Deborah Allen - Beautiful Energy & Music

During my first day @ the CMA Festival in June '11 I was meeting men in country music, my second day seemed to be filled with women.  One of the lovely songbirds I was fortunate to meet was the talented and beautiful Deborah Allen.   I had heard her in nearby interview booths in the Media Room with high chirpy charisma,  vocal chords per- 

forming and laughter loud enough to penetrate through other interviews going on.  

So, when finally meeting her I knew this was not going to be a quiet, tight-lipped interview!

I was not disappointed!  Deborah has one of those 

personalities and energy levels that makes you smile.  When she is in the room a glow follows her.  Yes, Deborah was born with star appeal.

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and artist Deborah is someone not writing and performing an album straight out of nowhere.......  this talented lady has written or co-written over 1000 songs for well-known country artists, like Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, Iasac Hayes, Brooks & Dunn and LeAnn Rimes!  She had been hired by George Kline to work on his talent/dance show "The Elvis Hour."  Not only well-versed, but this woman was one of the wedding singers for the recent nuptical event for Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton's wedding.  With many many other credits under her belt I felt I was in presence of a country legend even though she didn't appear to be anywhere near legend age! 

Her newest album, "Anything For Love," is due out right around the corner, August 18.  Her up-and-growing hit "Amazing Graceland" will power this album out right at the same time people will be thinking Graceland......... it will be during Elvis Week in Memphis starting Aug. 10.   Allen remembers as a child driving past Graceland all the time with cousins and friends.  So, it's no coincidence that she felt led to write a ballad as a tribute to Elvis, his music dear to her musical heart.  She wrote this song just after feeling Elvis' spirit as she walked through Graceland recently.

When I asked her how to describe her music, her smiling response was, "It's somewhere between Memphis & Nashville."   This is felt in her two chart-climbing ballads "Amazing Graceland" and her cover single "Anything For Love."   She has already been touted by critics with a better-than-ever vocal sound right now.

She gave me a great acappella performance with a fun song, "It Better Be Big."  This number was about getting (or someone who better get) a big engagement ring (they) had earned.  I questioned her about how she could be so full of ideas for so much songwriting.  Her answer?  She asked me to hum any tune.........  putting little me on the spot......  I did......she hummed with me, and created words that just came off the tongue with the sound of my "tune."  Amazing!

Finally, I asked her what she felt was her favorite or best talent and she said, "Definitely, songwriting.  It gives me longevity."

Deborah Allen is beautiful, sweet, fun, happy, talented and me thinks she will be around for many many more years, giving her many reasons to feel that longevity working.  I can't wait for the CD to come out!

CMA Interviews: Frontman RICHIE MCDONALD

It was a pleasure to sit down with CMA/ACM/BMI award-winning singer/songwriter Richie McDonald.  This very accomplished artist has so much talent and credentials tucked under his belt I felt honored to pose with him!  

At first meeting, Richie wouldn't speak and kept a grim face.  I thought,  "Oh no, this is going to be a tough one to pull info out of....help!"  But, alas, Richie is also a comedian and was playing hard-to-get for the first 5 minutes - after that, I realized he was sweet, easy to chat with, and was not that impressed with himself, even though I was more and more impressed with his family love, funny demeanor and amazing drive to continue to write and perform.

Richie McDonald is the former frontman/singer/writer for well-known country band Lonestar.  Their award-winning 9 albums were not just trophy winners, they included 6 gold and platinum albums.  When this stint finally ended Richie just couldn't put the pen down.   He went on with solo work to create a Christmas record and two further endeavors.   One, just released in January, 2011, is "Slowdown," an album he worked on for 2 - 3 years, which he is very proud and content with.  He admitted that all of the songs on this CD were written and cowritten by himself over the last 10 years.  Whether a love song or a "quirky little diddy"  he says that they are passionate and is amazed at how the project turned out, explaining it should really reach out and touch lives.  

