Doug Keith

Doug Keith is a singer/songwriter whose work has been related to traditional folk and Americana styles. The New Yorker has released his second album, The Lucky Ones, an eleven song offering that can be found on is co-owned independent label, The Village Label. With a voice that is surprising to hear, it is one of the best of it’s kind available at the moment.

Maximum Ink: Since there is much out there about you would you care to fill us in on your background?
Doug Keith: I’m a midwestern born kid (born in Madison actually) who moved with his family at the age of 12 to a town just outside of Syracuse, NY. I figured out the language fast (‘soda’ = ‘pop’, ‘wicked’ = ‘very’, ‘sneaker’ = ‘shoe’ and so on) but never let my roots sink too far into the ground there. I graduated early from high school, tried college but left after a semester, I’m not even sure I ever got my grades or if I did, I never saw them. I moved to San Francisco when I was 19 and played in punk bands. I stayed there until I was about 24 and then moved back east to NYC where I’ve been ever since. I bounced around in bands in NY and worked before eventually deciding to go solo and tour nonstop. I always had a drive to do it, but never felt it was the time. Once I started working in earnest on my first record I knew it was the right direction to head in.

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Wiz Khalifa

Washed in champagne and sensimillia bravado, smooth-talking rapper, pop upstart and lifestyle compiler, Wiz Khalifa slings off-putting epithets, suave posse politics and pussyfooting bragging rights glamorizing a cushy life of sleeping in and going out.  As a son of two military parents Wiz is no stranger to discipline or duty but his allegiance to his fan base, the Taylor Gang, and his, success is the best revenge, work ethic are a far cry from dawn patrols and reveille.

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Kittie

Is it just me or does it seem like the biggest thing in hard rock and metal lately is to throw a pretty face up on stage and hand her a microphone and pray that the fans take notice? Record labels using the age-old sex appeal to sell records. The thing that happens then typically, is that pretty face is nothing more than just that, a pretty face. This isn’t the case when it comes to the metal shredders in Kittie. Not only do they all have that pretty face to start off, but then they leave your asses thinking, “What the hell is this? I love it!” The femme-fatale quartet are maidens of destruction on their new album “I’ve Failed You” and continue to produce high-quality, ass-kicking metal that erases the underlying notion of an all-female metal band. They’ve demolished so many mosh pits and ruptured so many ear drums that they are simply a bad ass metal band with immense talent and enviable stage presence.  Maximum Ink’s Aaron Manogue sat down with lead vocalist and guitarist Morgan Lander to talk about why they chose metal, their new album and the personal struggle purveyed throughout it.

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Jann Klose

Jann Klose was born in Germany, and raised in Kenya and South Africa, and then returned to Germany as a teenager. Then he went to Cleveland, Ohio as an exchange student (where he first learned to play piano and guitar). He has been cast in the touring company of Broadway’s Jekyll and Hyde, the European tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, and Tommy (where he played “The Pinball Wizard” in the NJPAC production). Jann has worked alongside artists like Les Paul, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), Rosanne Cash, and Marty Stuart.

His musical stylings have led critics to compare him to Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Seal, Sting, and Kurt Weill to name a few. His most recent work Reverie has been said to be made largely with fan support. His latest digital EP Sacrifice is available for download now.  He also had a music video, “Doing Time,” which was made with fans and students at the New York Film Academy. 

Jann Klose will be performing in Chicago on Nov. 16 and 17 at the Uncommon Ground for the Jeff Buckley Tribute, and then in Winnetka on the 18th for the Valslist.com Living Room Session.

Maximum Ink: What was it like to grow up in Kenya and South Africa?
Jann Klose: I got to see a lot of Eastern and Southern Africa as a child. My parents loved to travel and took us with them, everywhere. It was a very good life.

MI: Was it very different in Germany?
JK: My parents got divorced in South Africa and my brother and I stayed with my Dad. My grandparents ended up moving to Johannesburg to help out since my dad worked full time. When we moved back to Germany my brother and I lived with our grandparents for a few years. A lot changed, not just culturally, but personally in our lives after leaving Africa.

