Standing Center Stage at the Grand Ole Opry!

I know, I know its been far to long since I’ve let you all know what I’ve been up to. What can I say? Its been a busy summer..:)? Fine, you’re right, that’s no excuse. But I’m here now… Please forgive me! I am going to try my best to give you a brief overture of my last few months.

Gigging in Poland for a little over a month from mid June to mid July was amazing. That country is absolutely gorgeous in the summer. I’d get a couple days off every week and would always try to travel somewhere I’d never been before. I spent one weekend in the most adorable beach town in northern Poland called Sopot. I spent my days sipping mojitos on the beach and dipping my toes in the Baltic Sea!

Singing in Poland

It doesn’t matter where I am in the world, if I am near the ocean it always feels like home. Perhaps, this could be related to the fact that since the day I was born I have been breathing in our west coast air, suffused with the faintest hint of seawater, with every breath. Our sense of smell is one of the strongest of the five senses in triggering memories, hence the smell of the sea reminding me of home. Anyways, the memory triggering abilities of our sense of smell is not the point of this blog..:) I returned home from Poland for a mere two days just to turn around and head back to the airport for another international flight. This time to Malaysia!

On Stage in Poland

Warsaw, Poland

Me and the Petronas Towers in KL, Malaysia!

We played at the Shangri-la hotel in Kuala Lumpur, for the Princess of Malaysia’s birthday bash. She actually got up on stage at the end of the night, grabbed my microphone from my hands, and started singing alone with us. It was a surreal moment to be jamming on stage with the Princess of Malaysia! Then she invited us to join her for supper! I had a great time with the band on this trip. We definitely got the royal treatment everywhere we went. I guess it’s a big deal in Malaysia to have played for the Royal Family. We made a couple impromptu appearances at some local clubs downtown and played a few songs to a packed house!

Ricky Skaggs and I backstage at the Opry!

Bill Anderson and I backstage at the Grand Ole Opry!

I finally returned home to Vancouver and it was August. I only had three weeks before I made my first trip down to Nashville to mix my record! Needless to say, those weeks where filled with working in the studio and prepping all my tunz for mixing. I had an unbelievable time in Nashville. I met and worked with some amazing and talented people, and had some incredible experiences. Mixing with Mark Capps at Soundshop studios on Music Row went great! I’m thrilled with the results. I got up with my guitar and played at a couple writers nights. I also sang, on more then one occasion, down on Broadway! Broadway is the strip where legendary bars such as Tootsies, The Stage, Second Fiddle and a large array of other country bars are situated. But the highlight for me really has to have been heading out to the Grand Ole Opry to catch the show from backstage, twice!

Little Jimmy Dickens and I!

I met the likes of Little Jimmy Dickens, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, Andy Griggs, Luke Bryan, Mark Wills, Jean Shepard, and announcer Eddie Stubbs. I have to say I was quite taking by the music city and I have a feeling I will be returning there sometime in the near future..:)

Mark Capps and I mixing my record!

Bill on stage at the Grand Ole Opry!

I made it home to Vancouver just in time for the CCMA’s which where being held in my hometown. The city was buzzing with music. The CCMA’s are always a bit like a school reunion. You get to catch up with friends in the industry that you haven’t seen in a while and just have a really good time! The show looked great being held at GM Place. I had a handful of comp tickets and my brother and sister were thrilled to be two of my guests! Jessie Farrell was nominated for Female Artist of the Year and The Fan’s Choice Award. All and all it was a great weekend.

My brother and sister and I ready to hit the CCMA's!

I’ve been home from Nashville for a couple weeks now and have been enjoying catching up and spending some quality time with good friends and family I haven’t seen much of in the last few months. I’m gigging just as much as ever and loving every minute of it! I’ve posted a couple of my new songs up on my Myspace and I will be adding a few to my website shortly if I haven’t already.

I realize this is the cliffs notes version of my past few months, but you get the idea…;)

Kylee xo

Me and the Farrell Band backstage with Brooks and Dunn!

