Interviews

Celtic/Country Wonder Twins: Interview with Carli and Julie Kennedy

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Alec Watson Photography

Alec Watson Photography

Having a twin means you always have a best friend! You have someone that understands you and supports you in everything you do.  

When I heard Carli and Julie Kennedy, the initial  impression  was the amazing vocal harmonies they create. They have beautiful voices and are so talented with  instruments and songwriting. On top of that they are also young and pretty-the kind that reminds of Rossetti’s Pre-Raphaelite angels. Their EP SMALL TOWN STORIES is out since late last year and are gaining converts from all over with their brand of Celtic and Country fusion. It was fun doing this Interview because the sisters took turns answering. It’s twin power all over!

1. What was the earliest musical memory you both can remember?


The earliest memory I have is of Carli and I playing in a band with our friends at about 5 years old. We made our instruments out of cardboard boxes and tupperware containers and we felt really cool! We have amazingly supportive parents – very soon after, they went to the music store and bought us real guitars and a piano! We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for their support and love!
-Julie

2. Cite the biggest influence in your musical career.


The biggest influence by far in my musical career is Julie. She is my twin sister, my best friend, my musical other half, and my partner in crime! Julie always has my back in the rehearsal room and on stage, and I could not do it without her! -Carli

3.Of all the songs in your album, what are your favorite ones and why.


My personal favourite song on our album is the title track, “Small Town Stories.” We wrote this song about all of the great memories we have from growing up in our hometown of Powell River. To me, it is the song that best represents who we are and where we come from! -Julie

“Front Row” will always be a special song to Julie and I because we wrote it for our dad. Dad taught me my first chords on guitar, and he has been such a huge support for Julie and I since we were playing concerts for him in our living room at five years old! -Carli

4. What are you planning to accomplish this year?

Alec Watson Photography
Julie and I have a lot of goals for this year. We are songwriting for our next album, which we plan to release in 2013. We also have plans to tour throughout Canada in the summer and the fall of this year. We look forward to releasing a couple new music videos as well!
-Carli

5.Talking about twins,my friend Jimmy who introduced your music to me is a proud daddy of twins. What are advantages of growing up as twins?

Having a twin means you always have a best friend! You have someone that understands you and supports you in everything you do. Carli and I have an amazing connection when it comes to music as well – in many ways we can read each others minds! For example, if I forget the words to a song, Carli takes over without anyone knowing! (Very handy!) We also interpret songs in similar musical ways, which makes playing and songwriting together really fun! -Julie

6.Already Miss you is a personal favorite. I know I am such a sucker for sad songs. It’s in my Filipino blood. What inspired you to write this tune?


Thanks so much! “Already Miss You” was inspired by long distance relationships. Our mom and dad started new jobs in the last few years that require them to do a lot of traveling. They are apart from each other a lot more than they have ever been before, which is hard for them! My mom says this song is very close to her heart! -Carli

7.Are you both keen about the ordering of songs in the album and also the whole packaging thing.


We love the entire process of creating an album! We definitely put a lot of thought and energy into the order of songs because, to me, it affects the way you experience the music. We also love the design process of creating the cd packaging. We had a vision for the project, and we worked with an incredible designer to create our EP “Small Town Stories” – it was such an fun process! – Julie

8. Your music is described as a fusion of country, folk, jazz, and Celtic music. What is the general reception towards Celtic music these days?


We grew up playing and listening to Celtic music. We love to include Celtic fiddle tunes in our show, and they always seem to be crowd favourites! -Carli

9.Thanks for your time Carli and Julie.What are your messages to your readers?


It is our absolute pleasure! We are so happy that you enjoy our music. To our readers and fans, we just want to say thank you so much for your constant support! We love hearing from you, and we hope we can continue to make music that moves you and makes you smile!

