07.04.04 All Four #1, and one for all...
So I scored my fourth official Billboard #1 of 2004
this week with the new Jadakiss album Kiss of Death.
Of course they left my credits off the album (this
also happened to me on the Jay Z Blueprint II
album but was later corrected, hopefully this will be
corrected as well). If anyone would like to check out
what I did, listen to the song with Jadakiss and Kanye
West called "Getting' it On." There's an orchestra in
there, but wait, that's no orchestra, that's me
creating an orchestra. Really. No joke. Listen to it.
It sounds like a full on orchestra, but it's just me,
and two string players I hired. When Kanye brought
this to me I wondered how on Earth I was going to do
it, but then when a guy like Kanye asks you to do
something like this, you just find a way. So I did.
The song, and the album are blazin hot.
-Ken
06.27.04 Beastie Boys debut #1 with To the 5
Boroughs
I wish I could chalk this up as a #1 album for my
resume, but I didn't actually work on the album. I
mixed a remix of "Ch-Check it Out" which was released
on CD single and the Beastie Boys also did a video to
the remix version (produced by Just Blaze) which hit
MTV this week. So while it has definitely helped album
sales, my work is not actually on the album. So I'm
keeping my fingers crossed that the single goes gold!
(it's hard to type with crossed fingers). Anyway,
congrats to the Beastie Boys on their #1 debut. I
can't tell you what a rush it is to push up the faders
on a mix and hear Mike D, Ad Rock, and MC-A's vocals
coming out of my speakers. And if you haven't bought
To the 5 Borough's yet, it is classic Beasties
at their best. So "ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-check it out."
-Ken
06.26.04 A Reminder of...
Not many people who know me would dispute that I
work insanely hard, and that I am extremely focused
and driven. It's hard to get as far as I've gotten (so
far) without having this type of drive. Sometimes
however, I lose sight of why I work so hard. I bury
myself in projects, and live day and night in the
studio.
Sometimes I forget. Sometimes I forget that I LOVE
music. Sometimes I forget that I work obsessively hard
because I LOVE making records. Sometimes I lose sight
of it all and don't even realize it. Then sometimes
something pulls me back and gives me a reminder of...
Tonight my friend Steve from the awesome band
Man On Earth
whose record I am currently mixing, gave me a last
minute invite to a concert. Dashboard Confessional
performed tonight at a nice outdoor amphitheater near
me. We had fifth row center seats. We were REALLY
close. Steve didn't know I was a fan, he just had an
extra ticket and thought I might want it. I only
bought the Dashboard Confessional album two months
ago, and loved it upon first listen. This band writes
some of the most amazing and original songs, and the
singers voice is powerful and captivating, so I jumped
at the chance to see them live. They did not
disappoint.
Long story trying to be short. I was blown away.
This show was a reminder of why I do what I do. This
show reminded me that I LOVE music. It reminded me
that I work so tirelessly on records because I know
that there will eventually be someone out there
listening to this precious song that has been
entrusted to my care. It reminded me that I am a piece
of the puzzle that will make a difference in weather
that song gets heard or not, weather that song moves
someone or not. It reminded me that what I do
sometimes matters. Sometimes only to a few, sometimes
to millions of people. It reminded me that I have no
choice in my work but to get it right, because though
I may only work on a song for a day or a week, that
song might mean the world to someone else. Sometimes I
get a reminder of the power of music, and I remember
how lucky I am to make my living making records.
-Ken
05.24.04
The Baptism of Ken Lewis
Lenny Kravitz. Need I say more? This
is the guy who did "Are you Gonna Go My Way" and "It
Aint Over Til it's Over." Lenny's new album is titled
Baptism and is destined to become another classic
work in the Kravitz discography. I just stumbled out
of the studio after a marathon mixing session with
Just Blaze who produced a remix of the Lenny Kravitz
single "Storm." The remix combines the 70's leanings
of Lenny's music with the classic soul production of
Just Blaze to create a completely new take on the song
which should be hitting radio any day now.