Hey everyone! It is my favorite time of year here in Vancouver, Spring. The sun has finally decided to show its face, and the city is alive. There are leaves on the trees and I actually got a sunburn while blading the sea wall the other day. One thing I do not love about this time of year is taxes. As per usual I had left it all to the last minute, but I am happy to say, thanks to the assistance of my farther, it is done. Anyways, it got me reminiscing about what I was up to this time last year (give or take a few weeks). It turns out I was doing something pretty cool. The Jessie Farrell band and I had hit the road on our first arena tour across Canada with Brooks and Dunn and Alan Jackson! I made some great friends and played some amazing shows. The kind of shows that make all the work you have put into your art and craft as a musician up to this point absolutely worth it! Ah memories…☺

Back to present day, I have a couple great tours coming up this summer to tell you about. In June, a three week European

tour in Poland, and in July a little mini tour in Malaysia! Now believe it or not, I have actually toured in both these countries before. I was in Poland for two months a couple years ago, and it has been four years since I last played in Malaysia. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be returning. On my previous tour of Malaysia we played for the Kings birthday at the Royal Palace. Yes.. I did meet the King and Queen. They were very pleasant! We also played a show for the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Now I know what you’re thinking. This sounds like some scene from the Zoolander movie, but I swear I speak the truth. We will actually be playing for the Royal family this time around as well, for the Sultan’s birthday. It’s kind of one of those experiences you think could only happen once in a life time. I guess I got lucky…:)

The band and I in Malaysia with Captain!

Of course, I have also been gigging a bunch locally over the last few months and had a cool experience the other day. While playing a regular Thursday night bar gig in the lower mainland, a familiar face walked in the door. Dale Wallace from Emerson Drive happened to be in the neighborhood, and decided to drop by for a little jam session. He jumped on stage with my band and played a good forty-minute set with us. Man can that guy play the piano! I love it when a group of seasoned musicians can share a stage together and jam. Everyone is flying by the seat of their pants, and you have to really give in and feel the music and trust that it will let you know where to go next. Emerson Drive was in town to play a show at the Red Robinson Theatre Saturday night. Farrell actually played one of her first Canadian tours opening up for Emerson Drive, and we have shared the stage with them a few more times since then.

I’m going to leave you with a few more photos from our tour with Brooks and Dunn, and Alan Jackson!

Jessie and I with Tray Grey, the drummer for Brooks and Dunn!

Alan Jackson!

My friend Tony King, the acoustic guitar player for Brooks and Dunn, and I..:)

Our whole crew from the Jessie Farrell "New Heights" tour!

Farrell and I with the lovely Melodie Crittenden, Alan Jackson's background vocalist!

Kylee xo

Hello again!

It really has been far to long since I have checked in and said hello. If I was to give an excuse for this, all I could say is it has been a very busy last couple of months, not only just for me. Jessie Farrell has been heading back and forth from Vancouver to Nashville, writing for her

Signing a guitar at the BCCMA's

much anticipated sophomore album, and if you haven’t already heard, she has also been nominated for her first Juno award! Nominated in the Best New Artist category, I could not be more proud of her. She really has had a stand out year and if this nomination is any indication, she’s in for another! The cherry on top of this great news is that the Juno’s will be held in our home city of Vancouver this year! The band and I are getting pretty excited to take in all the festivities of this national event.

As for me, since the recording of the bed tracks for my recorded before Christmas, I have been in and out of the studio laying down vocal tracks and putting the icing on the cake! One thing I have learned about recording an album is that it doesn’t happen over night. Though we are nearing the end of recording vocals, lead/solo tracks, and over dubs, there is still more work to be done. Next comes mixing, then mastering, and then the actual production of the CD’s. As much as I am anticipating the completion of this album, I really will miss it when all is said and done. I love working and the studio and the whole creative process of making a record.

The view from my hotel room in Lake Louise!

Aside from all the recording, I am still a working gigging musician. Fortunately, I have been quite busy through this typically slow period for gigs, January through March, but December was slamming. After playing over a dozen Corporate Christmas parties over a three-week period I was pretty Christmased out. But we ended the season on a high note. This was our second time playing the New Years Ball at the Fairmont Château in Lake Louise. Three days in a beautiful hotel, taking in the spectacular views, and playing an amazing show is exactly how I wanted to spend my new years. Three hundred dollars a ticket and the place was sold out…and I swear I saw Patrick Sawyze on the dance floor! “No one puts baby in a corner!”

Lately I have been gigging locally in and around the Vancouver area. I have had the chance to play a few gigs back home on Vancouver Island. Having grown up and started my first band on the island, playing the local clubs over there is always a bit of a reunion and a blast from the past for me. A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to play a weekend gig up on Mt. Washington at Fat Teddy’s which was the first bar I every played at. I practically lived on the Mountain during the winter season growing up. After a day of boarding I would stop by Fat Teddy’s and having known all the guys in the band, I’d get up on stage and start singing. This routine continued for three years before anyone realized I was under age! Then the

Singing up at Mt. Washington in the year 2000...

rules changed and I would have to be escorted to the stage by the bouncers and hang out in the green room when I wasn’t on stage, but I didn’t mind. I was just happy to be there, I loved to perform and fell in love with the stage. I had performed plenty in my life already, having been involved in a competitive dance program from a young age, but this was different. People were dancing, shouting your name, and having such a good time. I knew I had found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Singing up at Mt. Washington in the year 2009...

