Kat Parsons (www.KatParsons.com) is smart and clever. It's written all over the lyrics and music of the very independent artist's second album, No Will Power . It's also the hallmark of her entrepreneurial spirit. When legions of fans from her 5,000-plus email list dogged her for an album to fill the void between her high-voltage performances, the “twenty-something” Kat asked them to put their money where their mouths were. The deal was sweet – and here's the smart and clever part: for various levels of financial commitment, her dedicated “business partners” would receive a sound return on their investment.
She set up a pre-ordering system of “creative and hard goods,” as she explains it, whereby a $500 contribution, for example, includes four tickets to a No Will Power record release party, four signed concert posters plus a song dedication of their choice during the release party performance and an invitation to sing back up on a song. For $20, an investor receives a personalized, signed copy of the album, and $55 buys three. One thousand dollars immortalizes a supporter in the album credits, and affords them lunch with Parsons.
Fans stepped up and stacked the chips to the tune of more than $14,000 before Parsons ever recorded a note; a gratifying outcome, especially in light of the break-up which fueled this record.
“I got incredible response from my fans,” says the L.A.-based performer who's made a significant impact on the independent music scene since the release of Framing Caroline , on Chicago 's Waterdog Music. “ No Will Power chronicles the unraveling of a romantic relationship at its every stage. It's not necessarily in chronological order. I didn't write it with the idea that it was going to be a record. I wrote it and realized that I needed to do a record,” she laughs. “I have a new understanding of love now.”
Her fans aren't the only ones who know a great thing when they hear it. Calling to mind a modern day Carole King, her many awards of performance and songwriting recognition include the recent victory as top winner in Acoustic Live, from a field of over 600 of the most talented performers in Southern California .
She's been featured on XM satellite radio, and on its recent “Radar Report,” where her songs dominated the top three most-played slots. Endorsed by Yamaha, who has named her an "Influential Emerging Artist" along with Cooleremail.com, she appears in a commercial for Baldwin Pianos and Gibson Musical Instruments.
Parsons is bringing No Will Power to New York , Los Angeles , Chicago , and Washington , DC , for record release parties to coincide with the long-awaited album's March 2005 bow. A performer first and foremost, she's not waiting for No Will Power to exert some sonic influence, opting instead to set the stage with a current East Coast tour, and a concert experience the media describes as "[A] performance that revealed a passion and intimate detail well-suited to a small stage, with a sound big enough to fill an arena.”
Parsons' process of emotional recovery has given No Will Power spectacular strength of artistic conviction and popular appeal, making it easy to succumb to the title track (a possible first single), the honesty of “We Deserve More,” the brilliant rendering of the standard, “Someone to Watch Over Me,” while ”To Return to You” is reminiscent of U2 in its epic quality.
Producer Paul Maylone (Junkie XL, Daeva) captured every vocal inflection and each piano and guitar nuance that Parsons relinquishes, while Geza X (Meredith Brooks, Dead Kennedys) offered his expertise to the tracks. Session performances from her well-credentialed live band include actor Dermot Mulroney playing cello , Matt Taylor (Libbie Schrader, Action Cats), Joe Hauler, Jon Parsons (Kat's brother) , guitarist Michael Chaves (John Mayer, Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright), upright bassist Joe Ayoub (Liz Phair), trumpeter Chris Opperman (Steve Vai, Oppymusic), Robin Goodchild (Sterling), Maurizio Paura, Tim Kelly, and Johnse Holt enhance the acoustic, pop and classical elements that Parsons summons from her lineage and creative experience.
Born in Vienna to esteemed opera singer Darrell and popular recording artist Julie, (with whom she co-wrote “I Know It's Time”), Parsons has studied piano, majored in theatre at Northwestern University, and has opened for Jim White, The Fixx, Dave Mason, Maria Muldaur, Spin Doctors, The Knack, Jonatha Brooke, Shannon McNally, Lori McKenna and Charlotte Martin in her professional career.
“I hope that people will be able to find themselves or a piece of a relationship they've been in, and be able to recognize themselves in the songs,” Parsons says of the personal experience of No Will Power . “Being able to recognize yourself in the world is a huge thing, and makes you feel not so alone.”
The Review
Kat Parsons has the voice of an angel, and the soul of a woman that can be found inside of anyone that has loved and lost. As you listen to this collection of heart-baring songs, you find it is so relatable. It has been said that Kat Parsons is the voice that speaks for a generation of young women, and she is that and so much more. It is no wonder tha her fans stepped up to the plate and helped launch this CD project with both their support and financial backing. This collection of songs flows seemlessly from one to another, and it is hard to highlight just one as my favorite, although "Miss Me" and "Remains" are what I happen to play the most.
A talented song writer combined with a sweet voice and music ability. Could it be that the "singer / songwriter" genre is finally finding some footing amongst overly produced pop once again? If this disc is any indication, I think so.
Kat Parsons (
Printer Friendly Version