Not only did I get to mix this
brilliant piece of music, but I also once again had
the honor of bringing in a very gifted string arranger
named Rob Mathes to score and conduct the string
section led by Sandra Park of the New York
Philharmonic. I love recording string sections and
these players are the finest. Rob's arrangement really
helped to put this song over the top. (Rob is also
currently producing Vannessa Williams new album, yep,
he's a pretty talented guy!). We also used Rob and
Sandra for a song with Mariah Carey. I can't begin to
describe what a rush it is to be in the control room
listening to a string section perform a Rob Mathes
arrangement for the first time. Magical.
Having the opportunity to work on this
song has been a career highlight for me. One of many
surreal moments this year. Oh, I also got to play some
really simple "chicka's" (muted strings) on the
guitar. Again, someone had to play it, glad it was me!
-Ken
05.23.04
Small Town Sleeper...I knew them when...
I spent the weekend producing and
recording three brand new songs for Small Town Sleeper
from Urbana, Ohio (truly the middle of nowhere). These
new songs have "hit radio single" written all over
them, and believe me when I say I don't ever say those
words lightly. This band is currently unsigned and I
strongly suggest that if you haven't yet heard them,
you should go to
SmallTownSleeper.com and check them out. I don't
think they are going to stay unsigned for long, so be
one of the ones who can say "I knew them when...."
These new songs will hopefully be done by the end of
June, but they have other great material posted on
their site right now!
-Ken
05.20.04 Jin
for a Cold World
My good friend, and incredibly
talented engineer, Chach, over at Ruff Ryders called
me up to ask if I could produce a song for the Ruff
Ryders talented new Chinese rapper Jin. I hooked up
with Producer Neo who did the drums and I did the
music. Neo's beats are sick and it was an honor to
create a musical piece on top of them. The song is
called "Cold World" and also features a singer named
Life signed to Sony who laced the hook. Look for Jin's
new record in stores in August. Hot Hot Hot!
-Ken
05.13.04
Jadakiss and Kanye West
Kanye once again called on me to play a
bunch of parts for a song he's producing and rhyming on
with Jadakiss for Jada's new album set to hit the
streets in mid June. Two of the most talented rappers in
the game on one track. Don't miss it.
-Ken
05.08.04
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Check it Out!
For those of you living under a rock,
the stuttering above is the name of the new Beastie Boys
single and also one of my new favorite songs.
Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio (yes I'm
originally a Midwestern boy), I have very fond childhood
memories of rocking out to "Fight For Your Right," "No
Sleep Til Brooklyn" and "Sabotage." These guys have been
setting trends and simultaneously making classic albums
for almost twenty years. Never did I dare to dream that
I would mix a song for them (OK, maybe I did dream it so
I guess this means some dreams really do come true). I
even got to play an easy little guitar part on it. Hey,
someone had to play it, glad it was me!
The Beastie Boys personally called upon
amazingly talented hip hop producer Just Blaze to
produce a remix their first single "Ch-Check it Out!,"
and in turn, Just Blaze called upon me to mix it for
him. I am very lucky. We recently finished the mix and
sent it off to the "Boys" to "Ch-Check it out." I then
got a phone call from Just Blaze saying "Ken, Mike D
didn't like the remix...HE LOVED IT! In Fact he loved it
so much that they are considering editing a new version
of the video to this remix using left over and unused
footage from the main video shoot."
Hats off to Just Blaze for producing a
super hot remix, and my deepest respect to the Beastie
Boys for once again proving why they are still on top
after eighteen years.
-Ken
04.13.04
Trifecta!
My arm is bruised now in several places.
"Why" you ask? Well, I must constantly pinch myself to
make sure that I'm not dreaming, that this is actually
happening. My name appears on three of the Top Ten
albums in the nation this week, something that's never
happened to me before. Usher holds onto the #1 spot,
Janet Jackson debuts at #2, and Kanye West holds fast at
#10 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums charts. I performed
on all three albums and mixed for Usher and Kanye.