More info:

    http://www.cjkennedy.com

http://www.myspace.com/carliandjuliekennedy

http://www.twitter.com/carliandjulie

http://www.youtube.com/carliandjuliekennedy

Press contact    Media & Industry: i see. Irene Carroll Et Associates Public and Media Relations. Irene Carroll, Strategist 416.366.5473 irene@iseeassociates.ca — Touring & Information: Kit Watson, kit@toolkitmusic.com, 778.995.7311

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autoharp 101 Interview with Marc Gunn

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Marc Gunn. Celtic Folk Musician (& Cat Lover!)

Answers from the Godfather.

I have been a Marc Gunn newsletter subscriber for as long as I started blogging.  He writes, performs and at the same time reviews Celtic music. One day I had this idea to drop these questions and see what comes out of them.  Read below:

1. How did you learn to play the autoharp?

It was 1997. My band, Breastfed, just broke up. I was playing mostly
punk, alternative, and grunge music. My songwriting was really bad.
I wanted to write better songs with more compelling melodies and
lyrics. However, I was limited by being a bad guitarist. I couldn’t
focus on good melodies when I had to focus on creating the right
chord. So I picked up the autoharp.

I took one of my dad’s autoharps to college with me. When the band
broke up, I picked up an autoharp songbook and started strumming. I
played these strums over and over again. When I felt I knew the strum,
I created my own patterns and I wrote a song.

Every morning as I walked to the Texas Department of Health, where I
worked, I had finger picks on and practiced strum patterns. Then I
went home and practiced them with the autoharp and wrote another song.
It worked great for me.

> 2. It looks like a complicated instrument but can you give us a closer look at the instrument? What are the things you learned about it and how do you start learning it?

I love the autoharp because it has a short learning curve. You can
start playing the instrument quickly. To play well… that takes a
bit more time.

It has five octaves. That’s amazing for most folk instruments.
However, it is limited by only 15-21 chord bars. That means if you
wanna play a diminished 6th, you can’t UNLESS you replace a chord bar.

My 21-chord autoharps include most of the major, minor and 7th chords.
When you learn to change chords quickly, you can play melodies on the
autoharp fairly easy. It takes time though.

I play with a lot of flourishes. My fingers dance on the strings.
That makes it look more complicated than it is. However, most
everything I learned about the instrument came from that Mel Bay
autoharp book. With time, you learn to hit the right string in a
chord while your fingers dance around the strings. It just takes
time.

But at the basic level, just press a button and strum.

> 3.Who are your vocal influences?

Elvis Presley was my first vocal influence… Well, actually probably
my dad. He was always good with voices. I can sing with my voice or
an accent imitating someone else. When I started playing Celtic
music, I listened to an old cassette of Irish drinking songs. The
singers were very nasally. So I started singing with a nasal sound.
Christy Moore was part of that early education as were The Balladeers
and The Dubliners.

My last band broke up in 2008. After that, I really started singing
with my own voice.

> 4. How many albums ave you released so far?

Ummmmmm…. A lot! My label, Mage Records, has well-over forty albums
to my various names, personae and bands. My old band, the
Brobdingnagian Bards, released 12 official albums. I have 14 that are
currently out. My latest is “Don’t Go Drinking With Hobbits”. It an
album hobbit drinking songs.

My success has largely been based on releasing a lot of music. I give
away a ton of music, for free in fact (see
http://www.marcgunn.com/folk_music/ ). I want people to hear my music
more than anything. Since I started doing that in 2000, I’ve given
away literally millions of MP3s. It’s pretty incredible.

> 5. You are an amazing media guy when it comes to spreading Celtic music awareness…can you share with us the tricks in keeping everything together?

LOL. Oy. I’m not sure. It’s never been easy. Google Alert is pretty
cool for that. For a while, I spent 60-80 hours per week doing all
aspects of my music business. I’m married with a baby now. So I
can’t do that any more.