Darren Harry and I playing the "Beach Party" at Fat Teddy's on Mt. Washington (2009)

Whistler...four days ago!

I am happy to say, present day not much has changed. I still love to snowboard (by the way, so thrilled about the much needed dump of snow Whistler received this week!), and I still love to sing!

Kylee xo

In the Studio!

Three days, ten songs, six musicians, one studio, a producer and an engineer….equals one very happy artist!

Having written and recorded over 80 songs in my short lifetime, experience in the studio I have in abundance. But this was something different. Six of the hottest country session musicians in Canada all in one room, playing and recording my babies(songs) live off the floor, simply blew my mind! I’m still on cloud nine, and I’m not planning on coming down anytime soon..:) We had two take Jerry on drums (a.k.a Jerry Adolf), and Jay Buettner on guitar laying down solos you would have to hear in order to believe. On bass we had smooth as butter Rob Becker. John Ellis was on pedal steel, banjo, mandolin, guitar, or whatever else he wanted to play since the guy seems to play pretty much everything and flawlessly I might add.

The Dream Team!

We had Tom Mckillip strumming away with perfect meter on the acoustic guitar, and Larry Hershman adding a little ear candy on the keys, and who knew.?…the guy plays the accordion! Paul Laine held the producers chair and ran the whole show, and I was either seated comfortably on the couch in headphone land, singing along as the guys played, or hovering over the mixing board. I came to be affectionately referred to as the “Warden” or the “General” in the studio. I guess when I know what I want, I know what I want! We were recording at The Factory Studio’s and thus had the pleasure of working with engineer Sheldon Zaharko. He pulled up the most amazing tones I have ever heard and worked so fast, he was always one step ahead of us!

In preparation for this session I left no rock unturned. I walked into the session armed and ready to impress. I knew the surest way to get everyone on my side before the first note was played was to let them indulge in one of my amazing homemade cookies.

Jay's Guitars

I was up until the wee hours of the morning baking up a storm, but I assure you it was time well spent. After one of my milk chocolate oatmeal cookies even you would not be able to say “no” to me! Whether the recipe was mine or a friend of mine is irrelevant. The session went off with out a hitch…well maybe there was one or two, and they were probably my fault…. I’m allowed to be a temperamental artist every once and a while right?!? Regardless of who’s fault it was, all hitches were easily averted. How could they not be with a dream team like this.

I’m back in my little home studio now, downloading the tracks off my hard drive and could not be more thrilled with the results. Now it’s my turn to lay down the goods and record the vocal tracks, but my job has just been made that much easier. All I have to do is put my headphones on, close my eyes, and I can actually feel the band in the room with me. It doesn’t get much more inspirational them that!

Paul Laine and Sheldon in the studio.

Me in the producer's chair!

Kylee xo

Toby Keith and I!

I’ve been home from tour for over a week and a half now, and I’m still living out of my suitcase! It’s a bad habit I have acquired after a crazy summer of touring and never being home for more then four days before hitting the road again. I simply come home, do my laundry, and pack it right back in my suitcase. Then I’m always read to go! The problem is, I don’t have a run of shows out of town for another few weeks. So, I have decided tonight is the night I am going to kick this bad habit and put my closet to good use again! It always takes a while to get back into the swing of life at home after being on the road. The Jessie Farrell band and I had such a great time touring with Toby Keith and Aaron Pritchett, and feeling like rock stars for five minutes. There’s really nothing quite like arriving at the after party in your own private sports utility stretch limo! I really enjoyed meeting the members of the “Easy Money Band” (Toby’s Band), sharing some good conversation, and making some new friends. I have many new memories I will never forget. But now it’s back to life in the beautiful Van City.

Rex Mauney (Toby's keyboardist) and I!

I have been spoiled over the past week and a half. Since I’ve been home, all of my shows have been within walking distance from my place! It’s quite a luxury to be able to come home and put your feet up on your own couch between sets. It really comes in handy when you realize you’ve forgotten your brand new pair of black pumps and just can’t go on stage without them!