Janet performed "Strawberry Bounce" on
Saturday Night Live this week. She performed to the
music from the album meaning anyone watching was
listening to my playing. (more brusies). I'm also hoping
this means it'll be her next single. I'm also playing on
Kanye's current video and single "All Falls Down." If
this keeps up much longer I'm gonna look like Rocky
after the first Apollo Creed fight.
I also just got out of the studio
tonight with Just Blaze, mixing a song for the new
G-Unit rapper "The Game." Damn, he's good. More big
things also in the works. 6am. The sun is coming up.
Time for bed.
-Ken
04.04.04
"Friday Night" Video
Rocafella rappers Young Guns album
Tough Luv had an amazing chart debut recently. I
mixed two songs on the album. The title track "Tough Luv"
and the next single "Friday Night." Both songs produced
by Just Blaze. I was talking with Just Blaze tonight and
he tells me they recently finished the video for "Friday
Night" and that it came out hot. I have yet to see it,
but am anxious to. Keep an eye out for it on BET and
MTV, and if you haven't grabbed the record yet, go out
and buy it! (I did. I couldn't wait for the label to
send me a copy, so I spent the $15).
I'm off to mix another song. I'm getting
some really great indie projects in to mix lately. There
is so much talent out there yet to be recognized on a
national level. I hope some of the stuff coming my way
now gets that recognition, these artists deserve it.
-Ken
04.01.04 USHER
SHATTERS SALES RECORDS AND WILL DEBUT #1
OK, I know I don't usually title my
posts in all caps, but this is truly an exception.
Usher's new album Confessions, which I worked on
as a mixer and guitarist, sold 1.1 MILLION copies in its
first week of sales. OH MY GOD. Let me put this into
perspective. This is the biggest single week sales for
any artist in any genre since Eminem sold 1.3 million
copies in one week in June of 2002. Usher even outdid
Nora Jones first week numbers last month.
In fact, this is the biggest single week
sales for an R&B artist ever, actually doubling the
record, previously held by R Kelly for selling just over
500,000 units in one week.
As if that weren't enough good news, the
obvious concequence will be a #1 debut on the Billboard
Charts next week. This will be my eleventh Career #1
album and my third this year so far (Kanye West and
Young Guns both hit #1 on the Hip Hop/R&B Top 100 Albums
Charts). And if that wasn't quite enough good news for
one week, Janet Jackson came out this week. I'm keeping
my fingers crossed that Janet can deliver me another #1.
Everybody go do a rain dance and pray to the music gods
that Janet goes #1 as well. OK, I know I'm greedy, but,
come on, it is Janet. The only person that might keep
her out of the top spot is Usher. I'm just gonna hold my
breath all week. I hope you're all doing as well as I
am, I have to go pinch myself and see if I wake up.
-Ken
03.30.04
Kwality Projects
I just finished writing and recording a
string arrangement for the new Talib Kwali album coming
out soon on Geffen Records. That was so much fun. OK, it
was also two days of no sleep, but it was also a ton of
fun, and very challenging. I must also note that Talib
is hands down one of the coolest, not to mention most
talented, artists in hip hop today. I got a little
preview of most of his album while I was meeting with
him and I just gotta say hip hop is alive and well. I'm
proud to be a part of his album, it's gonna be a
classic.
-Ken
03.23.04 YEAH!
Nonstop
OK, so it's been almost a month since my
last post. I don't mean to go so long without posting
something and I assure you it's not from lack of things
to talk about. Quite the opposite. More like a lack of
time to talk about them. I've been mixing a ton of great
indie projects here lately in so many different genres
and from all over the world. I get emails regularly from
Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and South America. I do
however have one big mystery, and maybe somebody out
there can explain to me why. (If you have an answer,
drop me an email!!!) In over two years of running this
business I have yet to get a single email from Japan.
Now being that Japan is the third largest market in the
world for music sales, I find that quite odd. I can only
guess that nobody in Japan surfs the web in English, but
two years, no emails, that's odd. I mean I get emails
from the most remote places on Earth, but not Japan. So,
if you are reading this, AND, you are in Japan, please
drop me an email and just say hello so I know somebody
over there exists.