Now days, I try to get as much help as I can. My Celtic Music
Magazine and Irish & Celtic Music Podcast are invaluable tools for
promoting Celtic music. Most Celtic bands come to me. I get press
releases and emails. The toughest part is organizing that information
so I can share it. I have a bunch of notetab files for that purpose.
Sometimes I remember.

> 6. What advice can you give me about maintaining my blog?

Blog often. Keep at it. Email any band you feature in it to let them
know they are featured. Ask them to post a link to your blog. Read
Problogger. (http://www.problogger.net ). I’m not sure blogging for
profit is possible in Celtic music… or least not much profit. But
it has some great advice for building a reader fan base.

Slainte!
Marc Gunn

======================================================

Cunla Band,It gets better and better!

Check this band out. I think they are awesome. Thanks to my friend Jimmy for posting these guys.

Cunla band plays traditional and contemporary Irish music, with a little pinch
of world music. Cunla are:

Ella Jackson Shlomi – vocals, Bodhran.
Elad Yifrah – flute, tin-whistle, accordion.
Oded Navon – guitar.
Ofer Groman – vocals, bodhran, uilleann pipes, tin-whistle.

=======================================================

The Celtic Peace

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Last week I passed around the pen to my musician friends  and their two cents on the word Peace. They came up with interesting answers.

It comes from within-Ewen Henderson

 

 

I think peace is achieved when the mind is no longer striving/searching/comparing, or measuring itself against all we see and experience. Then there is awareness, which does’nt condemn/justify/censor or distort truth, which is our connectedness to the whole world.” Hope that will do! –Karl Nesbitt

 

Peace for me is knowing that all my family are well and healthy. Music can bring peace of mind to me even on the hardest and darkest days. When Im down I play or compose music to relax and have peace of mind.-  Enda Seery

 

Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation :o) – Andrew Slim Black

 

 

 

In my view, the absence of peace in the world stems from two things: (1) the failure of people to recognize the divine nature that is in every human, and (2) the desire to acquire those things that have only temporary value (such as wealth, land, commodities, possessions, etc.). I believe that if each of us understood that even the lowliest person is a miraculous and magnificent creation (which, if you consider the complexity and majesty of life, is apparent) that is deserving of kindness, respect and love, most enmity between humans would end. Furthermore, if people looked inward to find joy instead of in seeking after non-essential, material things, there would not be war over land, resources, and wealth. I find that happiness is to be found inside ourselves first and foremost. If we are at peace with ourselves, and understand the great fortune that we have to exist in this world, we appreciate others and do not seek for things that are transient. –  Justin Elswick (Sleepthief)

 

 

I believe that to achieve peace one needs to start with their individual self. Do what makes you happy, and that will reflect onto others. If we are not happy in our own lives and how we live our lives, then that reflects negatively onto others. If we as a collective can positively influence each other, then we will see a slow movement towards collective peace and happiness-Jacob McCauley

 

 Peace for me is a basic understanding of respect for one’s fellow human being. Without peace chaos and disorder reigns and basic human rights are violated. No civilised person should yearn for anything other than peace.  –Fiach Moriarty

 

Peace is when you don’t have to try to impress people when you can relax with who you are, and who you strive to be, i’ts a bit like love,when you’re guarded with someone you can’t love that person. I’ts only when you relax that you see the true beauty of the person/place etc.That is peace to me.The further you  get from our from civilisation the stronger the voice of what I think is good becomes- kt tunstall….:}-Rachael Mccormack

 

Peace is a state of mind. Knowing how to recognise it means that I can retreat into it anytime and anywhere. Its not always easy though!-Michael Robert Orme

 

 

I guess the basis for peace is , get rid of that ‘eye for an eye’ crapola for a start… well, retaliation, revenge and all that means escalation…
Jesus, Ghandi all those dudes had the right idea.the Old Testament and the Koran have a lot in common and it’s mostly bad. Love and all that jazz came in with Jesus. I mean I’.m NOT a Christian, but I think Jesus or what Jesus was in to is great. He was the first hippy. and he could turn water into wine, which is a damn fine trick.
It’s the key to peace as far as I’m concerned.-Jeremy Poitin

