Beck, Blind Mellon, and even a dash of material by Les Claypool and even Frank Zappa. I can even hear rock influences from Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Red Hot Chili Peppers. On the other side of the sonic spectrum I can even hear Peter Gabriel, Yes and Genesis. That’s a pretty wide range of styles and I get the impression Schick dabble sin many styles of music. I would classify this music as acoustic alt rock, with a slight aftertaste of alternative folk, jazz, fusion and an ounce of singer/songwriter. The songs themselves are addictive, and interesting, complete with passionate and interesting subject matter. The musicianship of this band is pretty solid across the board. Schick is a very capable singer, guitarist and songwriter. The players themselves write and play there parts extremely well. Besides the 4 piece standard you will also notice things like impressive solo guitar, horns, organ, well placed drums and sporadic percussive accents, and lush harmonies layered along the way. Equally as impressive is the vocal presence of Schick as he takes many vocal risks throughout the CD indicating to me a strong, confident and infectious vocal ability. His voice sounds in the vein of Les Claypool. All engineering aspects check out. CD Possesses crystal clear high end clarity and thick low end frequency. All songs are short and sweet musical experiences, never too winded, never to short. From melodic “Blackbird” and Black and Blue” to trippy “Games” and thought provoking “Half Life” to dynamic “I Am” to rocking “ Julia” and “Push” to jumpy “None More Black” this CD has something for just about everyone. The CD ends with Track 18 “Half A World Away” the perfect finale statement for a CD of this caliber.

In close Shuffle by Kenny Schick is a highly original, diversified and compelling musical production from start to finish. It’s strong suit – its amazing artistic presence, brilliance, vision from Schick. This guy is a musical mastermind with more than enough zaniness, creativity and eccentricity to go around. For the record: Schick wrote, recorded, preformed, produced played electric, acoustic guitars, saxophone, basses, violin, Washing Machine, percussion, banjo on this CD. The songs are extremely melodic, grooving, and somewhat eccentric – but above all infectious. The songs are short and sweet musical experiences, each one possessing a unique personality, flair, and signature groove. Last but not least Kenny Schick Is an extremely capable artist.

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Lord Litters Magic Music Box 2013 – NO. 5
Lord Litters Magic Music Box International 2013 – NO. 9
Lord Litters Magic Music Box 2013 – NO. 6
Lord Litters Magic Music Box International 2013 – NO. 13

PANDORA.COM
KSCU-FM (103.3) – Mark Rettick – San Jose
FCC-RADIO
UNBOUND SOUND SHOW – Phillip Toole – San Francisco
KWTF.NET
RadioMarabu.de

 

KENNY’s music can be heard on GERMAN RADIO: LORD LITTER’S MAGIC MUSIC BOX 2013 – 5 (german show) will be on air / cable / etc ….May 26th 2013 via RADIO MARABU / MI AMIGO-COSTA BLANCA (Spain) cooperation these channels channels will spread the program…
1. >> UKW 106 und 92,3
2. >> HAMBURG / SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN WILHELM TEL.KABEL 786MHz DIGITAL
3. >> Kabelnetz der VSENET SAARLAND
4. >> LIVESTREAM: http://www.radiomiamigo.es

ZUHÖRSONNTAG 26.MAI 2013
21 UHR- MARABUs MARCEL FISCHER – EuropesAlternativeMusic PURE- im Interview FRANK PROFT
23 UHR- MARABUs LORD LITTER- die Radioshow aus Berlin
24 UHR- MARABUs DARK BEAT – mit GÜNTER RADERMACHER

“Matthieu, Jacob, and Kenny’s tracks embody the spirit of innovation and originality that characterizes Rush,” said Robert Ott, Chairman and CEO of ole. “ole is proud to bring Rush’s music to a new generation of fans as they celebrate 40 years of great songs.”

It got signed to a contract that we can never release it or even play it for anyone, outside of the entry at Indaba. Pity…

Oh and we got a huge swag bag as well as $1000, there was the video included which is such an awesome music video and really had me appreciating these guys even more, a big giant coffee table book filled with their artwork and photos, a tshirt, coasters um… can’t remember what else it was so exciting!

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