Anyway, enough of the world market. Not
only has the indie work been really good, but the label
work has been GREAT! Last week my name appeared on two
of the top 3 albums on the Billboard Top 200 Albums
Charts. Kanye West was #2 and Young Guns was #3. Today
Usher's new album comes out!!!!! (No I didn't mix
"Yeah!" but I did mix a song called "Throwback" for Just
Blaze for Usher's album. I also played guitar on it),
and next week Janet Jackson's new album Damita Jo
hits the stores. I was a musician on two of the songs on
Janet's record produced by Kanye West. Also last week
here at the studio, I mixed a bonus track for the
Japanese release of Kanye West's album. The song is
called "Heavy Hitters" and it is appropriately titled.
For those of you who can't pick up the Japanese release,
I encourage you to find this track wherever you can.
It's hot hot hot.
Well, I could write a whole bunch more,
but then my mixes would not get done, my clients would
get angry, and my
testimonials page might not look so nice. So in the
interests of keeping all of my clients very happy, I'd
better get back to work. These songs aren't going to mix
themselves.
-Ken
02.25.04 Rewind
the TiVo, is this really happening?
Not so subtle Janet Jackson reference.
Why? I just finished a marathon session working on two
songs on Janet's upcoming album. I got in just under
"The Wire" so to speak, as they are mastering the album
today and it hits the streets in late March.
I vividly remember back in 1986 hearing
Janet's song "Control" about every five minutes on the
radio. I never thought that eighteen years later I would
be working on an album for her. I mean even back then I
had big aspirations, but I still have to stop, smile,
and ask myself "Did I REALLY just work with Janet?."
This TiVo moment was brought to you by...
-Ken
02.24.04 Kanye...1...2...and...ya...don't...stop
Kanye West's album The College
Dropout accomplished a huge debut on the Billboard
Charts this week. The College Dropout claimed #1
honors on the Top 100 R&B/Hip Hop Albums Charts on the
strength of sales of more than 440,000 units in its
FIRST WEEK. Kanye also claimed the #2 spot on the Top
200 Albums Charts behind Nora Jones who sold an
unbelievable 1,000,000 copies her first week. I worked
on four songs on Kanye's record, performing guitar,
bass, keys, vocals, and I even got a speaking role.
Onto the singles charts. The Kanye,
Twista, Jamie Foxx song "Slow Jamz" (which I did not
work on), slipped from #1 to #2 this week behind Usher's
"Yeah!" on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Charts,
however, "Slow Jamz" retains the top spot on the R&B/Hip
Hop Singles Chart as well as the Rap Singles Chart. So
it's Kanye West on the One's and Two's. Not a bad place
to be.
The College Dropout just went
Gold, giving me my 29th Gold (or Platinum) plaque, as
well as my ninth career #1 Album. I've had a great
feeling about this album and for Kanye's potential as an
artist since the day I met him almost two years ago. And
the beat goes on...
-Ken
02.17.04
Everybody loves (Usher) Raymond
For those that don't know, Artista
recording artist, Usher's last name is Raymond. Moving
on. This morning I got out of a recording/mix session
with Usher, produced by Just Blaze. If anyone wonders
why Usher is still making multi-platinum albums and has
been a star for over a decade, here are just a few
reasons.
- He is one of the most talented singers I've had
the good fortune to record. As good as he sounds on
his albums, just hearing him walk around the studio
singing for enjoyment is something truly special.
- He is one of the nicest, most down to Earth
celebrities I've ever met. When we were introduced,
it felt like I was meeting an old friend that I
hadn't seen in a while. When people talk about
having that "it" quality, that star charisma, he's
got "it" and then some.
- Picking top producers like Just Blaze to work
with certainly hasn't hurt Usher's career. Usher is
a very talented songwriter and performer. Add a
producer like Just Blaze into the equation and you
have a potential hit single. I was impressed at how
well Usher understood and appreciated everyone's
role in the record making process. Five minutes into
recording his vocals, it felt like I had recorded
him a dozen times before.