Anyways, I am currently counting down the days before I hit the studio to begin the recording of my album! Less then two weeks away!!! I am busy making sure I have all my ideas in order for the tunz, and writing last minute parts. I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my music..:) Some nights I’m so excited I can’t sleep…like tonight! Ten days and counting!

Kylee xo

Jessie Farrell Band on Stage at GM Place. Photo by: Lisa Bettany

Well, I’ve been on tour for a week now, but it feels like it has been a lot longer. It really is a different world, with a very unique routine, but I love it! The bus becomes your bedroom and lounge, catering becomes your kitchen with a private cook, the dressing room becomes your closet and shower room, and the track around the arena becomes my equivalent to Vancouver’s sea wall, where everyone gets a little exercise before show time. The only catch is, I share all these spaces with the rest of the Farrell band! Lucky we all get along..:) The only space that is truly mine is my bunk. I’ve made it my own by adding a little pink travel pillow my best friend gave me, a stack of novels and a reading light (I love to read), and an ipod loaded with all my favorite chick flicks and music!

Mica, Toby Keith's background singer, and I!

Today we are in Edmonton at Rexall Place. We played a great show in Lethbridge last night to a sold out crowd, and I have a feeling tonight will be much the same. Farrell and I have gotten into a routine of claiming a little girl time after each show. Days on the road are always a bit long. By the time 1AM comes around, and we finally make it back to our bus, we are both ready for a little down time. We head to the back lounge of the bus, which is now officially girls lounge, we pour ourselves a glass of wine, set up my computer to play one of our favorite girly movies, and open a box of Farrell’s chocolates she has received from one of her generous fans..:) Farrell and I make up half of the female population on this tour along with Aaron Pritchett’s tour manager Carmen and Toby Keith’s amazing background vocalist Mica. We can’t help but stick together..:) Though all the musicians on this tour are pretty great! We had a day off in Calgary a couple days ago, and a chance to hang out with the Toby and Aaron band off the job. We headed down to Ranchman’s for some drinks and a little socializing. It was great to get to know the guys a bit better, and make some new friends.

Right now I’m set up in the back lounge with a cup of tea, nerding out on my computer, and listening to a live interview with Jessie Farrell on 103.9 CISN FM. It sounds like their wrapping things up on air, which is my cue to make my way back to the arena for sound-check. Off to work I go…I love my job!

Kylee xo

Set up on the Toby Keith Tour.

Well I guess I can say now, with utter confidence, that dreams really do come true! Last night I played GM Place with the Jessie Farrell band, opening up for Aaron Pritchett and Toby Keith!! It was a surreal moment to be standing on a stage in a venue I have seen so many iconic performers and artists play. Since I was a little girl I have dreamed of playing GM Place one day. As far as venues go in my home city of Vancouver, it doesn’t get much better than this! The moment flew by so fast. With lights in my eyes, and my molded in-ear system in my ears, I hardly noticed the arena full of eager, cheering fans. Tonight I plan to slow it down and really take it all in.

Me and "John Wayne's" bottom end..:)

We arrived in Kamloops this afternoon for the second show of the tour. I slept most of the way, thanks to the comforting hum of “John Wayne”…Oh yeah, “John Wayne” is our tour bus! A bit rusty around the edges, but he purrs with experience☺ The crew has been here since dawn, loading in and rigging the stage. I’ve got a couple hours to relax and pretty myself up before sound-check. Hmm…I wonder what catering is serving for dinner?!

Kylee xo

Standing at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC

For those of you who don’t already know, I am in fact a full-time working musician. That’s right! I actually make a living performing and playing music! I have to pay the bills some how☺ When I’m not busy working on my own music or on the road with recording artist Jessie Farrell, I am back home or somewhere else in the world, playing shows with one of a handful of other amazing bands I work with. This week was no exception. Early Wednesday morning myself, and the rest of the sixteen piece band, headed for the Vancouver airport on route to Washington DC. You know it’s a high profile gig when you are traveling in style with such luxuries as private transportation from the airport directly to a 5 star hotel/conference center/shopping mall monstrosity (which I came to fondly refer to as “The Complex”), and a room on the top floor with a breathtaking view overlooking “The Complex” and the Potomac River! It’s business trips like these when I truly believe I have the greatest job in the world!

Show day is always a hectic day. Having arrived quite late the night before and having had a relatively early stage call, given the three-hour time change, I managed to spend the entire day without leaving “The Complex.” But why would I have to leave? Anything you could possible need you could find at “The Complex”…. for twice the price you would have paid anywhere outside of it..!