 

When you have a young family, finding peace is a rare and difficult thing. Peace more often than not is when you have the house to yourself and your ears can have a break to hear some silence. However digging a little deeper peace for me is the acceptance that all the things that surround me are a gift that should be enjoyed today with no worries about yesterday or tomorrow. That provides me with the ability to obtain a certain level of peace and happiness and lets me enjoy the moment.-Tony Lawless

 

My Peace is Your Peace, and Your Peace is Our Peace.

Kindness is the magic seed!!!

Opinions and choices should be tolerated and respected.  Try to be Kind and not to judge frivolously, for you can never truly walk another man’s mile.

Finding Peace relies upon our own ability and motivation to eliminate individual self-righteous concerns and petty differences.  Our humanity has vastly more characteristics in common than differences!

Try to remember to do something Kind each day, outside of your usual realm – try to make it something that won’t have any direct relation to you, to your own friends or family, or to your personal dogma, interests and agendas.  If your life is hectic, just try to do something Kind once a week or whenever you can. If necessary, ask someone how you can help or give.

With each selfless act of Kindness, a tiny magical seed is sown… the tender sprouts grow and blossom into the magical flowers that spread seeds for new acts of Kindness.  Just try it for a few months – you may be surprised at the magical flowers of Kindness you can grow in your own little garden!!!

The magical Kindness begets Kindness, Kindness begets Love, and Love begets more Love!!! Love begets Peace!!! Magic!!!

Just think of the Peace our world would have if everyone performed just one simple selfless Kind act each day… there are a lot of magical seeds of Kindness that need to be sown!!!

“Perform just one simple selfless act of kindness whenever you are able to do so.”

~Connie Rae Crone

 

After reading of this question a few times, I realized that it is extremely personal. Not trying to cop out of an answer, but it is each person’s responsibility to find their own peace, and if I tell you how I find my peace, it most likely will not work for someone else. That being said, I don’t really know how I find my peace, but my life feels rather peaceful so whatever I’m doing seems to be working out.-Noam Bierstone

 

As a native or Ireland we have seen more than our share of violence and bloodshed in the North of our country and it has been so gratifying to see the parties get together to work for peace. It needs us all to support it and to recognise and respect each others’ differences and try to find what we have in common.-Martin Bridgeman

More artists coming up!

Enda Seery: Magic in the Tin Whistle (Interview)

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

Traditional Irish Musician on Whistle/Flute/Keyboard from the heart of Ireland talks to CMF!

Passion affects people around you. When you love what you do, everyone will feel it. This awareness creates enthusiasm. And therefore in your own way, you affect the universe. It’s like magic: The ability to make people  hope..and even  dream…

There are artists who make you feel a certain way about how they play music. You don’t even have to understand what the music is about to appreciate it. Sometimes there are tunes that don’t need words to express that feeling. You just listen  and then you connect. Just like that. This transcends  everything. Today, a musician is going to make that example.

Enda Seery from Streamstown, Co. Westmeath, Ireland sets the standard for the tin whistle. His  album The Winding Clock (Traditional, Folk, Celtic)has 13 tracks that will serenade your ears with wistful and cheerful tunes. The sound of this instrument has never been sweeter or softer. When not involved with music, he is teaching Irish language . This passion in preserving  tradition  is reflected in his style of playing. His original compositions made there way, along with the traditional tunes in The Winding Clock. Between gigs and and working on a second album, I was able to squeeze the time for him to be our guest!

Hi Enda, you have been getting a lot of positive reviews regarding your playing style. I can tell that you are an instrumentalist who gives more emphasis on the beauty of playing rather than the speed . There is richness and grace in every note. How long did it take you to perfect this style of playing?