He remembers once when his 4-yr. old son (who is now 15) would greet him when he would call from tour asking, "Dad, when are you coming home?"  He would hang up and deeply touched with this love - would write a song about.

He now is daddy to three - oldest son again is 15, Molly, 12, Masey, 10, calling them his "little singers."  His oldest son is now even learning guitar.  His family has kept him grounded despite the fame of his notoriety, and encouraged him to keep current touring to include trips home in between.

The "Slowdown" promotion tour begins in July, including Nevada, Utah, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana and ending in Alabama.  Part of this tour will be a titled act "The Front Men," featuring three front men Richie, Larry Stewart and Tim Rushlow.

McDonald was again a pleasure to get acquainted with, his accomplishments totally ignored by himself in this interview, which goes to show that he still has drive to continue to do more.....and this blogger stronger feels that he will continue working and writing as long as he is inspired.   
 

CMA Week Interviews: DJ Miller

Going to my very first CMA Country Music festival Week was eye-opening, hot, interesting, crazy and above all educating.  Working my way through to the Media center for interviews was definitely an experience, but once there I expected to meet many egos.  My very first interview, DJ Miller, proved me wrong.  

A self-proclaimed farm boy, DJ wields from small town Idaville, Indiana.   At 21, he already appears to have all "the right stuff:"  looks, charisma, drive and talent.  But yet when interviewing him I begin to realize he's right:  this singer is still a farm boy at heart.  


He has been a volunteer at the local fire department for years and prefers a motorcycle as opposed to wide rims on an SUV.  His weekends are a whirlwind of fair performances, radio station interviews, and touring, but come Monday morning he has a full load of duties on the farm.  For someone so young, he has a good start on how to stay grounded.


Hitting over 210 radio stations since July 2010 and performing in over 35 states currently, DJ is working at full-speed to get his current single "Whatever It Takes" into the ears of all country fans nationwide.  His excitement over the impending future is present:  "I'm so excited, this is craaazzzy!"  he exclaims grinning ear-to-ear.

DJ's first performance in Nashville was at Tootsies, and their reaction?  "They wanted me to move down here right away," he remembers.   Since then, things have been moving faster and faster.   Producer Johnny Morse saw the potential in DJ and started moving his career forward quickly.

How did this all begin?  He laughs about childhood days when he would take the bathroom plunger and use it as a mic while playing a toy guitar in front of mirrors in his home.  Garth Brooks was a constant idol, and he says there was a tape he had of Brooks running across stage during performance smashing guitars while belting out tunes.  He played that tape over and over.


While he doesn't appear to be a guitar smasher, DJ seems to have everything working right in the fast lane......  he feels comfortable already hanging around idols and established artists.    Still, it is amazing when he gets a call, for instance, from a friend visiting Mexico and hearing DJ's song on the radio there.

His goal currently?  To go on tour with a big-name act.  His current regional tour would be a good lead-in to that. 


Finally, as leaving I noticed three initials tattooed on his arm on the underside.   He explained that a good friend at 16 died in an accident.  It was a perfect way to again remind me of how DJ Miller has all "right stuff" but already knows how to stay grounded.




 

CMA Week In Nashville

This past week was quite an experience for me.  I had just gone on a 2-wk. vacation home in Orlando, FL, which I hadn't done for 4 years (or taken ANY vacation, for that matter).  We spent 9 of those days in a cute little house across the street from the beautiful Cocoa Beach.  We had a non-tourist, more secluded area, and aside from the thousands of jellyfish in the water (which got National news) we had a relaxing beach time.

My blog cohort, who has agreed to accompany me to many of my show reviews, works for a French magazine specifically and only about country music.  That just proves to you that there IS a magazine out there for everything and EVERY kind of music all over the world.  Come to find out - the people of France LOVE country music, and even though that doesn't probably match our images of France and its inhabitants, it does prove that we cannot ever classify any humans in any stereotype in this day and age.

