Fantastic review going in July 2009 edition of UK roots bible Maverick. Hurrah!
“A musical Wizard from Aus releases a stunning debut album
The current economic crisis that is blighting the music industry means that artists like Kris Morris and albums like I Think We Both Know are now pre-destined to relative failure. Without Kris getting the backing of a decent record label you will probably never get to hear this stunning album and that’s a damn shame. I Think We Both Know opens with the sublime So Beautiful; a song that Radio 2 would have played to death 12 months ago and still should. Title song is a plaintive cry from one lover to another at the jagged edge of a doomed relationship. Kris Morris uses his edgy voice to great effect on this and It’s OK, with both songs crackling with suppressed anger and infatuation.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, until I was 13. I moved to
Northampton after that and stayed there until my 20’s.
Where do you live know?
In London. Brentford…apparently famous for Brentford Nylons? Tights? I don’t own any!
What have you been up to musically?
I have just started recording my third album! I’m working with two great producers in Glasgow. Hoping it will be ready early summer! Woo hoooo! Read the rest of this entry »
Lasse, how are you?
Great thanks, got off a gig late last night into early morning rehearsals, but I’m feeling great!
Where did you grow up?
In a small town called Kerava, about 30 km from the capital of Finland Helsinki. Nice neighbourhood to spend your childhood in. Everything is close and you can get around easily with a bike.
Where do you live now?
In Helsinki. Nice neighbourhood to be a musician. Everything is close and you can get around with a car.
What have you been up to musically? I’ve been preparing music for my own instrumental album, and for my bands album. Also gigs around town live and and in studio. Read the rest of this entry »
Your long awaited debut album is due to hit the shelves in April. Tell us more about it?
Recording the album was a really special process. My label at quite short notice decided that we needed to do the album and so it was quite a rush to finish up the songs and find a place to record.
We wanted to steer clear of a big studio to save money and just have a space we could let it all hang out a little. Low pressure – high inspiration. They mentioned a place they used to stay as kids – an old Victorian hunting lodge in Northamptonshire.
I made a call to the owner and told her that I’d look to book the place for a week to do some writing. It was kind of true – but the mental image she may have had of us sitting around with acoustic guitars was a bit pared back from the reality.
We drove up with three cars jammed packed full of recording gear and instruments.
The place was beautiful – in the middle of nowhere, secluded, old, cool, chilled. We scoped it out – there were about ten rooms so we figured out where we should setup the main studio hub and then we setup the drum kit in the stairwell, and guitars, bass, organ and so on in different rooms.
It enabled us all to have a little space to make noise but also to play off each other. Each day we’d wake up really early, have a coffee and then start talking about the songs we’d work on that day.
It was an amazing week – we really captured the heart and soul of the songs. It was pretty exhausting and I sang myself to a standstill relying on the numbing powers of fiery ginger beer to keep my voice going through the week. We got all ten tracks down and only had some extra “icing on the cake” stuff to overdub when we got home.
It came together beautifully – it sounds amazing, at times tender and at other times quite huge, and the songs really tell a story about the journey I’ve been on for the past few years. I’ve invested a lot of heart in it – as have so many people that have made their own heartfelt contributions to it. Read the rest of this entry »
Today is finally the release date of my debut album I Think We Both Know. I spotted last week that the album found its way onto one of the torrent sites – I actually felt stoked someone liked it enough to want to share it. And subsequently I’ve had various emails from radio stations around the world that I wouldn’t have heard from otherwise. So I guess the point is that sharing is good. And so I’m super keen to share it with the world. I hope you appreciate the generosity and talent of everyone involved and that the album becomes more than just a bunch of digital files to skip through. Live with the songs and let them speak to you. For this week, to celebrate the launch, its FREE! Simply go to store.krismorris.com to have a listen to all the tracks and download the album.
“How can I help?” I hear you ask? Tweet and ask people to retweet. Facebook your fingers off. Casually tell people how your life has been changed by the album while you’re waiting for the bus. Let people know that its free right now and they’d be dang stupid if they don’t get their greasy mitts on it. If you really feel like it you could donate what you would usually spend on an album. Write comments here on my site letting the world know what you think about it. Go to the digital music store sites, find the album and be the first to write a review on the album. If you love it please share it.
* Your email address is safe with me. You’ll only hear from me with spectacular earth shattering news and I’ll never share your information with anyone. My Data Protection Officer, Billy the Cat, is a tyrant when it comes to this stuff.
April 12, 2009 at 9:03 am · Filed under Releases, Video
Oblivious – Recording the Guide Track
Recording the guide track for Oblivious. Blues baby!
Oblivious – Listening and Electric Guitaring
You can see Willie here listening to me putting down some electric guitar licks (deluxe edition) from down in the electric guitar den of broken chops.
April 11, 2009 at 9:33 pm · Filed under Releases, Video
Some people do vocal warm ups. Some people drink warm honey drinks. Some people get singing lessons. Folks stop all of it. All you need is a white singlet and a can of Old Jamaica Fiery Ginger Beer. The white singlet makes you feel part superhero / part chilled out dad on the weekend. The ginger beer numbs your vocal chords so you can’t feel any of the permanent damage you’re doing to your throat as you sing yourself into the ground. This first lesson is free but please contact me if you’d like personal vocal coaching.
Back to the main point. This is me doing the vocal takes for Other Side. You get the picture for what we were doing – vocals late at night after everything else was recorded in the day. White singlet, ginger beer, headphones, soul . . .
April 10, 2009 at 9:46 am · Filed under Releases, Video
Its Ok – Recording the Guide Track
Getting the rough guide track down for Its Ok. Each track was done like this – talk through the arrangement, put down a guide version with everyone playing, then get drums and bass down properly, then electric guitars, then smoky late night vocals.
@rocketfuelled i'm *that guy* at the cafe near the beach - grumbling at tourists trying to sit in my seat etc 28 mins ago
billy the cat just spilled my espresso dare everywhere . . . goober 41 mins ago
@rocketfuelled what to do with my life . . . that kinda stuff . . . came up with some good ideas i think 42 mins ago
Press clippings
“There may be hundreds of singer-songwriters out there, but few can express their feelings with such honesty and sincerity, whereas every word uttered by Kris Morris, on this release, wrenches at the heart strings. If this is the shape of things to come you can expect to be hearing a great deal more from Kris in the future. 9/10″