Thanks a lot for your kind comments. In my opinion too many trad players today try to place too much emphasis on speed rather than respecting the tune(s) they are playing. I like to keep the tune pure. Just last week at a show I noticed some young players trying to do too much with a tune, basically trying to be too fancy. Tradition shouldn’t be tampered with! I have perfected my style over a number of years by listening to all types of players, not just Whistlers. I always try to play for a few hours a day to keep perfecting my style and repertoire of tunes.

You play traditional tunes and you also compose. What are the challenges you undertake doing both?

To be honest I don’t see it as a challenge. Composing is something that I take for granted now. I love to mix and match old traditional tunes with my own compositions. I make sure though to keep my compositions in the traditional idiom. I was delighted to hear some reviewers and experts alike say that my compositions on ‘The Winding Clock’ album integrated well with the other traditional tunes.

‘The Winding Clock’ has received positive reviews. You are also recording your second album “High and Low”. What will listeners expect to hear in this second album?

I suppose the dreaded second album can be tricky after the first but I had a lot of material, especially new compositions left over after the recording of ‘The Winding Clock’. I am going to take my time recording the second album ‘High and Low'(a reference to my use of high and low Whistles). I am about to start a Masters in Trad Music Performance at the Irish World Academy, University Limerick so I won’t have a lot of time for recording. Listeners though can expect to hear a lot of new compositions between reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, airs and instrumentals. I am also going to record a few tracks on the Trad Flute and Low Whistle.

 You will play whistles, low whistle, flute and keyboards in this new album. Are there other musicians you will be working in this project?

Yes, John Byrne will again hopefully work with me on this album. Myself and John have started to do a number of gigs and performances as a duo recently. He is a gifted Guitar player as well as a talented Banjo player. I will provide a lot more Keyboard backing on this album too. I will be recording again at Black Rose Studio, Kilcock, Co. Kildare with Rob Laird as Sound Engineer. There might one or two other guest musicians in the pipeline too.

Tell us about your involvement in Comhaltas ‘Seisiun’ show .

The Comhaltas run ‘Seisiun’ show is a series of shows that runs throughout July and August in venues all over Ireland. This year I am playing but also producing in the show at Aras an Mhuilinn, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. I would hope that I have put my own personality on the show in Mullingar. I have added in Sean Nos Dancing and and new compositions to the show. Producing and arranging is something that I would like to do a lot more of in the future. I am lucky to be working with some great people in the resident group of Aras an Mhuilinn: ‘Ceoltoiri an Mhuilinn’. Audience attendances have been good so far. Aras an Mhuilinn is a beautiful venue in a prime location in Mullingar, a venue that is there to be used by Comhaltas branches of Counties Westmeath, Offaly, Laois and Longford.

 So what are the plans you have later this year musically

I’m starting a Masters in Trad Music Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music Limerick in September. Really looking forward to working with some fantastic people there. I hope to fit in a few recording sessions for the High and Low album too at Black Rose Studio. Also I am due to play on the main stage with a number of my friends at the new Green Village Festival at Castletown Geoghegan Co Westmeath on Sat September 24th.

 What are the best traditional albums you’d recommend to our readers?

Danny O Mahony’s new album ‘In Retrospect’. Liz Carroll and John Doyle ‘Double Play’. Steph Geremia ‘Open Road’ and of course ‘The Winding Clock’!

And lastly: what’s your message to our readers?

Traditional Irish Music has never been stronger so get out and buy or download the music. The music is part of what makes us Irish. It can raise the spirits of a nation. Finally for whistle players remember that it can become your main instrument and as we say in Irish cleachtadh a dhéanann máistreacht!(practice makes perfect).

Well said Enda!

