Solo

Interview with Kim Jennett

Kim Jennett Top

Interview with Kim Jennett
By Paul Monkhouse

Kim Jennett is a force of nature. With a voice that rivals the power and feeling of Lzzy Hale, Glenn Hughes and Robert Plant matched with an utterly magnetic and feral stage presence she has been tipped as a stellar talent and someone destined to be absolutely huge. After blowing away audiences the length and breadth of the country fronting Voodoo Blood she’s about to fully step into the spotlight as a solo artist with a warm-up show at the Waterloo Music Bar in Blackpool before heading to the hallowed ground at the Download Festival the following weekend.
Whilst her work with Voodoo Blood was phenomenal, it has been her musical partnership with former Jagged Edge/Skin/Red White & Blues guitarist Myke Gray that has rocketed her into the stratosphere. A hugely talented guitarist and songwriter along with being one of the hardest working, experienced, driven and most well-respected professionals in the business, Gray spotted the raw talent therein after being sent a couple of video clips of Jennett and contacted her regarding some studio work. With the first of the dates debuting his titular band looming, he also offered Voodoo Blood the opening slot and it was this memorable evening at the Academy, Islington in early June 2018 that the public got to witness the two sharing the stage for the first time during an incendiary duet between Jennett and Phil Conalane, Gray’s vocalist. When Conalane was unable to make a support tour with Black Star Riders, Jennett was the first and clear choice as replacement and any who saw Myke Gray on that tour knows that the band blew the roof off, night after night after night, giving the headliners a real run for their money.
To call the results of the Gray/Jennett mix ‘alchemy’ would be wrong as it is much more akin to gold being purified and shaped into something exquisite by a master craftsman. Bringing to bear his vast skill, experience and depthless passion, Gray has certainly brought the best out of Jennett, refining her incredible vocal talent and stage craft with a real understanding of not only the talent but the person too, mentoring and driving her to heights she continues to exceed with each and every new release. The perfect pairing, committed to making the very best music they can, there seemingly is no limit to what they can achieve together. With the looming potential/probable headline-making appearance at the UK’s biggest and best rock festival, now seemed the ideal time to find out a bit more about the person behind the soon-to-be household name.
What initially got you into music?
From a young age I always enjoyed performing and I was always involved in school plays and drama clubs and things. I struggled to make friends or fit in when I was young (and now haha) so I used performing as my release and found it was the only time I felt myself and truly happy. I realised I could sing when I was involved in larger musicals in my mid-teens and then I picked up a guitar and it just snowballed from there really! I started writing my own songs to help me through some of the troubles I was going through at the time and it’s been my medicine ever since.
Who were your influences and inspirations?
Honestly my mum is my biggest inspiration. She isn’t a singer but she’s a creative and raised me as a single mother while pursuing a career in art, I think that’s really badass. She always just encouraged me to do what makes me happy and music makes me happy.
I have never set out to “be like” anyone else. From a young age I’ve always wanted to stand out as an individual as I think there is something incredibly awesome and inspiring about other people who do this. Stand-alone female artists like Lady Gaga, Jessie J and Beyoncé have that strong female energy that really gets me going and excites me! I also have a deep love for old-school blues artists like Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Howling Wolf and Etta James etc. There is something that just touches my soul with blues music, maybe because the music comes from a true place of pain and from that pain they created something beautiful. I find that era truly inspiring too as it shows that music can literally help change the world with the huge role blues had in the end of segregation. I just love how music brings people together.
