Kendra Morris

Kendra Morris isn’t just a singer, she isn’t just a voice with a pretty a face nor is she a reincarnation of a talented free spirit. The daughter of musicians, she is a splendid creature invested in the theory of melody, song and harmonious lore.

We actually covered Morris earlier this year and remained smitten with her work ever since. But that was in February. June is in full swarm and our music month called for a coupe de grace. We decided what better way to conclude this month’s festivities than to feature an artist that we’ve organically formed a love for?

Fortunate enough to get ahold of the soft spoken siren, we met up with Morris during the tail end of a heatwave on the fringes of the East Village. Flowing into Extra Place, Morris star appeal was charmingly quotidian at best. There was no diva aura present. And aside from having the pleasure of meeting her quaintly assertive cohort Andy from Good Cop, we didn’t suffer the headache of dealing with an entourage.

Morris was colorful, slacked but thoughtfully coordinated. Her eyes were warm and she had a delightfully accidental sense of humor. We originally planned to shoot the interview at Extra Place but found ourselves unable to secure the proper furnishing necessary. When we asked if she’d been willing to stand up and the easygoing native Floridian said, “Sure!”

We then began to discuss the historical significance of the now refurbished alley way and how it was once a dwelling for rock gods who found themselves stumbling out the back of CBGB’s — now John Varvatos. Surprisingly, as if the mayor of good fortune decided to give us the key to the city, Morris uttered, “Oh, well, I have a good friend who works there. Maybe we can do it in there?”

The question was almost rhetorical. How could we pass up the chance to interview such an awesome talent in what used to be one of the epicenters of our world’s rock scene?

We walked into John Varvatos like we owned the place, casually kicking shit over and spitting on the ground as if Television were on stage and it was 1974 all over again. Okay, none of that happen but we figured it sounds way cooler than telling you that we walked in and spoke to her good friend who gave us free reign of the place — which is what really happened.

After marveling at the walls that were lined with precious history, scoping out a nice quiet area and talking about her meeting Ron Jeremy during her recent trip to L.A., we sat down near the rear of the store and proceeded to pick the brain of one of New York’s rising stars.
- Quiet Lunch Magazine

An artist showcase of this magnitude with a co-sign such as DJ Premier is a good reason for anybody following the most respected man in the game to check it out. Sponsored by Wax-Poetic Records, Skullcandy, Fatbeats, and Okayplayer., the month of August had Erykah Badu meets Adrian Younge, while last Thursday soul powerhouse Kendra Morris absolutely captivated the audience. If these recording artists bring it like Morris did, we’re going to keep our eye on Le Poisson Rouge on Bleecker Street.
What strikes you first about Morris is her frame. A petite, five-foot-ish woman, her movements very elegant and sensual at the same time, who can somehow belt out tunes that match the volume of her live band. This begs the question: Who does she compare to? Upon this first listening session, Morris can be drawn to a little Adele here, and a little Amy Winehouse there. But how Morris jumps out of the box of analogies is the way she enthralls listeners with her voice.
After every song, the crowd’s applause and appreciation — some of them loyal fans singing along to her lyrics — are signs of an instant star ready to conquer the big city. “Concrete Waves,” her first offering off the debut album out on November 22, is past soulful norms and inherits more gospel undertones, leaving listeners hanging on to every word that brings focus to her emotive power.
Morris’ set was well-received, especially when she introduced God Forbid, a male soul singer who performed a duet that balances his talent for a natural reverb and her vocal range. She also stopped to thank every member of her band and specially Primo for his love of her music. While these humbling displays of affection were expected from a new artist testing the waters, it’s safe to say she left a memorable performance.

