under the influence with...Kat O1O

some nicely enlightened 'under the influence with...' selections from Kat O1O this time round. with a new release, natural phenomena, out on quannum projects (one of my fave labels from the US). Kat 010 is a member of Crown City Rockers out of the Bay area who are well renowned for their live shows and massively talented line up that includes Raashan Ahmad (who did that amazing 'If I' tune, MC'ing over Jon Lucien. Pow!).So, along comes Kat 010 (who plays keys with the Crown City Rockers) and her debut solo album which is full of warm Rhodes and lush beats. You can feel her love of the keys with these sounds that are perfect to accompany you on winter nights by the fire or drives along highway 1 with the sun going down over the Pacific Ocean.
Check out the influences below and the tune 'eucalyptus' below for just a taste of what to expect. Much thanks to Kat 010 for taking time out of her busy schedule to share this with us.
CheersC
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Life as a drug is a ‘helluva drug’! Influenced by everything under the sun, it’s always a bit difficult for me to pick and choose which ones to share with folks, since it changes daily as do most things.  Nothing really stays the same, and if it does, it becomes stagnant, still, like still water where mosquitoes breed, and nobody likes mosquitoes.   
It’s a brisk fall day, and I’m on tour with my band, Crown City Rockers (crowncityrockers.com).  While on tour, there’s always a plethora of music to gain inspiration from.  Everyone shares what they’ve been listening to lately and also what’s all in their music collection.  Plus, we all get to share what projects we’ve been working on. It’s great.  So, here are my choices as of today, incorporating all influences from the past couple of decades of my musicianship.  
In no particular order: 

Herbie Hancock Headhunters – Sly This whole album is freakin amazing, but in particular, the song, Sly. Every time I listen to it, I find something new to get influenced by.  Whether it be a sweet lick or a rhythm that I hear, something always seems to grab me in a new way.  As a keyboard player, the chords and progressions that Herbie plays, speak to me in such a way that I listen so closely, maybe as how most people listen to lyrics.  For me, each note and line and motif that is played is a beautiful melodic lyric, each chord is a sweet phrase, each song is such an epic story told by these musicians, that if the song is playing, it’s hard for me to have anyone around me talking, since it distracts from the musical beauty coming from the speakers.  So, if you’re trying to tell me something important, and this song is playing, be sure to know that I will not have heard one word you’ve spoken. Please don’t take it personally. I can’t control my ears. 

Chopin – Bercuese Yes, really.  I grew up playing classical piano competitively.  There were many pieces by so many different composers from so many different eras that have influenced me in some way, but this piece in particular touched my heart in such a way that it will stay with me forever.  It is a solo piano piece meant to be a lullaby which starts out at with broken chords in medium walking tempo with an sweet melody over the top that slowly unfolds in to frenzied lines in the right hand while the left hand stays consistent such as an anchor holding a butterfly with a long bungy cord. It is so fun to play and so nice to listen to, if you have the time to actually sit down and listen.  I know. What a novel idea, sitting down and listening?  Who does that anymore.  Well, this is well worth the ear time. 

Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon I know.  It’s such a stoner pick, but it really did influence me in a major way. Maybe it was my teenage years growing up in Wichita, KS, opening up my own ‘doors of perception’ that make this album such a staple of my musical existence.  From beginning to end, my attention is completely focused on what’s going on in the music.  I close my eyes and love every bit of it.  

Les McCann – Layers I would have to say this album was probably the most influential for me doing an album by myself.  It is exactly what the album title is, layers.  Layers and layers of tracks, keyboards, drums, all by him.  That’s exactly what I did with my album, Natural Phenomena, layers and layers of sounds.  With Les McCann’s album, all the sonics were dope too.  The synthesizers were thick and robust, with melodies that soothe and also stun.  

Outer Space Yes. Everything about it. I know it’s not a song or album of influence, but it is a main source of inspiration for me.  The fact that it is such a huge ‘un’mass of unknownness is so frightening and serene at the same time. I love looking at the images from the Hubble and just imagining. It is so open. No boundaries. No form. Just there.

J. Dilla – Donuts What else can I say.  Dilla.

Stereolab – Dots and Loops What awesomeness. 

Michael Jackson – I don’t know anyone who wasn’t influenced by this man. Now it’s getting to the point where I can’t go on anymore without just listing things. 

There are way to many things that inspire to compile into just one list.  Everything from Bob Marley to Gang Starr to Marvin Gaye to Dead Prez to Prince to D’Angelo to Portishead to Stevie Wonder to Tribe to car commercials to airport announcements to car alarms to poems to movies… Now it’s all getting mushed, so I should stop now.  But seriously, I’m influenced by what I hear, and a lot of times, mix tapes are my source of inspiration.  Sometimes I won’t even know who the artist is on a track, but I won’t be able to stop listening to it.  So if you’re inclined to.. send me a mix tape!  I’ll do the same for you! [email protected] | crowncityrockers.com  

Peace.

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Download 01 Eucalyptus

buy 'Natural Phenomena': iTunes , amazon

Comments

[single parent online]

Maybe it was my teenage years growing up in Wichita, KS, opening up my own ‘doors of perception’ that make this album such a staple of my musical existence. From beginning to end, my attention is completely focused on what’s going on in the music. I close my eyes and love every bit of it.

[E-Singles Guide]

Everything about it. I know it’s not a song or album of influence, but it is a main source of inspiration for me. The fact that it is such a huge ‘un’mass of unknownness is so frightening and serene at the same time. I love looking at the images from the Hubble and just imagining. It is so open. No boundaries.

[Katherine Heigl]

The fact that it is such a huge ‘un’mass of unknownness is so frightening and serene at the same time. I love looking at the images from the Hubble and just imagining. It is so open. No boundaries.

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inspirational pile of keys in the photo! got the chopin on 9, geraniums are tickled. hats off to cubikmusik, well done.