There has been a big change from your earliest pub shows/gigs you did as a singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar until now…how did that develop?
I’m constantly evolving and changing as an artist, even if you look at the first song I did with Myke (‘Take Me Home’) to ‘Unbroken’ (the latest single) they‘re only a year apart but are completely different and I barely recognise myself in the first video now. There is something inside that drives me to always be better and be on top of my game. I Iove mixing things up and I’m always looking to improve myself and my art. However specifically I think I put the guitar down as I started to sing heavier music but, who knows, I may pick it back up for a few shows at some point again.
You created the Voodoo Woman persona with Voodoo Blood and seem to have really grown more into yourself as an artist away from that image. How does it feel to come out of that strong visual statement and really blossom into Kim Jennett, artist in her own right? Was it slightly scary to leave that mask behind or a testament to your personal growth?
I created the persona in a way because I was scared of being myself. As I grow and shed a lot of the things that were bringing me down, I become less angry and more grateful for where I am and who I am now. I am not afraid of standing on my own two feet as just me, Kim Jennett, and I don’t need to hide behind a mask anymore.
You’re projecting such a positive and strong image as a woman in rock. Do you feel that things are positively changing regarding how women are viewed now in the music industry?
Thank you! My gender isn’t a disadvantage and I am proud to be a woman. I would like to think I’m a strong person, but women are very strong, we go through so much shit and pain (Every month in fact haha). I am just here doing my thing as many other female artists are and there are so many women out there at the moment absolutely killing it, it’s very inspiring to me and I want to inspire other girls too. I want those girls to know they can stand on their own two feet; they don’t have to take shit from anyone and they shouldn’t be afraid of going out there and being themselves. ‘Kim Jennett’ as a standalone artist is the embodiment of me saying “fuck you I’m going to just be myself and that’s all I need to be”. As I said before I really look up to strong female artists in the industry and now I’m here I feel empowered to stand alongside them. Hopefully I will inspire other women (or people who identify as women) that have faced some of the same struggles as I have in this weird time we are in.
You’ve been working with Myke for just over a year now, firstly in the studio and then more and more live. What’s he like to work with and what is the song writing process?
To be honest meeting and working with Myke saved me from going down a very dark path. He’s been super inspiring and I am truly grateful for everything he has done for me. He’s relentlessly driven and completely passionate about what he does. It’s essential for me to work with people who match up to my intensity about things. He’s taught me that my intensity is a positive thing rather than being scared by it like a lot of people may have been in the past and have tried to drag me down for it. With mine and Myke’s work ethic I think we are an unstoppable team.
Myke has produced and written the album, he lives and breathes it and has tailored each song around me, I have never worked with anyone in my life that believes in me as much and works as hard as he does.
How would you describe the last year?
The last year has been like… Getting pushed off a mountain by the people you thought were your best friends but then you land in a giant bowl of ice cream.
How do you feel about the reception you have received, from the times fronting Voodoo Blood and onto the shows you’ve done with Myke? The reviews have been pretty phenomenal.
I play music because I love playing music, I love the power it has to unite people, I live and breathe it. I think that comes across in my performances and when I see rooms of people enjoying themselves as much as I am, that’s the best feeling in the world.
How did you feel when you got the call from Myke to do the Black Star Riders tour as his singer? It must have been a special moment.