With everyone, including Morris, waiting for Primo to hit the stage, the audience was thinning in numbers. Even at almost midnight, he came to play more soul songs to stay consistent with theme, from the likes of Michael Jackson, Otis Redding, and Curtis Mayfield. The audience responded to Primo’s sudden drops and rewind scratches, keeping the vibrant dance circles going.
Many visitors in the building came to pay their respects — 9th Wonder, Statik Selektah, Rapsody — and the crowd gradually returned to form. Primo stopped in-between tracks to talk to the crowd, especially when he emphasized his three-track dedication to the late Hip-Hop pioneer Sylvia Robinson and the Sugarhill Gang. When “Rapper’s Delight” came on, Primo was a little taken aback by the crowd who misquoted the lyrics, but it was all in good fun. It turned out to be a real dance party up in here.
The highlight of the night was when Primo dropped his remix to “Concrete Waves.” Morris said earlier she has played this remix non-stop in the past few days, and why wouldn’t she? It had Primo’s serving of a knocking bass while lacing samples of her vocals for a club-ready banger. She was spotted with her singers in the crowd, wearing a big smile as everyone around her looked to be enjoying the record.
If there was ever a time to introduce Kendra Morris to the masses, this night with Primo spinning records until the late hours of the morning was a great start. - Fromdt.com

Backbeat: DJ Premier and Kendra Morris at Skullcandy Present Wax Poetics Records Showcase

October 06, 2011
By Benjamin Meadows-Ingram, NY

New York based one-stop music shop Wax Poetics took over downtown Manhattan hotspot (Le) Poisson Rouge last Thursday night for the third installment of its monthly showcase series, which pairs artists signed to Wax Poetics Records with DJs featured in Wax Poetics Magazine for a live music/dance party double bill. The event kicked off just after 11pm with a full, nearly hour-long set from up and coming blue eyed soul singer Kendra Morris, who performed backed by a four-man band as well as two backup singers, and rumbled to a close some three hours later after a rousing DJ set from legendary hip-hop producer DJ Premier. Previous installments of the series, dubbed Skullcandy presents the Wax Poetics Records Showcase at Le Poisson Rouge, have featured hip hop pioneer and DJ Afrika Bambaataa opening for multi-instrumentalist Chico Mann and a sultry set by soul revival act Adrian Younge Presents Venice Dawn followed by Erykah Badu on the turntables.
"It's been great," says Wax Poetics publisher and owner Dennis Coxen, who's been a fixture at the series since it kicked off in August. "Great performances, great reception and a lot of positive press. And there's been a lot of love between our icon DJs and the artists on the label, they really dig each other."

The last point is key. One of the goals of the series has been to not only deliver great live shows but to also set the stage for studio collaborations between the DJs and the Wax Poetics' artists (Mann, Younge, and Morris). According to Coxen, Afrika Bambaataa and Chico Mann will knock out their collaboration as soon as Mann returns to New York after a West Coast swing that includes an appearance supporting Mayer Hawthorne and Badu is interested in working with composer and bandleader Adrian Younge, especially after getting the chance to see Adrien Younge Presents Venice Dawn firsthand. As for Kendra Morris and DJ Premier, that collaboration is already in the bag - on Thursday night Premier premiered the track, a remix to Morris' "Concrete Wave," during his set. The song will arrive at retail on Nov. 22, and be made available in an official Serato Vinyl Control format as well. - Billboard.biz

Kendra Morris has an obsession with birds, evidenced by the tattoos on her right arm and her self-described "enchanted forest" apartment, filled with bird taxidermy. And like her favorite animal, she has a voice all her own. Although she could be compared to Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Joss Stone, the best analogy for Morris might be a modern-day Janis Joplin. The New Yorker (by way of Florida) has been on her journey to discovery since college and has finally found herself as an artist after ten years. Morris started off in a band called Pinktricity (named after a box of neon Nerds), and she's come a long way since then.

Morris has been thrilled to hear her music with a live band, rather than on an 8-track, after working with producer Jeremy Page on her upcoming album. She is slated to release her debut record on Wax-Poetics Records in Spring 2012, but her first single, "Concrete Waves," will be released on November 22.

Morris sat down with us at a café near Tompkins Square Park, where she spoke about playing shows through a boom box, singing in metaphors, and the importance of not being selfish with talent.


AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: St. Petersburg, FL

THE LONG JOURNEY: It's crazy. I never thought I'd get to 30. I've been at this for a long time. When I graduated high school, I didn't know what I was supposed to do. Everyone was like, "you have to go to college. You have to go to college." I knew I wanted to do music, but it hadn't occurred to me that I wanted to be a recording artist or a songwriter or a performer. So, I went to college and I ended up flunking out of everything and playing in one of my first bands, singing just the hooks on songs. I dropped out of college and moved back home with my parents. My mom and dad are both musicians. I picked up a guitar and was like, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this my way. I picked up a guitar and started writing over 10 years ago.


OLD-SCHOOL RECORDING SESSIONS: I took some time to have my experiences and experience as much as I could. I started writing and started focusing on myself as a solo artist. I was recording by myself on this 8-track recorder in my closet for 3 years. It was right around when MySpace music was happening. I was releasing these shitty demos. There are two different kinds of artists: there are the ones that are perfectionists and don't ever release anything, and then there are the ones that put everything out there because they're making it. So, I just put out shitty demos on MySpace. I was playing a lot of shows by myself through a boom box. I have this '69 Fender Mustang guitar that I would play through a boom box. All the while, I've always been highly influenced by soul music. My mom is a singer. My dad grew up in Stockton, CA. He turned me on to Tower of Power and The Spinners, just loads of soul music. I've always had a big heart for that.

THE NEED TO MAKE MISTAKES: I think it really takes ten years to really marinate as an artist. I appreciate Justin Bieber. I think he's a talented kid, but you couldn't say that a 15-year-old really knows who he is. You have to go through a certain amount of heartbreaks. You have to go through a certain amount of "almost theres." You have to fall on your face. I've fallen on my face and splattered a number of times. Maybe I'm just going to fall on my face again.

ON MAKING HER OWN SOULFUL SOUND: The influences I want to have are the timeless ones. I have respect for the women that are out there right now. I like to consider when I write I'm really obsessed with harmonies. I'm really influenced by Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys. In this new album, there are tons of hidden melodies and tons of harmonies that get stuck in your head: things that you don't hear at first. I think there can be a number of songs in a song. You can have ten songs in one song. Why not? There are really no rules in music. I think that is something that sets this album apart from the Adeles and the Amys.





TATTOOS AND TAXIDERMY: The first bird I got was a long time ago. I wanted something simple. Birds retain their voices when they sing. They are all so individual. There's no one bird that's the same as another bird. It's just been an attachment. Then I got nine birds on my chest. I have this crazy apartment that's like an enchanted forest. I have taxidermy everywhere. I didn't do it, though! I found it on Craigslist.

STORYBOOK SONGWRITING: I just finished a book by Bill Hicks, the comedian. He died in 1992. He had cancer. He was this inspiring comedian who was very aware of everything. He never really got huge. He wanted to take his talent and throw it out there. He wanted to use his comedy to wake people up. I finished the book and was like, "I want to write a song about him." I wrote a song about him. I really find inspiration from anything. Sometimes it will be some man on the street. Sometimes it will be a story. Sometimes I'll use an exact experience that I had. I went through a really painful breakup in January. I think it was the hardest, because it was my most mature breakup. Nobody did anything shitty to the other person. It's hard to just make that mature decision: we're not meant to be together. It just destroyed me. It's just coming to the realization that we shouldn't be together and finding a way to explain it to the other person. There are a couple of songs on the album where I wrote about that. It's a song called "Just One More" or "One More Night." We haven't decided on the title yet.

MUSIC IN METAPHORS: My dad always spoke in metaphors to me. I think it rubbed off on me because I write in metaphors a lot. There's a song called "The Plunge" in which I compare jumping off of buildings to falling in love; taking the chance. I use a lot of imagery. They say when you jump off of a building, you pass out before you hit the ground: it's the shock factor. The first line of the song is talking about falling into a slumber while a part of you is jumping off of a building. I'll take anything. I love writing. It's a challenge. Music has been scientifically proven to intrigue the mind.