All of a sudden it was show time. There never seems to be enough hours in a day when you’re getting ready for a show. This being a brand new show, produced by Mooncoin Productions, there was a certain nervous excitement in the air. To be honest, I was more nervous about the eight costume changes I had in the 60 minute set, then the actual performance itself! Luckily, I made all my cues, but I did perform one of my lead songs with a corset on upside-down.?! My darling friend Aleisha assured me that no one would have noticed..:)

After successfully pulling off a show of such a high caliber, we were all on a high, and we were not about to let it go. It was time to hit the after party! An open bar and some amazing retro dance tunes, met us at the rooftop dance club in “The Complex.” I danced the night away…☺

The next morning came too soon, but we only had a few hours to leave “The Complex” and actually check out the city of Washington DC, before heading to the airport. We visited the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflection Pool, the Washington Monument, the National World War Two Memorial, the White House, and much more. We were power tourists for the day. Standing at the Lincoln Memorial in the very spot Martin Luther King stood to deliver the words “I have a dream,” looking over the Reflection Pool, I could actually feel the history.

It was an amazing trip. Just another day in the life of a working musician!

Kylee xo

Me and Dierks Bentley backstage at the CCMA's!

What a weekend! Jessie came home with 3 awards!!! I’m so proud and happy for her. She’s been working very hard over the last couple years and it’s nice to see her get the recognition she so rightly deserves. We’ve been touring like crazy, so it’s pretty exciting to see all that hard-work pay off. I’ve been playing with Jessie for the last 2 years and it has been amazing to watch her career grow.

The CCMA’s always feels like a reunion. Everyone is there. I had the chance to catch up with some good friends I’ve meet in my travels over the last couple years. I had a blast hanging out with The Wilkinsons, chatting with my friends at CMT, and it was great getting to know The Higgins. We shared the stage with The Higgins at one of our shows this weekend at McPhillips Street Station Casino, and they were awesome. I think they’ve got a big year ahead of them.

Farrell and I with Deric Ruttan backstage at the CCMA's

Ryland and I had the best seats in the house at the CCMA’s live show; backstage right where all of the artists came off stage after accepting their awards. We were the peanut gallery cheering everyone on as they regrouped and were ushered back to their seats! I love the hustle and bustle of backstage during a show. That’s where all the action is! Farrell and I had the chance to meet Dierks Bentley backstage in make-up and wardrobe, and snapped a few shots! This was our second time being backstage at the MTS Centre this year. Last time we where there opening for Alan Jackson and Brooks and Dunn! I already knew my way around…I felt like an old pro.:)

One of the highlights of the CCMA weekend are the after parties! The Farrellizers ( Jesse Tucker, Ryland Haggis, and Jesse Godin) and I, hit the town and I think I might have had a little to much fun..:) We got up on stage and jammed a couple songs at Ron Kitchener’s after party while Aaron Pritchett fed us all shots, and I danced the night away..;)
All and all it was a pretty great weekend. Can’t wait for next year….the CCMA’s will be here in my hometown of Vancouver! Hope to see you all there.

Kylee xo

Hello everyone! Welcome to my new website…☺ 

I’m a singer/songwriter from Vancouver BC, and this blog is all about my life as a musician. Over the last couple weeks my good friend and fellow band mate, Ryland Haggis and Lisa Bettany of Redpilot Media (redpilotmedia.com) have been working very hard to help me launch this site. The three of us hit Jericho beach this weekend for our first photo shoot. Now I have to say, I have a newfound respect for those poor girls on Americas Next Top Model..! On TV it looks sooo easy, but I can assure you now, from personal experience, it’s not! You’d think it should be the simplest thing in the world to just “look natural”..!?! Luckily, I had a couple professionals behind the camera to help me out and we got some great shots.  

I’m really looking forward to blogging on this site and keeping you all up to date on what’s going one with me and my music! Speaking of music, I’m almost ready to hit the studio and record my first record!! I’m just in the process of lining up the schedules of all the fabulous musicians who will be playing on the record and blocking out the studio time. I am so excited to get in the studio and record this album I have been working so hard to write, with my writing partner Paul Laine, over the last six months. Paul and I have been a writing team for many years and write music for a number of different artists and clients. We have both put our hearts and our souls into this record and can’t wait to hear our songs played and recorded the way we have always intended them to be. 

Anyways, please come back and check on the site regularly, as we are still in the process of building it and will be adding new stuff everyday. And of course, I will be blogging fun little stories and updates habitually for you’re reading pleasure…☺

xo Kylee