As a singer going on tour is an absolute dream so being asked to do a tour with a band like BSR was just crazy. I’ve always been a fan of Thin Lizzy and I remember stealing my dad’s mp3 player and getting told off in school for listening to them in class haha. They were a dream to tour with and really amazing guys. It was an amazing experience going on tour with people who are complete professionals. Ricky Warwick said I had a killer set of pipes and Scott Gorham said to me before we went on “don’t be too good” haha, as you can imagine the school girl in me was screaming and I thank her for listening to Thin Lizzy rather than doing division, it paid off.
You’re currently working on your first solo album. What can people expect from it?
It’s a roller-coaster (a bit like my life) and a real mixed bag so I think there is something for everyone. We have some slower songs that are really emotional, some straight up killer sexy rock songs and even some heavier stuff. The thing I love about working with Myke is that he’s written the songs for me and to show the strengths of my voice, the more he’s gotten to know me the more “me” the songs are becoming and I’m so buzzing for everyone to hear it! Each song shows a different side of my personality.
Your latest release, ‘Unbroken’, seems like an incredibly personal track. Is there a story behind it?
You will have to ask Myke about that one but what I take from it is: finding your true strength and passion from reaching rock bottom, the times when you feel like you are at your lowest point (and I’ve been there, times were you feel like there is no way out) you either let it break you or find your wings.
What’s been the best gig you’ve done thus far in your career?
Every gig is a blessing. I just love performing, from gigs I’ve done in small towns in sweaty clubs to the BSR tour where we were performing in front of two thousand people a night. Obviously the larger the audience the better though.
You’re just about to head towards the biggest gig of your life thus far. How does it feel knowing you’re playing under your own name at Download? It must be mind-blowing seeing your name on the line-up poster, know that it will appear on thousands of event t-shirts and that Andy Copping himself is touting you as one of THE new acts to see this year.
I mean it’s a dream come true. I’ve worked hard for this though, relentlessly for many years and my feet are planted firmly on the ground. As incredible as it all is, I still have a long way to go and a journey ahead of me! Although it’s my name on the poster I couldn’t do any of this without the amazing team I have behind me. Myke especially who has worked so hard to get us to this point. I’m just looking forward to the future now and seeing what’s next for us.
If you could work with anyone in the future (in addition to Myke) who would it be? Any dream tour partners band-wise or duet partners?
I’m happy with who I am working with at the moment but, if had to choose, Halestorm would be amazing! Lzzy Hale is another huge inspiration to me and she’s one of the reasons I got into rock music. At a time in uni where I was struggling a lot with my mental health I discovered Halestorm and hearing how powerful Lzzy was, really made me feel strong again. I taught myself how to scream so I could sing ‘Love Bites’ at a uni end of term gig and then the music I wrote got heavier too. I rambled a bit there haha… basically it would be a dream to duet ‘Love Bites’ with Lzzy Hale. It’s the kind of thing I fantasise about on the bus.
When is the album coming out?
When we have finished recording it! In Myke’s words it needs to be a record people will be listening to in years to come and it can’t be rushed but it is on its way!!
Being two perfectionists who want to create the best album possible, you and Myke are (rightly) taking your time with it and want it to be something that you want to be proud of. Has it seemed a very long process despite that?
Myke gets shit done. It feels like we’re smashing through it really. We only met about a year ago and we already have 4 singles out and an album on the way. It can’t be rushed though and you’re right we’re both massive perfectionists.
What’s next for Kim Jennett?
World domination… hopefully… I’ll probably just make a coffee first though and do some yoga.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/kimjennettvocalist/
Tweets by kimjennettmusic
https://www.instagram.com/kimjennettmusic/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4VQrckU7d7DjG8Xe4_hvsA