ON DOING THINGS RIGHT: I can tell I've grown up a lot. Being on the stage singing, you get this energy. I don't ever want to jump out of a plane. I don't ever want to parachute. When I go on stage, that's the thrill for me. It's proof that there is God, because there are chills that go up your spine in that room. I don't want to be selfish with it. I hate bringing her into this, but... Amy Winehouse. When everyone's like, "She died at 27, and she was such a legend." And it's like, no. She was selfish. She died at 27 because she didn't want help. She had so many chances to help herself. She didn't. Of course you're going to die if you don't take charge. She shared her gift to a certain point, and then she was gone. And now all that anybody is going to have are the one to two albums that she put out. She had so much potential. I just want to give and give and give. If I'm meant to die young, I'll die in a plane crash or in a car accident. I want to do it right. I never thought I'd say it, but the responsible way.


THE FIRST SINGLE FROM KENDRA MORRIS' UPCOMING ALBUM, "CONCRETE WAVES," HAS BEEN REMIXED BY DJ PREMIER. SHE WILL BE PERFORMING WITH DJ PREMIER AT THE WAX POETICS RECORDS AND SKULLCANDY SHOW AT LE POISSON ROUGE TONIGHT. FOR MORE ON MORRIS, VISIT HER WEBSITE. - Interview Magazine

"Some Soul in the Wick" : Profile on Kendra Morris
Words and Photography: Agriodimas


On a random industrial block deep in the heart of Bushwick on Bogart street you can stand on the corner and not help but wince at the crashing sound of trucks, and banging metal. A Con Ed. Worker hollers at his buddy about the cheese on his submarine sandwich… It seems like an and industrial wasteland with no personality. A place you would expect to find stray dogs and rodents scurrying about. (This can be said about many neighborhoods in Kings county) But as I stood there waiting for my appointment with Kendra Morris I sat back and took it in. After a few minutes I noticed the locals. 20 and 30 something’s tattooed walking Boston Terriers smoking American Spirits. Cute girls with Billy Idol haircuts and black Madonna fingerless lace gloves carrying fresh stretched canvas. I noticed my generation thriving here. I looked up at the converted 1st floor lofts of these buildings and noticed organic markets and locally run Pizza places. I noticed that this noisy industrial corner was in fact… “A cool place to be”

Kendra appeared from a cab apologizing for her tardiness immediately with the utmost sincerity. I told her to never mind that and not to worry. I followed her up the steps to the Steel door of 49 Bogart street. The shotty electronics buzzed and we walked in. The building was the kind of place you just know has been there and seen a lot in it’s day. The kind of place that is always kind of being renovated but is never REALLY renovated… if you know what I mean.

I followed her down the stairs and through some hallways. I noticed all of the exposed piping just overhead and realized that I might be murdered at any moment.. But I figured this girl was just too cute and sweet to kill me. Plus… I’m sure I could have taken her down if I had to. She can’t be more than a 105 pounds and stands no more than 5’5”. I’ll be ok I thought to myself.

We made our way to her haven. The place where she collaborates with her guitarist and Producer Jeremy Page (Who is also the mastermind behind the band: That Handsome Devil) Page shook my hand, took a drag off of his cigarette and sat back down in front of his protools system. He looked like he was busy and I didn’t want to bother him. I felt like I was disturbing a bear trying to hibernate. But this bear was too busy mixing and working tracks on his Mac Pro tower. After some friendly banter and joking around with Kendra I decided to pull it together and perform some kind of a formal interview.


***


So… Where have you been playing lately?

“Oh Wow… it’s like a blur… We just did the CMJ thing which was great, and Rockwood Stages 1 and 2… We have played a lot of places over the past year. We even used to play trash bar, free tater tots and all!”

Was CMJ a good thing for you?

“Yeah. I think so… It was helpful because it turned a lot of heads. People were like “WOW.. you are serious!” I didn’t expect it to be helpful but I think it made it easier for certain industry people to make it out and see the show. There were Lot’s of unfamiliar faces in the crowd which is ALWAYS a good thing.”

