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Ira Blonder
Franklin, TN, United States
Ira Blonder is the Managing Partner of Sound Kitchen Studios (www.soundkitchen.com)and The Blonder Group, LLC (www.blondergroup.com)
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

NATALIE MERCHANT’S FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN SEVEN YEARS

Sound Kitchen Studios had the pleasure of working with multi-platinum artist Natalie Merchant, who tracked her album in studio E with producer/engineer, Nick Brophy. Natalie's new album, "Leave Your Sleep", will hit the stores April 13th.

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NATALIE MERCHANT’S FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN SEVEN YEARS



LEAVE YOUR SLEEP
OUT APRIL 13 ON NONESUCH RECORDS



"One of the most successful and enduring alternative artists to emerge



from the eighties –- intact and uncompromised."Vogue



Natalie Merchant is poised for the release of Leave Your Sleep, her first studio album since 2003’s The House Carpenter’s Daughter. Out April 13 on Nonesuch Records, this release is the culmination of six years’ research and collaboration and is, in Merchant’s words “The most elaborate project I have ever completed or even imagined.”



A two-disc set, Leave Your Sleep is a collection of songs adapted from poems selected by Merchant including pieces by both well-known and obscure writers. Featured are works by British Victorians, early- and mid-20th century Americans and contemporary writers as well as anonymous nursery rhymes and lullabies. Among the authors included are Ogden Nash, e.e. cummings, Robert Louis Stevenson, Christina Rossetti, Edward Lear, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Robert Graves. Please see attached for a complete track listing.



In addition to a new method of lyricism, Merchant stretches out musically on Leave Your Sleep by collaborating with a broad spectrum of artists—some old friends, some she has admired from afar—including the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, Medeski Martin & Wood, members of the New York Philharmonic, The Klezmatics, Lúnasa and Hazmat Modine. “The sessions were recorded in live ensemble settings to capture a fresh and spontaneous energy,” notes Merchant. “They were some of the most magical experiences I’ve ever had making music.”



Having sold millions of records worldwide over the course of her recording career, Merchant has remained busy in the time since her last studio album by curating compilations for both 10,000 Maniacs’ Campfire Songs and her own Retrospective. Additionally, Merchant performed live to the accompaniment of Philip Glass, Dr. John, Pete Seeger and Wynton Marsalis and collaborated with British composer Gavin Bryars as part of The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Complete Works series.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Steff Nevers' "Skypes" a Recording Session

Norwegian Country artist, Steff Nevers, "Skyped" a recording session in Studio E with engineer Matt Coles and session leader and percussionist Pete Abbott. A host of A-list session players; ie: Brent Mason, Michael Rhodes, Dan Dugmore, and Pete Abbott tracked Steff's project while Steff produced the session players from Norway. "The Skype tracking and mix sessions were flawless! So, it was like Steff was in room, all the while working from his home in Norway" commented Pete Abbott.
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Steff Nevers was born in 1975 in the small Norwegian town of Drammen. He grew up in the similarly unknown town of Geithus in Modum. Still, the move was worthwhile for the toddler because it was here that he came into contact with music. He was already convinced at a young age that he would become a musician. Instead of a classic violinist, his original career goal, Steff Nevers became an outstanding guitarist. His speciality: finger picking. Soon the stocky virtuoso was a heavily booked session guitarist across all of Norway. KERRANG magazine said about the guitarist that he had a very promising career ahead of him.


In 2007 Steff Nevers decided to get involved in his own music, and realize his own dream, by recording an album in Nashville with the greats of the studio scene. With the assistance of the Nashville A-Team – drummer Eddie Bayers, guitarist Brent Mason, steel guitarist Paul Franklin & Co., the Norwegian was successful in making a highly acclaimed album, strongly linked to the roots of music. His first work in 2008 brought him a recording contract with Universal Music Norway and an international recording contract with AGR/Universal. The first album 'Closest To My Heart' earned rave reviews and was awarded Gold in Norway for selling more than 15.000 copies. The album was nominated for the Norwegian Spellemannsprisen 2009 (the local equivalent to the American Grammy). When Toby Keith visited Europe, Steff was personally invited to be support.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Lonestar returns to The Big Boy

With over 10 number one hits under their belt, Lonestar was at Sound Kitchen Studios this past Sunday filming a live video to coincide with their new album release on April 27th.
This will be the band's first studio album in four years. Party Heard Around The World, their 10th album, is a total ‘hands on’ creative effort, produced by the band with eight of the ten tracks written by the foursome. Noted lead guitarist and original member Michael Britt said in a recent interview: “We feel that this album is a complete reflection of the group, circa 2010. It’s personal and powerful music that reflects the core values of Lonestar through lyrics, performance and production.” The Sound Kitchen is very proud to be part of their continued success.

Musicartists4U Films at Sound Kitchen Studios

Musicartists4U booked the Big Boy studio to film 10 different acts for the first round of internet broadcasts. The artists filmed included; Little Texas, Bryan Lewis Kalisa Ewing, Alex Call Band, Shawn Hammonds, Waymore’s Outlaws, Tailgate South, Andy Griggs, Blackhawk, and The Outlaws. Following the picture, I have included some brief info on Musicartists4U!

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Little Texas

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Little Texas

INFO ABOUT MusicArtists4U.com

"MusicArtists4U.com is a totally new media that will create a place for good quality music by talented musicians which up until now will never be heard. A place for established artists to be recognized and be able to be seen and heard again. A place for Singer/Songwriters with catalogs of great music that no one has ever heard will now be able to get their music in the hands of YOU the consumer! Everyone in the music business is trying to figure out how to introduce new artists and how to sell their music. It's almost impossible to get your music aired on radio or television so we have created a totally new media which allows all these artists to be seen and heard. Artists like Little Texas, John Anderson, Confederate Railroad and more have had new CD's released, but radio and television refuse to play their new material so the general public has no way of knowing they have new music available. We intend to change that! MusicArtists4U.com is a place where you will be able to buy and download the artists music, videos, as well as purchase artist merchandise.