Kim Jennett Bottom

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Paul Monkhouse and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s with FINDING KATE

EMQ’s with FINDING KATE

Hi Everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with London based, Rock/Alternative Solo Artist Finding Kate! Huge thanks to Kate for taking part!
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Finding Kate and I am a solo artist based in London. I am Australian/Cypriot and moved to London about 5 years ago. My music is Alternative/Rock with undertones of Pop and in 2016 I released my debut album “If I Fall”. Now I have just released my new single called ‘I Feel Bad’, almost 3 years later! I sing and play the piano.
How did you come up with your stage name?
Well my name is actually Katerina but everyone calls me Kate! When I first started my career, I decided my artist name would just be KATE. Then I realised no-one could find me online – if you searched for Kate there were millions of results about Kate Bush, Kate Winslet, Kate Upton, Kate Middleton and never me :-(. Since no-one could find me, I decided to go with Finding Kate! True story!
What country are you from and what is the metal scene like there?
I am from Australia and Cyprus. I grew up in Cyprus and I think there’s a pretty good metal scene there for the size of the country. I’ve discovered that there are a lot of metalheads scattered all around Cyprus! In general though, the music scene over there is not very big. There are limited venues to play at and almost no festivals around. We don’t have promoters or agents, it’s pretty much direct contact with venues which is both good and bad. It’s very different to the UK.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single or Video)
My latest single is called ‘I Feel Bad’ and it is available on all platforms! Also the video is out on my Youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppguXD6k9GU
Who have been your greatest influences?
My greatest influences are all within the Rock/Alternative world! Avril Lavigne, Flyleaf, Evanescence, The Pretty Reckless, Halestorm, Paramore – there are a lot of females that really inspire me. Also some of my newer discoveries like Deftones, Nothing But Thieves, Highly Suspect, PVRIS. I grew up listening to amazing bands like Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi, Linkin Park, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and more thanks to my dad’s musical tastes. I guess all of these artists/bands have influenced me in some way. 🙂
What first got you into music?
I remember seeing a piano tutor’s flyer on my parents’ car when I was about 11 and we decided I would try out piano lessons. Then I took vocal lessons and here I am today! I also think listening to all these different artists/bands I mentioned previously on a daily basis at home helped me really get into music.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Avril Lavigne!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Download or Rock Am Ring. I’m not sure which I’d choose. They both are huge in the Rock world and I love the fact that they are both quite diverse with their line-ups.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I haven’t received a gift yet. What am I doing wrong?!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Believe in yourself & keep going.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Chris Cornell. Chris has a special place in my heart.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy singing and playing the piano – I love creating music and letting go of little parts of me. I feel like with every note I sing or play I release things from inside me.
I hate how expensive certain gear is…hahaha.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
That’s a tough one, I don’t know where to begin. I’ve been thinking about this question for the last few days but I don’t have a solid answer! I think overall the music industry causes a lot of pressure & stress to a lot of us. You have to put in a lot of work and most of the times you may not be seeing any results (well, visible results anyway). I wish the industry was easier to tackle from many different aspects. From a finance point of view all the way to social media and promotion. So, the one thing I’d change is how complicated the industry is! Haha.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Let Go” – Avril Lavigne.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I’ve never had vinyl before but I am interested in getting some in the future!
I personally love CD’s and CD artwork though. I much prefer them over downloads.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Probably back home in Cyprus at Ravens in 2015. I loved the atmosphere so much!
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I think I would still be involved in the music industry, maybe within a label doing marketing, social media, promotions etc. Or maybe a make-up artist!
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Amy Lee, P!nk, Lacey Sturm, Lizzy Hale and Taylor Momsen. They all seem like they’d be really cool to hang out with.
Sorry Avril, I don’t have space to invite you this time…
What’s next for you?
I have a series of singles ready to be released over the next few months. Eventually, they will go on an album, but there’s no rush for an album yet. The singles will hopefully set the ground for what is to follow from me! I am planning some more shows as well!
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
My website www.findingkatemusic.com has all my music, videos, tour dates etc. I am also on all the usual digital platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer etc.
I use Instagram & Facebook the most out of all my social media – but wherever you search for me, you should be able to find me. Just type in ‘Finding Kate’ into Google!
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
They are biscuits and I am obsessed with them. I can eat so many of them in one go. I just stuff them whole in my mouth. Haha.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for the questions & for supporting independent artists such as myself.
Hope you like the new track. 🙂