My friend, the journalist, had asked me to tag along with her on CMA/CMT Week here in Nashville, which began on June 7.  She thought it would be good to "open up" my heart and knowledge of country music, plus she wanted a photographer as she interviewed.  Of course, with pad and pen always available, I also interviewed these people she was set up with.

This post will mostly explain the event.  My following post will be my first two interviews, up-and-coming DJ Miller and the already well-known Richie McDonald.


Anyone who is in the Nashville area during this week of festivities would know how grueling it was --- the temperature started off each day around 80 and then climb upwards in the low 100s F.  Therefore, even a Floridian like myself fresh off the beach with salty, moist breezes all day had trouble coping with getting around during the day downtown.

The CMA Week brings people from all over the US and the world.  There were many dialects I was unfamiliar with, and was amazed the array of style I saw walking the downtown streets of Music City.  It was definitely a one-of-a-kind spectator-watching event for me!  I would pass "hippies," Elvis lookalikes, Johnny Cash-style dressers, modern country and of course the tourist shopper, complete with their idols written all over their newly-purchased shirts.  The modern country girl dress fascinated me the most; this would consist typically of a cute, flowery top, denim miniskirt, mid-calf-high cowboy boots, cowboy hat, and - most important - a guitar.  Yes, many would walk around carrying their guitars up and down the busy city streets without even a case to carry them in the heat.  Many were hurrying from venue to venue for their side performances.

This event was events within the events within the events.......make sense?  Yes, there were the big-name signings and camera-posing events which then would mean stage performances, from the Bridgestone Arena to the Riverfront stage (outside) to the Acoustic Center (located inside the Convention Center) to LP Field, the Titans' stadium.  On top of that, there were smaller stages located all over downtown - Fort Nashville, Hard Rock Entertainment Stage, the Power Zone Stage, the Bud Light Stage, the Chevrolet Stage, even Centennial Park had a stage.  Then, every downtown venue in Nashville (i.e, Tootsies, Bluebird Cafe, Wild Horse Saloon, etc.) all had some constant live performances.  Finally, every little watering hole in Nashville has something, someone, some band playing live music.  This week is a dream-come-true for someone wanting to have 24/7 country music anywhere they went!

What I really will remember the most, as a new country music lover, is that these people who come to the festivities, which also have food galore, kids' activities and games, even electronic game buses are all happy as a whole.  There didn't ever seem to be discord anywhere I went.  The heat seemed to not deter these tried and true fans.........they stuck it out!

My time at the event was spent 90% in the Convention Center upstairs in the Media Only (Press) section.  This section was press pass only, and featured several large rooms for large press announcements and smaller rooms and areas for 2 - 10 people interviews, which is what we were doing.  One day when we arrived we came in at the tailend of a press event featuring newly crowned American Idol winner and his runner-up Country singers Scotty McCreary and Lauren Alaina.  It was hard afterwards as the television followed them out to the elevators and didn't allow snapshots, but I did manage to catch Lauren from behind in a backhead shot.  BTW:  this young lady is dropdead gorgeous, with the tiniest little waistline!

Another time I was able to catch Keith Urban posing with media as we arrived, and I caught him in one shot as he looked right over my way.  These two pics are included in this article.

This experience, thanks to the heat, was exhausting..........  but exhilarating!   I would get home everyday wiped out but incredibly happy.  The biggest thing this past week has done to me?  Well, guess who's into Country music a little now?  Yes, this pop-rocker Karen Kozy is now finding herself on GAC and CMT channels watching videos and looking at more interviews. How's that for a week putting such an impression on me???

Finally, yesterday  my new monthly issue of high-fashion magazine W arrived.  I love fashion and love how couture is so big even during a struggling economy.  There is an article in the magazine on pages 40 & 41, written by Marshall Chapman entitled "Nashville Rising."  This article speaks of how Nashville has become the new Los Angeles or New York, take your pick.  There is more music, art and fashion in each square foot of the Music City than the other two megatropolis' have nowadays.  I believe it!  It is worth reading, especially after "doing" the CMA Week!