Anyway, Usher's new album Confessions
is due out in stores on (I think) March 23. Don't miss
it. This week he has the #2 single in the country!
-Ken
PS. I got to play guitar on the song. I
LOVE playing guitar on songs, especially albums as big
as this one will surely be.
02.10.04 Con-Yey!
Kanye West's much anticipated album,
The College Dropout, hits the stores today. GO GET
IT. Rocafella sent me the pre-release of the album and
all I can say is if this album doesn't go multi-platinum
and garnish several Grammy nominations, I will be
completely shocked. I know that's a bold prediction, but
you heard it here first.
Kanye hired me as a musician on the
album. I played guitar, bass, keyboards and even sang on
four songs. I even had a speaking role on the record;
the only hint I will give you is "All that glitters is
not gold." Of course I think this album is going to skip
gold and go straight to Platinum.
-Ken
02.02.04 Lady
Julia and His Royal Highness
This has got to be the coolest email
I've gotten since the one from an artist named Yonie
that I posted a news blurb about "07.04.03
Dreams Come True."
Last summer I received a call from an
artist named Julia Jones, a native of Wales in the U.K.
Julia came to me intending to only have me mix two songs
for the album. Long story short, I ended up mixing the
entire album, as well as doing a very significant amount
of recording, production, performing, and even a little
songwriting with her. The resulting album, titled
809, was recently released in the U.K. to rave
reviews, and is available on the internet at
JuliaJones.com. Check it out!
So, on with the story. Julia sent me the
below email last week and I thought it was such an
extraordinary story, that I must share it with the
world.
Sir Kenneth - guess what?? I have
received a letter from Buckingham Palace informing me
that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales could not
be more impressed with the progress I have made with
my debut album and is touched that I am using it to
raise money for the children's hospice.
How coooooool. I kid you not - this is
absolutely true! Are you coming to my showcase at The
Bitter End on Thursday, February 26 at 7.30pm? I have
an official British Consulate invitation to send you?
-Julia Jones
My most sincere congratulations go out
to Julia on such outstanding recognition! Julia also
tells me she's putting together a tour of select US
cities. Check her website to see if she's coming to a
town near you and go see her live!
-Ken
01.31.04
Madison Amps and Cabinets Rock!
While recording basic tracks in
Nashville for a rock album I recently produced, I was
blown away by the guitar player's tone. He showed me his
whole rig, which included Madison speaker cabinets (MadisonSpeakers.com).
I loved the tone so much that I now endorse Madison
amplifiers and cabinets. Madison is a boutique amp and
cabinet company based out of Colorado and I've come to
find their philosophy on amp and speaker design very
similar to my philosophy on mixing. My philosophy is "if
my name is going on this mix, the mix is going to sound
great and it will be the best work I can do." If you've
heard Madison's stuff, then you know what I'm talking
about. I now own two Madison 4x12 guitar cabinets,
custom loaded, a Madison 4x12 bass cabinet that is
earthshaking, and my new Madison Divinity 100 watt all
tube guitar head.
The Divinity is a two channel head that
acts like a four channel amp. Each channel has a
controllable boost switch, giving you a range of four
different tones at any given time with the flick of the
footswitch. The tone ranges from silky sweet to super
chunk and will literally sound like anything in between.
I've been putting this thing through its paces with a
Madison cabinet and found between my Fender Strat and my
Les Paul, and the four channel style of the Divinity amp
there wasn't a tone I envisioned trying to get that
wasn't dialed in quickly. "Versatile" would be the best
single descriptor. I've used plenty of amazing sounding
amps before, and a lot of them sounded truly wonderful
through a certain range of tones, but couldn't cover
everything I was looking for. This one covers the full
range of tones, and it does really well.
If you'd like to hear Madison gear in
action, check out the new Noah Levi song "Pieces" posted
at
DemoDiaries.com. I recently produced, recorded and
mixed this song at my studio using Madison guitar and
bass cabinets. My Madison Divinity head just made its
maiden voyage on the new Kanye West album College
Dropout, in which I played guitar and bass on four
songs. Kanye is a hip hop soul artist, again
demonstrating the versatility of this stuff. Not to
worry, you'll be hearing my Madison stuff on a lot of
future recordings, keep your ears open and check them
out.