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Hayley Sara Knight

Hayley Sara Knight is a rather impressive young lady at only 18 years of age the California native can be found opening for Billboard Top 10 artists.  She has a deal to record on a SONY project for Cinescore. She has trained in the arts since an early age.  She has amassed acting credits, done TV voice over work, TV commercials,and works in modeling as well. Hayley has co-starred in several musicals and stage plays.  She had a starring role in an L.A production of The Wizard Of Oz. She began her career as a vocalist by training with Polish artists Ilona Europa. Her first solo performance was at the Famous Canyon Ranch near Hollywood, where she was called ” part Katy Perry part Christina Aguilera with a dash of Rihanna.”

Maximum Ink: At what age did you first know you wanted to work in performing arts?
Hayley Sara Knight: I have always LOVED to explore different voices and different characters, I just loved the idea of pure CREATION. I think subliminally, at a very young age, the reaction that I got from people is what really inspired me to pursue it. I love making people laugh, making people cry, and expanding the minds of an audience just by simply allowing myself to be fearless. And when did you first began to train to do so?  Since I was little girl I would constantly exercise my singing, acting, and performance skills wherever I was, I would constantly be using my imagination and not hesitating to share it with others. (Which got me into trouble sometimes.)  However, I started to professionally train when I was 9 years old. I started in a little acting workshop. That is what started me off in the acting world. I got an agent and manager and went out on auditions. After being in a couple of musicals, I REALLY wanted to pursue my singing. So I got a couple vocal coaches over the years. But at age 15 is when I really found my vocal COACH.  Her name is ILONA EUROPA, she is a recording artist from Poland. From age 15 to now she has turned into my mentor. Singing is not just “technique” it is mainly “soul.”  Sometimes you feel butt naked when you are sharing your true soul with someone other than yourself. ILONA EUROPA has helped me to feel comfortable with that feeling.

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Robert Knight

Robert Knight is without a doubt one of the best known photographers in rock. His career began in 1968. He captured the last performances of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. He was also the first photographer to shoot Led Zeppelin in America. He has captured everyone from Elton John, Eric Clapton to John Mayer and Maroon 5. “Rock Prophecies” a documentary following Knight by John Chester, produced by Tim Kaiser (Multiple Emmy Award winner for his work on show like Will & Grace and Seinfeld) is set it air on PBS this September and will be available across the country. It features interviews with Slash, Steve Vai, and Carlos Santana as well as a rare private performance by Jeff Beck.

Maximum Ink: What led you to take up the role as a rock photographer?
Robert Knight: I couldn’t play the guitar and was hanging with a bunch of really creative musicians when I was 15. I needed to have a good reason to be around them. Their hero was Jeff Beck so my goal was to somehow photograph him and impress my peer group.

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Kodo Drummers

In Japanese the word “Kodo” conveys two meanings: “heartbeat” the primal source of all rhythm and, “children of the drum,” a reflection of Kodo’s desire to play their drums simply, with the heart of a child. Bringing their One Earth tour to Madison’s Overture Center on February 21st Japan’s premiere taiko drumming ensemble continue their quest to unite the world through sound, transcending cultural barriers to remind us of our membership in that larger community—the world.  Taiko is not simply percussion,” long-time Kodo member Akimoto explains. “It’s a part of life, and part of communities. It unites people with people, and also people with nature and even with gods.” Community is a central theme in Kodo’s philosophy. More than a musical group, it is a village that harvests rice, runs a two-year apprentice program, and even crafts eco-friendly Earth Furniture. In concert, the thundering drums startle and mesmerize, racing in arresting rhythms that rumble in war-like marches and ripple in whimsical jigs, seismic salutations whose relentless beats collapse consciousness, altering moods and elevating the spirit in collective thought. A venerable tradition nearly thirty years old, Kodo is a sight to behold, a forceful reminder of individuals working together, united in a common goal.

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