I will write about my first two interviews next:  DJ Miller & Richie McDonald.

In Chord and love of music,
Karen Kozy
XOxoKK

Beautiful Lady, Beautiful Ashes

A

My second time going out and blogging about an artist was one I really anticipated; after all, this musician was someone I had known since moving to Nashville almost 5 years ago.  The name?  Simply Eowyn. 

Eowyn,  pronounced A-O-WIN, is a beautiful young woman who very honestly has her heart in all the right places; she very simply loves God and wants everyone to have that same experience as she has.    Her name, as different as it is, comes from her father's love of the Lord of the Rings books (way before big-screen recognition).  One of the main character's daughter's name was Eowyn.   I love it, because it is so original it's perfect as is, sort of like a Cher thing.

I met Eowyn and her husband Russell at a church we started attending after moving to TN.  She sat right in front of me one Sunday and was called up at the end of the service.  She announced to the congregation one of her bandmembers had been in a plane crash and died; she requested prayer for his family.  Something about that moment reached out and grabbed my heart and tugged at it hard.  I really think it was her very obvious concern and sadness that touched me.  Everything I learned about Eowyn from that day forward not only confirmed how I read her, but has shown me her heart and her real mission are much more passionate than many in her same profession.  Obviously, this will be a one-sided, biased review, so if you want to hear any negativity this time - sorry......no can do!

This is definitely Christian music with hard-rock vibe.  I think the best way to describe Eowyn's music is that she is a Christian version of Evanescence.  Her mission is very cut and dry:  she's reaching to the teenager who's wandering down a sad road - depressed, cutting for release, broken home, experimenting with drugs, etc.  She styles herself for the look of many teens today who you'd find walking into Hot Topic, complete with unique hair shades and lots of eyeliner.  She pulls the whole look off in every way - from mood attire to stage presence to great songwriting.

The event for this posting was a recent CD Release Party for her latest album, Beautiful Ashes. Co-writer on most of her music is Rob Tate.  Producer and Mixer is Travis Wyrick, who has worked consistently with her on a majority of her albums.  She started off the show with a wake-up, head-banging song which guaranteed attention to the stage.  The band's presence, by the way, is highly professional for an independent music band.  The keyboardist, Russell, actually constructed a Tranformers-style base for his keyboard, which allowed the keys to bounce, twist and turn with him as he played and performed.......never seen that one before, and loved it!  One thing about Eowyn --- if she can add drama to bring you to the stage - she'll do it, and it works every time I've seen her.

She mixed old favorites and new songs from the CD.  My personal favorite, from her last CD, is titled Crashing, and I was on my feet at the stage.  Her message resonates through all of her music - old and new, slow and fast......she wants today's young adults who are troubled to feel there's hope and then to show them how to experience what she feels with hope.  Example:  lyrics from Beautiful Ashes are very typical for her message.......  "You're beautiful, though your ashes you won't waste away;  So beautiful, let your eyes see life with scars and decay; Fire rages, faith is crumbled tragically, yet love remains.  Restoration, built on ruins, hope still lingers in this place.............When the darkness overwhelms you and you feel like no one cares.  Do not fear, there's a God that loves you and he is taking your hand."  Very powerful, very dark, but very hopeful - that IS the Eowyn message:  HOPE.   

A definite fan favorite, Cliche, is very driven and just what a rocker wants to hear.  The Music Box, is very poignant and sweet, complete with recognized music box sounds.  Another favorite of mine: Alive.  Again, her lyrics have such a positive message, i.e, suicide thoughts...  "Anguish may linger but I'm here to tell you, be expecting breakthrough.  Tonight I wanted to eject, but so alive, don't count me out just yet.  I'm so alive, truly so alive, just prove me.  Goodbye to buried sin......"