-Ken
01.01.04 Happy
New Year! A 2003 Recap
Happy New Year to you all. I am feeling
so good about 2004, I think it will be another banner
year for me. So here's the recap on 2003, it was a
tremendous year.
On the major label side of things, I had
seven albums chart in the Top Ten on Billboard in
2003!!! WOW. I also produced an album that charted #1
nationally on the commercial rock Specialty Radio
Charts. Some of the artists and producers I worked with
in 2003 include Mariah Carey, Jay Z, Just Blaze, Kanye
West, Rah Digga, Young Guns, Joe Budden, and Cam'Ron,
just to name a few. Already 2004 started of with a bang
as my first major project of the year was working as a
musician on five songs for Kanye West's highly
anticipated new album, College Dropout, dropping
in stores on February 10. Good luck to Kanye, I'm
honored to be a part of such a well-crafted album.
What a year 2003 was! Thank you so much
to all of my clients whose projects I was so fortunate
to be a part of last year. I met and worked with so many
talented artists through this website in 2003, I cannot
say enough great things about them. Suffice it to say,
that just about every time I listen to the XM Unsigned
Channel for any stretch of time, I hear at least one of
the great artists I've worked with beaming through the
digital radio dial.
I'm detailing my biggest indie successes
of 2003. I hope all you independent artists out there
will draw encouragement from these success stories.
Yonie (mixed) Seattle,
Washington
- Yonie performed two songs I mixed in front of
125,000 people at a Live Aid Concert in Ethiopia,
and he was also interviewed by the BBC, MTV Europe
and several other international news organizations.
2 Sense (mixed) East
St. Louis, Illinois
- This independent rap group from St. Louis was
spitting so much heat that platinum rappers Juvenile
and Crazy Bone both did guest appearances rhyming on
the album.
Johnny Socko (Produced,
Recorded, Mixed) Indianapolis, Indiana
- Charted Top 100 on the CMJ Top 200 Albums Charts
(college radio)
- Charted Top 20 nationally on the commercial rock
Specialty Radio Charts
- Charted the #8 and the #3 Most Spun Songs on XM
Unsigned in different weeks
- Their songs were included on the Sampler CD's of
all three major festivals they played
Loretta (Produced)
Indianapolis, Indiana
- Charted #1 album nationally on the commercial
rock Specialty Radio Charts
- Charted a Top 5 single nationally on the
commercial rock Specialty Radio Charts
- Charted #67 on the CMJ Top 200 Albums Charts
(college radio)
- XM Unsigned Artist of the Week / XM Unsigned #1
Most Spun Song
Kathleen Chaplin
(mixed) Paris, France
- Kathleen Chaplin, from Paris, France had two
songs I mixed included on the Bhudda Bar Pop
Compilation CD, Volume 1. The Bhudda Bar CD
series are considered some of the highest quality
compilation CD's released in the world.
383 Stroker (mixed) New
Jersey
- Two songs included on the Urban Noise
Sampler, Vol. 1 that Charted #2 Most Added Album
to CMJ Radio playlists scoring 127 stations adding
it into rotation in the first week alone!
Small Town Sleeper
(Produced, Recorded, Mixed) Urbana, Ohio
- Charted #4 on the XM Unsigned RADAR Report
- Charted #1 on major St Louis rock station KPNT
101.5FM for two weeks on their Specialty Program and
received #1 phone requests as well (the band doesn't
know ANYONE in St. Louis, making this accomplishment
just that much cooler)
Raslo (mixed) Hong Kong
- Charted #1 on a huge internet chart in Asia
Courage Band (mixed)
Bahamas
- Courage Band has four songs that I mixed
included in a major independent film
To all you independent artists out
there, you can do it too. There are vast opportunities
for independent artists to have their music heard on a
national and international level. I hope 2004 brings my
independent clients even greater success.
Happy New Year
-Ken