Where are you from?

“Originally from California, then I moved to Florida when I was 8, I guess I consider myself from St. Petersberg Florida.

Did you study Music in School?

“I grew up going to a creative arts school but I went through so many incarnations to refine myself musically. After high school I recorded a dance song with this producer in tarpon springs and right after I recorded it I realized it wasn’t for me. College was something I tried to do and it wasn’t for me either. The entire time I was there I dreamed of being in NY.”

What kind of Jobs did you have in Florida?

“I was showgirl at bush gardens. It was so Cheesy and it burnt me out. Thought I could work on cruise ships. i didn’t get rehired becasue I cant dance. So I quit college and decided to leave Florida… I didn’t want to be a showgirl!”

What’s the absolute WORST job you had?

“The worst job I ever had? Johnny Rocket’s. Sooo bad.. I had a paper hat and a Love Shack choreographed dance. I was right out of high school. And I remember different people I went to school with would be there on dates and I would have to dance in front of them. It was so embarrassing. We had to make our own fries and onion rings with my outfit covered with mustard and grease… And after each customer left I would have to clean the area and I always had to clean baby shit out of those booths.”

Well… how about your BEST job?

“THIS! Being a musician, writing and performing. But when im not touring I also bartend in the east village and I work for Electro-Harmonix demonstrating their vocal pedals. They are the original guitar pedals! They sent me to china last year and Germany this year promoting the gear. I get to play music for them all day and get paid. “

How long have you been in NYC?

What day is it? Is it the 27th? “Yes… I think so” I replied.
I’ve been here for 8 years. Exactly TODAY! I used to be in this band Pinktricity. It was a 3 piece all girl band. We Toured for five weeks up the east coast working our way to New York. We played thirty shows in those five weeks… We survived off of Donations, and selling merch. We even got a van donated to us! We slept in motels, hotels and the Van… I even Fell asleep driving!

Can you describe your sound?

“Soul… It’s definitely soul. For example Sharon Jones has a classic 1968 sound, but we are more current. It has a bit more of a contemporary feel with a hip hop flavor thanks to Jeremy. “
“It’s also dark… a lot of the stuff I always wrote was pretty sad. Im a pretty outgoing, goofy silly person but when I write the other side of me comes out. It’s the way I get away I guess”

So… When is the new Record going to drop?

We are recording now, but I don’t know.

When are you getting more ink?

Ha ha! I’m going in tomorrow to my girl Amanda at Daredevil. She’s going to fill in all of this (Kendra then gestured to a large area of clear skin on her thin white girl arm) She’s insane, and doesn’t do outlines! And now she does all my tattoos!

Good luck Kendra!







"Some Soul in the Wick" : Profile on Kendra Morris
Words and Photography: Agriodimas


On a random industrial block deep in the heart of Bushwick on Bogart street you can stand on the corner and not help but wince at the crashing sound of trucks, and banging metal. A Con Ed. Worker hollers at his buddy about the cheese on his submarine sandwich… It seems like an and industrial wasteland with no personality. A place you would expect to find stray dogs and rodents scurrying about. (This can be said about many neighborhoods in Kings county) But as I stood there waiting for my appointment with Kendra Morris I sat back and took it in. After a few minutes I noticed the locals. 20 and 30 something’s tattooed walking Boston Terriers smoking American Spirits. Cute girls with Billy Idol haircuts and black Madonna fingerless lace gloves carrying fresh stretched canvas. I noticed my generation thriving here. I looked up at the converted 1st floor lofts of these buildings and noticed organic markets and locally run Pizza places. I noticed that this noisy industrial corner was in fact… “A cool place to be”

Kendra appeared from a cab apologizing for her tardiness immediately with the utmost sincerity. I told her to never mind that and not to worry. I followed her up the steps to the Steel door of 49 Bogart street. The shotty electronics buzzed and we walked in. The building was the kind of place you just know has been there and seen a lot in it’s day. The kind of place that is always kind of being renovated but is never REALLY renovated… if you know what I mean.

