Kendra Morris' tiny frame does little to prepare you for her soulful, powerful voice, with heart felt lyrics that cause all the hairs on your arms to stand up, sending shivers down your spine. She manages to move even the very stiffest of the New York audience in a way unseen before. With her lyrics, beautiful and extremely powerful, a voice to match, her humor and presence on stage, everyone instantly warms to her. The audience becomes more then just a spectator, she invites them to become part of the experience.
Kendra has been 'singing since [she was in] the womb practically, since I was at least four, always in drama troupes or choir doing talent shows. Whatever I could sink my teeth into'. She went to a performing arts high school, which where she got her formal training. She majored in musical theater, receiving free vocal lessons, teaching her about breathing and how to take care of the voice she was gifted with. Kendra and her mother 'used to sing together, [they'd] sit in the car for hours and just try to one up the other on finding harmonies'.
She has this unbelievable old soulful sound, from a time pasted, which separates her from the other New York musicians. It is unsurprising that she is influenced by some of the greats, 'Donnie Hathaway, Ike and Tina Turner, Jimi Hendrix, Nick Drake, Brian Wilson, Pj Harvey, Liz Phair[...] The Temptations, my mommy, Bowie, The Faces, The Zombies, Hole, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Jackson 5, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, Dylan, Janis Joplin.'
Hidden behind her blond streaked highlights, and rocking her 'hair-metal look of the 80's' influence, she rocks 'loud pants and band tees', with funky jewelry all mixed together, which wouldn't normally make any sense, but on Kendra it somehow does. But then again, this 25 year old gal from Stockton, CA, can pretty much get away with anything; as she charms you with her sound, 'itching that scratch for someone that they just might not be able to get to'.
Moving to New York only 3 years ago 'to do nothing but hit the music scene and make something fabulous happen', Kendra has managed to caused a real stir. Her ambition and natural talent has already got her far. Having played at various places in New York, from Mercury Lounge, to Sin-e, to Fat Baby, she has a large , faithful audience already. Managing to fill out clubs more then many bars/clubs can on a Monday night gig. Kendra spends most her evenings at The Library, where she has worked behind the bar for over 2 years. She has a similar way with the customer's, but is slightly shy, which really does not prepare you for stage-Kendra.
It is easy to see where she gets her talent from, her mother 'sings and plays accordion and piano' and her father 'is an amazing guitarist and has a set of lungs as well!' A musical household where her parents 'were always playing in jam bands [and] would often hold practice at the house', while also attending church regularly, Kendra was destine for the stage. Kendra describes her musical style as 'Lofi Soul':
I say SOUL because I'm a soul singer, i make soul music [...] it comes from that very special sacred place... It bares the things that are so often hard for many of us to really let out. Soul music stirs. It is so expressive and often so sad. Its like it deals with our subconscious. Soul music wants to sob and wail and make love and groove and it tastes and smells and it is just something amazing and unique and rare. It is truly a gift to be able to make music, sing music that can execute for oneself and others those often hard to describe feelings.
I say LOFI because a lot of my recordings are very stripped down. I try to just let the song speak for itself. Sometimes less is more... Silence says a lot. Tape hiss has a comfort to it. We go through life aiming for perfection [long pause.]; looking for perfection in others; ourselves... but what we fall in love with are the imperfections. Its the burnt cookies your friend made for you from scratch that you remember, that you long for in the end. Not the Whole Foods 'gourmet chocolate chocolate chip' cookies on aisle 9.
It is Kendra's love for the burnt cookie, the mistakes in life, and the slightly broken, but individual characters that she meets along the way in New York that makes her so perfectly Kendra Morris.
check her out at: http://www.myspace.com/ckendrago
and if your in NY, send her my love xox
buffi simone
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