This woman's mission has become stronger and more powerful with each album she creates - and the message that resonates throughout each and every song provides many different ways to turn for help to God.  In concert she speaks between every other song and really reaches out to everyone with her sincere care.  If I had met her the other night first time I would've felt I could take all my troubles to her and feel like someone truly cared.  That alone helps her stand out in a very saturated market here in Nashville. 

More info on Eowyn - please check out her website:  www.eowynmusic.com.   Above picture taken by Karen Kozy of Eowyn @ 12th &Porter several years ago.

Bluebird Virgin

So, we FINALLY got out for our first blog-expedition......the weather actually threatened to ruin our plans again, but we lucked out and all tornadoes/floods moved on.  

Since our first outing was cancelled with a supposed up-and-coming hard rock band we decided to set up our new first time very low-key......with some nice unknown acoustic music in a simple venue.  That place turned out to be the Bluebird Cafe, located in the older, established Green Hills area of Nashville.  My fellow co-writer had warned me repeatedly that the Bluebird was small......very small.  When I reserved a table for us I picked one up front which - according to the drawing - seemed to be close but not too close to the stage. 


Well, I am no longer a Bluebird virgin.....ha ha there.   I couldn't believe how small and tight the place was.  From our seats I could reach out and touch the musicians and strum their guitars if I had wanted to!   
                                                                                                                                                                This was a typical songwriters' night with four singers perched on four stools onstage each with their instruments on hand.  The order of sitting was:  David Seger, JP Williams, Jeremy Bussey and Belinda Smith.  The 3 guys all had guitars, Belinda was seated in front of an electronic keyboard.  Originally when I picked this show out a fifth name was on the schedule, Abigail Rose, who was the one I really wanted to see.  'Don't know what happened to her, my cohort told me that's pretty common for these types of shows. 

Each one took their turn singing their cutesy, funny, poignant songs.  They got along quite well, and definitely got along in their performance altogether.  Belinda (Smith) has a church-going background, actually has won some Dove Awards, her grandfather was a preacher.  She wrote about that in one cute song, "Looking for Jesus Under My Bed."  Her humor surpassed her singing ability, but she still provided good entertainment.  Her look could have been more artistic, hair thrown on top of her head was not appealing as the others seemed very groomed, but, again, she had humor both in her comments and her lyrics.


Blind JP (Williams) seemed to have the best vocal ability, as he tried to hold back his obvious ability to belt out a tune due to the confined size of the venue.  One of his songs, "Light, When are You Going to Turn Green?" was funny and interesting to follow.  One of his tunes, "Because of You I'll Never Walk Alone," was announced as #1 currently on the southern gospel music genre.  Again, however, his singing ability outdid his music; this fellow would make a great backup for a touring band.  


David (Seger) seemed to hold the lead role, but didn't impress me much.  His music was forgettable, his voice carried no real style.  However, when he invited fellow songwriter Keith Dozier up to sing a tune I found myself wishing David was singing instead.  Seger has a lush, vocal style which needs further developing.


Finally, Jeremy (Bussey) gave us very thoughtful, sweet lyrics and music which were also unfortunately forgettable.  He made many references to his wife (which all of the men are married), apologized to her for some of his words, but it just added to his overall charm as a performer.  He is from a part of AL recently hit by tornadoes, and his tune "Our Little Town" was given a dedication to that sad situation.  


The Bluebird was packed......pews were full, seats squeezed in tight.  The service was adequate and the food was delicious.  There were guests from as far away as Alberta, BC; England and even Korea. 


Overall, we had an awesome time, felt good when we left, and I look forward to my next visit to the Bluebird soon in the future!