I followed her down the stairs and through some hallways. I noticed all of the exposed piping just overhead and realized that I might be murdered at any moment.. But I figured this girl was just too cute and sweet to kill me. Plus… I’m sure I could have taken her down if I had to. She can’t be more than a 105 pounds and stands no more than 5’5”. I’ll be ok I thought to myself.

We made our way to her haven. The place where she collaborates with her guitarist and Producer Jeremy Page (Who is also the mastermind behind the band: That Handsome Devil) Page shook my hand, took a drag off of his cigarette and sat back down in front of his protools system. He looked like he was busy and I didn’t want to bother him. I felt like I was disturbing a bear trying to hibernate. But this bear was too busy mixing and working tracks on his Mac Pro tower. After some friendly banter and joking around with Kendra I decided to pull it together and perform some kind of a formal interview.


***


So… Where have you been playing lately?

“Oh Wow… it’s like a blur… We just did the CMJ thing which was great, and Rockwood Stages 1 and 2… We have played a lot of places over the past year. We even used to play trash bar, free tater tots and all!”

Was CMJ a good thing for you?

“Yeah. I think so… It was helpful because it turned a lot of heads. People were like “WOW.. you are serious!” I didn’t expect it to be helpful but I think it made it easier for certain industry people to make it out and see the show. There were Lot’s of unfamiliar faces in the crowd which is ALWAYS a good thing.”

Where are you from?

“Originally from California, then I moved to Florida when I was 8, I guess I consider myself from St. Petersberg Florida.

Did you study Music in School?

“I grew up going to a creative arts school but I went through so many incarnations to refine myself musically. After high school I recorded a dance song with this producer in tarpon springs and right after I recorded it I realized it wasn’t for me. College was something I tried to do and it wasn’t for me either. The entire time I was there I dreamed of being in NY.”

What kind of Jobs did you have in Florida?

“I was showgirl at bush gardens. It was so Cheesy and it burnt me out. Thought I could work on cruise ships. i didn’t get rehired becasue I cant dance. So I quit college and decided to leave Florida… I didn’t want to be a showgirl!”

What’s the absolute WORST job you had?

“The worst job I ever had? Johnny Rocket’s. Sooo bad.. I had a paper hat and a Love Shack choreographed dance. I was right out of high school. And I remember different people I went to school with would be there on dates and I would have to dance in front of them. It was so embarrassing. We had to make our own fries and onion rings with my outfit covered with mustard and grease… And after each customer left I would have to clean the area and I always had to clean baby shit out of those booths.”

Well… how about your BEST job?

“THIS! Being a musician, writing and performing. But when im not touring I also bartend in the east village and I work for Electro-Harmonix demonstrating their vocal pedals. They are the original guitar pedals! They sent me to china last year and Germany this year promoting the gear. I get to play music for them all day and get paid. “

How long have you been in NYC?

What day is it? Is it the 27th? “Yes… I think so” I replied.
I’ve been here for 8 years. Exactly TODAY! I used to be in this band Pinktricity. It was a 3 piece all girl band. We Toured for five weeks up the east coast working our way to New York. We played thirty shows in those five weeks… We survived off of Donations, and selling merch. We even got a van donated to us! We slept in motels, hotels and the Van… I even Fell asleep driving!

Can you describe your sound?

“Soul… It’s definitely soul. For example Sharon Jones has a classic 1968 sound, but we are more current. It has a bit more of a contemporary feel with a hip hop flavor thanks to Jeremy. “
“It’s also dark… a lot of the stuff I always wrote was pretty sad. Im a pretty outgoing, goofy silly person but when I write the other side of me comes out. It’s the way I get away I guess”

So… When is the new Record going to drop?

We are recording now, but I don’t know.

When are you getting more ink?

Ha ha! I’m going in tomorrow to my girl Amanda at Daredevil. She’s going to fill in all of this (Kendra then gestured to a large area of clear skin on her thin white girl arm) She’s insane, and doesn’t do outlines! And now she does all my tattoos!