Finding Kate

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s with Crejuvent

EMQ’s with Crejuvent

Hi Everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Liverpool, UK based Extreme Metal solo act Crejuvent. Huge thanks to Freddy for taking part!
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Freddy and I play metal music. I’m a musician based in Liverpool UK, I’ve been playing and producing bands for many years and Crejuvent is my main solo project so to speak. I had the idea for it a while back, releasing a set of demos in 2015 and my debut EP in 2017. I’m now gearing up for the release of a new single titled Vesti La Giubba coming out on May 18th.
How did you come up with your band name?
It came to me in a dream. In it I was fighting off giant flies with a huge sword in an apocalyptic like scenario, and once I had beaten them all a local village offered me the services of all their women as a thank you. As I was gearing up for the inevitable month long orgy that would ensue by renovating my golden palace, I found in the foundations a stone tablet that read Crejuvent.
Oh wait that wasn’t a dream, that was my 19th birthday. Ah well.
What country are you from and what is the metal scene like there?
I’m half Italian and half Brazilian, although I grew up in the US, in Italy, in the Netherlands, and have been based in the UK for the past 7 years. So I don’t know how to answer your question really. The fact that I’m not rolling in cash on a daily basis leads me to believe that the metal scene in all of these countries is terrible, but that can’t be accurate.
What is your latest release (Album, EP, Single, Video)
I will be releasing a new single on May 18th titled Vesti La Giubba along with a video. It’s a cover of the famous aria from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci opera. It’s a piece about love, betrayal, and insanity. It’s also the first time I sing in Italian so I’m quite excited to release it. With the single, I’ll be releasing a B-side called Blue Spirit. It’s a 8 and a half minute epic and it’s one of my more intricate songs and I feel it really showcases my songwriting as its strongest.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Devin Townsend has been my biggest influence by far, and I think it shows. But I talk about him loads already so I’ll mention a few others. Fleshgod Apocalypse have been a huge influence too, as is probably obvious from the fact that I’m doing a metal cover of an opera piece. I’m big into my technical death metal so bands like Obscura, Cynic, Beyond Creation, amongst others, have been a crucial factor in my musical development. I’ve been really getting into Leprous lately as well and have been incorporating some of those elements into my songwriting lately.
What first got you into music?
Teenage angst coupled with social rejection. Or were those a result of me getting into metal? Either ways, I needed an outlet when I was a young person and music was the safest one. Why go around smashing shit when you can listen to music that’s ABOUT smashing shit?
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I hate working with other musicians – they only hold me back…!
Nah I kid. I collaborate lots with other people, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned is that everyone has a different way of working on music and collaborating. Whilst I could SAY that I want to work with some of my biggest influences, truth is our way of working on music might not yield fruitful. So I don’t know who I’d like to work with – I’d have to know more about how they go about their business.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I played Metal Days a in 2017 and that was so much fun – it’s already my favourite festival ever and the fact that I got to play it was amazing and would love to do it again. Otherwise, one of those cruise ship type festivals look like they’d be fun!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
In one of my other bands (which I think you guys are also featuring funnily enough) we got given a book by a fan that they wrote. It was…quite the read if I say so myself.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
I’m glad y’all like the music. It pleases me to hear so thanks.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Hmm I don’t know, maybe Peter Steele as I’d really like to see Type O Negative live. But only if he comes back EXACTLY the way he is right now, half decayed and everything.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love performing and writing stuff, it’s the biggest high for me. I also get to see a lot of the country while touring and I get to meet so many awesome people. Unfortunately, that means I get to meet a lot of un-awesome people too. It can also take quite a toll on you as a person, both physically and emotionally.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
This isn’t exclusive to the music industry, unfortunately it’s how a lot of things work in this world, but I hate all the blatant ass kissing that needs to be done to get anywhere and the “networking” for the sake of networking. I suck at socializing and talking to people and I’d like to just let the music do the talking. But unfortunately the band that can barely string more than 3 chords together to write mediocre music will get further than I can because their singer knows how to be “friends” with the right people.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Alien by Strapping Young Lad.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I like CD’s, I find vinyls to be a bit of a novelty but people like them so that’s cool. And why download these days when you can just stream?
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Playing at Metal Days and Winter Days of Metal last year was pretty cool, it’s definitely high up there on the list. Everything about it was great, the atmosphere, the bands, the weather, even our drummer dislocating his shoulder.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I’d be the village idiot.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
I would invite John Mulaney five times.
What’s next for the band?
As I mentioned before, I got a single coming out on May 18th, and it’s gonna kick ass! After that I’m in talks with some people to potentially get a full band together for this project but that’s still all just in the works. In the meantime I’ll keep on writing more material and see where it all goes!
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Crejuvent is on Facebook primarily, but I have my own personal Instagram and Youtube channel that I use for Crejuvent as well. I’m also on Bandcamp where you can check out all of my releases, at least the ones that aren’t on Spotify and stuff.
https://www.facebook.com/Crejuvent/
https://crejuvent.bandcamp.com/
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
As a non British person, I don’t understand why they are even called cakes. Were they giant at one point? That shit is clearly a biscuit of some variety.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you! Be sure to follow Crejuvent on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube and keep an eye out for Vesti La Giubba coming out on May 18th!! Byeeeeee!

Crejuvent PR2

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.