Get your copies of The Winding Clock here

Additional info:  ‘The Winding Clock’ was released in November 2010. Recorded at Black Rose Studio, Kilcock, Co. Kildare. Accompanient on album provided by John Byrne on Guitar from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath and Colin Hogg on Bodhran from Castletown Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath. Ciarán Seery(Button Accordion), Siobhán Seery(Flute) and Pádraig Seery(Fiddle) all from Streamstown also feature on the album.

http://www.endaseery.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mrwhistleman1000

http://www.myspace.com/endaseery/music/songs/the-winding-clock-80753714

Behind The Celtic Melodies: Phil Holland and Dave Palmley

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Article plus Interview

2 traditional Irish jigs.
Phil: fiddles and bass
Dave:guitars, mandolin and bodhrun.
for info on how to buy the new CD “THE VISIT” by Dave Palmley and Phil Holland write to lmcrecords2011@gmail.com

The Visit is one of my most played album this month as we mark our departure from Yule and welcome Imbolc. The album cover of stone circles evoke pagan musings , and yet the music is universal. This is a musical venture that the  classically trained musician Phil Holland did after her solo albums; venturing into a more upbeat and more Irish/Scottish driven arrangement.

   Dave Palmley who also made a mark with his own releases(His UK single Looking Closer is timeless) and added a twist to these wonderful tracks. I can tell where Ms Holland’s style ends and where Mr Palmley’s own comes in. But they create such wonderful musical chemistry that everything is seamless and spontaneous. It’s like these guys have been collaborating for years.  Tracks like Baidin Fheilime, The Clare Jig, The Hills of Connemara and the rest are given freshness. And the length of time for this album to happen?

  (PHIL and DAVE):  We didn’t expect to start an album for a while, but when we started playing together, the rapport was amazing and it just happened.In the space of 2 months we wrote, arranged and recorded everything that you hear on the album. It was just something that needed to come out. Initially we thought we would do mainly some of our favorite traditionals but we found that our combined need to write and create was just too strong and the album ended up being half and half…6 traditionals and 6 original pieces.

In fact since we completed “The Visit” we have continued writing and recording and the next album looks to be already on its way with even more originals that seem to be taking a more progressive direction, although always with a Celtic feel which is inevitable given our combined backgrounds and love of Celtic music.

 I am fascinated by the power of this type of music to bind people together. You could be anywhere in the world and still find someone who shares exactly the same vision as you.  

 We became aware of each other’s music and began corresponding, exchanging thoughts and creative ideas.

There was a mutual understanding and admiration of each other’s work and we decided we really wanted to write, play and record together.

Dave was in England but has actually now moved to Italy so that we can work together on a permanent basis.

Although we’ve only been together as a duo for 3 months there’s already quite a bit of interest in the European Celtic scene and a couple of tracks have already been played on BBC radio. We feel very excited about the music we are making together and we’re looking forward to sharing it with lovers of this genre.

 

 There are a couple of tracks in this album which are my personal choices. One of my favorites is the carrier single “Brave Warrior I and Into Battle Jig”. The melody is beautifully heartbreaking and this track is divided into two parts, the slow beginning and the rapturous second half.

 We started writing the Jig first and initially it was intended as a simple jig. However when we heard its assertive, almost battle-like quality, we realised we could do more with this and the Brave Warrior was born!

We imagined the gaelic warriors of ages past preparing for battle, and what would go through their minds, thinking of homeland, family and possible death and loss. It was a very poignant image but also very proud and strong. The piece itself is very essential, using only 4 tracks; guitar, celtic harp, fiddle and drum, and in this respect is symbolic of the essential nature of the gaelic warriors and their fight for freedom.

It was a wonderful experience writing “Brave Warrior I and Into battle Jig”, because it came to us so spontaneously, almost like a gift, and as it unfolded, we could see and hear the beauty of it. After we recorded it and listened back we heard the depth of feeling and yet it sounded very fresh, uncluttered and natural.

As this is an instrumental, since writing it we have actually starting working on a song version of it with lyrics, which will most likely be on the next album.

   This sounds like an interesting thing to anticipate!