Good luck Kendra!






- Brooklyn Music Blog

Once upon a time on a blog that I wrote for long ago, I introduced Seattle to a stand out young crooner from the big apple, Kendra Morris. She’s out of the closet, where she once recorded her jams and has stepped up into the big time with a new self titled collection of soulful and heart-gripping tunes. You’ll hear tinges of Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys and Erykah Badu mixed in with 60s soul; what comes out is purely and uniquely Kendra.
-
One might never expect such a rich and mighty voice to emerge from Kendra Morris’ petite frame. Her potency as a singer and performer grew from a childhood immersed in music, traveling with her family to perform gospel in the prison ministries and asylums of St. Petersburg, Florida. Kendra moved to New York in 2003, making music inside a tiny closet with only a guitar and 8-track recorder, always keeping it simple – an aesthetic that continues to shape her sound. The southern influence of the soul and humidity in her voice adds a raw energy that one would attribute to a generation long lost to the internet and digital media.
-
Morris’ voice is a courier to a world where story telling is the only means for passing on life’s lessons, humor, and drama. After releasing two self-produced EP’s she teamed up with seasoned producer Jeremy Page (The Cars, Ed OG, That Handsome Devil) to work on this self-titled EP. The collaboration has birthed a collage of tracks that echo the music and experiences of her childhood. Kendra’s real strength lies in combining mysticism and the strange emotions invoked by the human spirit.
-
Kendra’s powerful voice has been featured on projects for MTV networks, Nair, Electro-Harmonix and an upcoming collaboration with rapper AZ. You can purchase the EP for $5 (and hear it too in its entirety) at: www.kendramorrismusic.com.
- - Seattle Subsonic

Kendra Morris became a Coil Cable user at the 2009 Winter NAMM, held in Anaheim, CA.



She was playing in our friend’s booth at Electro-Harmonix doing demos of their products. Bill Stouraites the company rep in the booth, whom we have had a relationship with over the years, lives in NY in the city. He told me that Kendra had a growing fan base at the clubs and that she was really someone to watch. Bill has a pretty good sense of upcoming artists so we I walked over and introduced myself and asked her if she wouldn’t mind trying out the cable and letting us know how she liked it. Kendra ended up using it throughout the show, I watched her play in a noisy environment in which she had a small crowd of music appreciators around her leaning in to hear her play. She is sort of like magic, and I could see it.



Being a child of a musician, her dad told her about the Coil a year earlier and she thought it serendipitous that we were there offering her one to try out. I told her dads tend to know best, “It’s what they are there for.”

At Musik Messe this year, Ted was a guest in Sound Service’s booth, our Germany distributor who hosted a full display of our Cable Bar and cables. Kendra was at the show and they had a chance to reconnect. Today he sent me her video, “Telephones” which he posted on his facebook page. I think it worth sharing in this forum too.



Today, think of at least one choice you made that defines your freedom to be who you want to be.

Peace. - Bullet Cable

The first thing you notice when Kendra Morris sings is the power of her voice. Her frame is petite and slight, her movements, light with poise, prowling around the stage.

But when she lets it out, you think: Nina? Ella? The voice, at first, doesn't match the frame, but the room at Union Pool in Brooklyn is enthralled by her sound and her power. Kendra Morris is a star, instantly. Memorable, potent, endlessly captivating, track for track, past the syrup doo-wop layers, past the rich cross melodies, past the churning of her recently formed back-up band, one question remains: Where did this voice come from?

Not surprisingly, the South.

"I was raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. Not much really going there. I knew I had to get out," Morris tells me.

But this provincial upbringing yielded important exposure to American classic roots music. Morris's parents were integral in this musical education, Dad loving Tower of Power and WAR while Mom represented the R&B love. Enlisted by a high school guidance counselor, Kendra joined a Gospel Tour signing hymns and old standards to nursing homes, police functions, and high schools.

