Furthermore, I will only answer to MEGA-BAND PRODUCER Ken Lewis

I produced an album for a truly amazing band from Denver, Colorado named "Ben Park Drive". The album is called "Signs are Everywhere" and you can listen to and buy it HERE (www.indietunes.com/BenParkDrive).

Let me brag about the band for a moment. In addition to many other stellar accomplishments this band has racked up, last year Ben Park Drive entered the Zippo Hot Tour contest along with 1,200 other bands coast to coast. They made it to the FINALS with only 8 of 1,200 bands remaining, and they finished #4 in the country. WOW!!!! NOW do you wanna go buy the album???? Do ya? I thought so, you won't regret it.

SO….. They recently had a really nice review in XPOSUR Magazine. The magazine referred to me as "mega-band producer Ken Lewis", which while very flattering was kind of funny. But since they've raised the bar as well as opened that can of worms, I shall now only answer to this new title. So, if you're going to email or call, and you expect a response, please address me as such, as my ego is now inflated to the size of the Goodyear Blimp :-)

Read the Article here.

Happy Birthday to Me - Kind of

OK, it's not my birthday, so you can stop filling out that Birthday Card for me, unless it has money in it, then by all means, send it! Nope, This website has now turned three years old! WOW. Time really does fly. Thank you so much to all of the clients I've worked with, and all of the people I've gotten to know, that have made the last three years highly enjoyable.

When I began this website, aimed at providing artists literally worldwide with the same access to major label quality mixing that the labels get, I had no idea that I would reach the four corners of the Earth. I've done projects from all over the globe. Right now, as I type in fact, I have either recently completely, am currently working on, or have coming in, projects from United Arab Emirates in the Middle East, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, Austria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Norway, Switzerland, Japan, and of course all over America. Honestly, these are current or recent projects. Its been amazing how much international work comes in, and I've grown so much as a mixer being exposed to so many cultural twists musically. Keep em coming!

Navigating the A&R Jungle

Just so ya know...... I've been making major label records for over 13 years, and yes, I still do research. I still try to read, learn, and absorb as much knowledge as my schedule and sanity will allow. Knowledge is power, especially in the business. To that end, I found this great article you should all read.

http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_navigating_ar_jungle/index.htm

Round and Round

OK, I’ve lived in the big city for quite some time, and among many other musical styles, I’ve worked on alot of R&B and Hip Hop. I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with some amazing artists and producers who’ve taught me a whole lot about this music. Malik Pendleton showed me who artists like Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye really were. Early on, Troy Hightower and DJ Muggs schooled me in hip hop. Just Blaze and Kanye West taught me a lot about current hip hop (actually they pretty much define current hip hop) and the incorporation of old soul with heavy beats. Working with Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, and George Benson was like a Harvard education, And I assure you, there is nothing in the world like watching Mary J Blige sing a song for the first time. That girl drips soul from every pour of her body. Like I said, I am very fortunate to have had some amazing teachers in these musical styles and I’ve come to love hip hop, R&B and soul because of these people and the music they create. BUT…….

Growing up, I was just a suburban white kid from a middle class neighborhood in Ohio. I never heard soul music. My elementary school had six black kids, and it was not a small school. Junior school and high school weren’t too much more diversified. AND….. I grew up in the 80’s and played guitar. So, for those of who who know, that means I listened to rock bands like Van Halen, AC/DC, Ozzy Ozbourne, etc… I LOVE ROCK N ROLL. There I said it. Fortunately, my brother who’s ten years older than me, listened to artists like Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Elton John, and the Beatles, and stealing his vinyl records and listening to them was also a huge influence on me musically. So, this has all just been an incredibly longwinded set up for the following story……

One record I wore the grooves out of was an 80’s metal band fronted by singer Stephen Pearcey with hits such as “Wanted Man”, “Back for More”, and “Round and Round”. Those of you who know, who exactly what band I’m talking about. I knew every guitar lick, every word. Recently I had the distinct pleasure to mix a song for Stephen Pearcey. Stephen loved my mix. So much so that he thanked me with an autographed Gold Album plaque from one of those old albums that I wore the grooves off of. UM. One of the all time coolest gifts I’ve ever gotten, and a testament to what kind of person Stephen is. So, he was in town performing tonight and he and his manager Brad Aarons (also manages a great band a called “TIM”, check them out at indietunes.com), invited me out to the show. We met in a bar across the street and got to talk for a good long while, and what a super nice guy he is in person. Then it was showtime and we all walked across the street and he hopped on stage and tore the roof off. He played a lot of his old hits, which was just like a nice walk down memory lane, and his voice is still as powerful as ever. Thanks Stephen for a great night.

Many people have asked me how I can move so fluently between vastly different genre’s, and stay stylistically correct (meaning I don’t make rock sound like hip hop, and vice versa, and I know how to record a drum kit as well as a drum machine). What can I say, my musical influences go Round and Round.

FlomFest attracts "Serious Label Interest"

Anyone heard of Jason Flom? If not, go Google him, you should know who he is and what he's helped contribute to the music industry. Tonight, he helped contribute to charity with his annual "FlomFest" to raise money for www.LIFTonline.org, a very worthy cause. This wasn't JUST any charity event though, it featured a who's who of music industry geniuses with a twist. 4 of them were rocking out on stage in their band comically titled "Serious Label Interest". I assure you this band isn't getting a record deal any time soon. However, collectively they've been a part of hundreds of them.

The band was drummer Andy Karp, who runs Lava (Atlantic) records, home of Matchbox 20, Kid Rock, Simple Plan and Bif Naked (who joined them for a song). Guitarist Peter Zizzo, an extraordinary producer/songwriter responsible for discovering Avril Lavigne and Vanessa Carlton among others. Also two heavyweight music lawyers (actually both pretty skinny) Ron Bienstock on bass, and Todd Rubenstein on vocals. They played 70's classic rock covers and were all dressed incognito, complete with wigs and spandex. SEXY. It was a great excuse to get out of the studio and have a couple beers, and I did. It was nice to see some of my friends out there as well. A couple people I had not seen in ages. Definitely worthy of mention, Ric Aliberte organized and MC'd the evening, and Jason Flom matched dollar for dollar every donation on the night. What a great guy. I hope some day I earn enough to donate large amounts of money to charity. I definitely do what I can but I'm no philanthropist……… yet.

I got to hang out with Bif Naked (she was fully clothed) after the show. She is a very sweet, very down to earth, very talented rock star. (yes, she's really hot too, not that I noticed personally, but somebody told me later). Keep an eye out for her new album coming in a few months. Its done, I heard the first single. It rocks. Good luck Bif. I must get back to work. These records won't mix themselves.