A Year Anniversary ....and No Go to Show

Well, anyone who is a weather buff or lives a/o has family and close friends in the Mid-Tennessee area will recognize this coming Sunday, May 1, 2010,  as the sad but definite first anniversary of the horrific Nashville floods.  A year ago, my family and I faced the event, living in an older apartment in downtown Franklin, a lower-ground area.  Many neighbors/friends were not as fortunate as we came out;  many lost their homes, either to wipe-out or for the most part flood damage.  It was not uncommon for weeks after to see piles and piles of wrecked furniture, boxes of memorabilia and mostly broken-down portions or whole parts of their lives - gutter guts, wood trimmings, frames, etc.  It was such a sad, almost monumental time when so much of a historic city was "reshaped," ruined or in some situations condemned in many homes and small businesses. 

We were so blessed; we had to move our car five times in a rising pool of water in our parking lot which rose higher and higher to each cars' doors and exterior frame.  The sad thing was watching cars that actually floated; people who were out of town, unaware that they wouldn't have that same ride anymore when they returned.  Those scenes are forever etched in my mind.  

That was almost a year ago!  It's amazing how fast everyone starts repairing, replacing, revamping and re-surviving.  Now, within days of that tragic day we are going through quite similar circumstances.  The tornado alarms have sounded; the atmosphere is solemn; the schools were released early.  No, it doesn't (at this time) appear to be a deja vu, however it is a defiinite anniversary mark.  The Cumberland River is expected to be 37 inches over its normal level by tomorrow morning, Thursday, April 28, 2011. 

This remembrance is actually two-fold;  it's an important date to remind us of what could happen anytime - as it almost is for all of us here AGAIN.............. but it's also to let you know we will not be going to our first review tonight - with Platinum Rose at 12th & Porter, a low-lying Nashville pub.  We will definintely reschedule that for a new time - keep yourself informed by regularly checking this site.

Instead - in a different direction - it looks like our first check-out will be on Tuesday, May 3, at a venue to be announced with several locally-established but yet-to-be nationally recognized names.  It will be in one of Nashville's smaller but well-loved listening venues.  We will be there, excited, as we can't wait to start showing locales - as well as ANYONE - what's up and coming in this Music City.  


So, finally, let's all take a moment and say a prayer to those who are still putting their lives back together from that event a year ago .............. give them encouragement.........because if any town were to keep on rockin' ----- that town would be Music City, Nashville.


Keep on rockin,
Karen

Welcome to MUSIC CITY @ NIGHT!

Hello, 


This is my first post of my newest blogspot, Music City @ Night.  I have been a journalist/writer since high school into college and even wrote for the Orlando Sentinel for several years in my hometown, Orlando, FL.


I am a songwriter /musician here in Franklin and do a lot of freelance work.  But with extra time on hand realized I wasn't using my full potential of what I wanted and could do..........write stories and blogs.  I love writing and think that writing something that provokes thought or indulges pleasure in others' emotions brings me happiness. 


Several different friends are coming out with new music and are having CD releases and I decided to go as a freelancer and review them, as possibly a promotional thread, but more as a true review for others to read and then go and decide if they agree/disagree with me.  


AND ........  another friend, who's currently writing country music reviews - and I - are going to start hitting top nightspots all over Nashville ............ venues like Bluebird Cafe, Tooties, Limelight, Exit In, Station Inn, Mercy Lounge, Wild Horse Saloon, Tin Roof, of course landmarks like the Opry and Ryman Auditorium among many many other places of which we will be open to checking out.  Our goal will be to "discover" fresh talent, check out new talent beginning to succeed, and of course listen to the best of the best and review how they sound these days.  


We will NOT limit ourselves to country music.......  I myself am a pop/rock/Christian music fan.  My coauthor is a real country fan.  Between the two of us we should be able to provide a nice array of colorful commentary for you to enjoy.  We welcome your comments, agrees and disagrees, and above that we welcome any ideas you have for us to go review.  There should be a review next week, so keep your eyes open, come on by and enjoy!!  :D


In Chord,
Karen Kozy
XOxoKK
President/Kozy Productions & DreamAngel Music
www.NashvilleMusicPros.com