"We once played an mental hospital. They gathered all the patients into a football field and we performed for them. It was nuts, watching them all dance and respond to it, crazy, and kinda awesome," Morris details.

Music was everywhere for Morris growing up, her parents had formed a band together and played around town. Kendra Morris's musical path was assured from a young age.

"My mother and I on the way home from school would harmonize with each other in the car, waiting to pick up my brother."

Morris created a three piece all girl rock and roll group in 2001 and started playing gigs around Florida. But halfway through their first tour the girls felt the pull of a greater force.

"We knew we had to move to New York City."

At 22, Kendra Morris and her group shacked up in a one bedroom apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The girls got some shows, but tensions grew.

"New York is tough when you first get here. Finding work, the stress of living together, it took a toll."

Her band broke up. But Kendra took this as a welcomed lesson.

"This gave me chance to really live in this town," she said, "see what was going on out there. I took a 4 month hiatus from music and explored."

That's when she bought a Tascam 8 Track Digital recorder and started laying down tracks in her closet. This was 2004. Now she prides herself on a song book of over 50 songs.

"Some will never see the light of day, other have been pieced together and made into new songs. Some made it to the albums."

Kendra Morris has released two EP's, This Will Only Hurt A Bit, in 2007, and Milk and Cookies Never Lie, in 2008 (both available on iTunes). Her full length album is due out in June.

There are many sides to her music. There's the soulful, down-right gospel power of Kendra back by the full band, produced by hip-hop engineer Jeremy Paige, exemplified on tracks like "Don't Cry", "Teenage Love Affair", and "Seaside". Then there's the moody, gritty, and haunting tracks of "Telephones" and "Been Drugged" recoded in the darkness of that small closet. Either incarnation leaves the listener in the throes of her emotive power.

In a land where everyone is in a band and trying to make it, Kendra keeps it simple.

"At the end of the day, it all comes down to the strength of the song."

But it's hard out there for an unsigned artist in NYC.

"I was told from the beginning: build you team," Morris said. "A label is a bank that hires your team. Of course it's a headache to have to book all of your own shows, handle PR, you wear a lot of hats. It is exciting, the freedom to do what you want and how you want it. But it's a lot of work."
- Your Beautiful New York

A few weeks ago, I was checking out The Black Keys myspace page, you know how we love TBKs at NWMB, and I saw this pretty picture of a girl who left a comment. The picture had this 70s Christmas feel to it which made me interested enough to click to see more. That’s when I heard Kendra Morris for the first time. She’s not just a fan of The Black Keys like me, she’s a musician from Brooklyn, NY with a very cool sound. Like Cat Power? Then I think you’ll love Kendra.



From what I’ve gathered from Kendra’s Myspace page is that she’s quite a character, sassy, eclectic and adorable. An outside observer might guess she’d be an indie punk version of Lily Allen however her music is quite the contrary and more equated to indie soul. It’s a beautiful mix of low-fi melody and bluesy melancholy that produces this hugely soulful yet modern sound. The first song that caught my ear, which happened to be playing from the myspace music player, was a haunting yet gospel-esque rendition of You Don’t Own Me – that 60s classic by Leslie Gore. You can definitely hear in her voice that she once sang gospel in church (until she got into too much trouble with the boys). Now she prefers to hang out in her closet making lofi jams with her toys and instruments. Did I mention she’s into boomboxes and ghettoblasters too?



She has just released her first EP that is solid called This Won’t Hurt a Bit. I love every song on it but if I had to pick a favorite, there would be two: Teeth & Bones and Again. And looking into my crystal ball… with the popularity of Amy Winehouse right now, I think if Kendra plays her cards right, she definitely has a shot at the big leagues. She has that uniqueness and that special quality that stands out in front of the pack.

Check out Kendra’s myspace page. It’s chock-full of goodies: music to listen to & buy plus home videos to watch, even one that’s a mini-documentary starring none other than Kendra! She said she may be coming out our way soon, I certainly hope so, I can’t wait to see her and buy her a shot of Jack. She likes that. - Northwest Music Blog