THE KEITH READ PROJECT…In God’s Shadow !
1. Hi Keith, you have been in the music scene since the 60s. What’s the highlights and “downfalls” for your music career in each decade?
60s?
70s?
80s?
90s?
I always think that when you do something you love, which in my case has been writing songs and making records, there are no real “downfalls”. But I do think that releasing The Keith Reid Project is probably the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done. So its certainly a “highlight” for me.
2. We’re in the year 2008 and you’re back with a new project full of well known artists. Is there any specific concept behind your new album or is just a puzzle of notes and feelings?
I wanted to tell some stories on this record,e.g. POTTERS FIELD, GOLD FEVER. I wanted to create characters who talked about their lives. But in some cases I also wanted to address the wider social context’s in which they are living e.g. SILVER TOWN, THE HEARTBREAK HOUSE, YOU’RE THE VOICE.
3. Can you tell us about the guest singers / musicians in this release
and your cooperation with each one?
I’ll take it in order of the record. I met JOHN WAITE in New York. We were introduced by a mutual friend, and the song IN GOD’S SHADOW is somewhat of a meditation on the night we met.
I bumped into CHRIS THOMPSON in a recording studio in London. The first time we got together we wrote YOU’RE THE VOICE.
So that was a pretty good start to a songwriting relationship.
MICHAEL SAXELL is a swedish friend, and we’ve worked together both in Swedennd London.
I met SOUTHSIDE through my writing/producing partner MATT NOBLE and we played him A COMMON THREAD and he offerd to sing it for us. Then later on we wrote 99 DEGREES N THE SHADE together with him.
BERNIE SHANAHAN is a great friend of mine in New York. He’s a wonderful singer, and when he put the vocal on VENUS EXPLODING he pretty much blew the roof off the studio.
I always loved Ian Dury and The Blockheads and when I had the opportunity to write with CHAZ JANKELwho wrote all their music, I just jumped at it.
I’ve known STEVE BOOKER for a long time. Although he’s better know as a writer/producer.I think he has a brilliant voice. He’s a very creative guy.
I go back to the 60’s with Terry Reid. I got to know him when I was on the road with Procol Harum. I’ve sat in many a hotel room with him. He’s just got one of the most unique voices in Rock music. It,s a thrill to have him sing one of my songs.
4.Is this an one -shot project or do you have more plans about
continuing this music effort?
I absolutely want to do another volume. In fact I’m telling my friends they have to buy it, so I can do another one!!!
5. What were the difficulties during the project in musical or personal level?
There were no actual “difficulties” It was more a question of choosing which songs worked well together with ach other on the same record.
6. Do you have any plans for touring? Is there any idea about bringing your
cooperators on the road?
I would love to take this show on the road.
7. How is your today`s correlation to the corrent Procol Harum?
Procol Harum has been such an important part of my life, there’s always something going on there.
8. What’s the arguments that persuade you creating music all these years even if the times and trends are changing frequently?
There’s no greater thrill than writing a song and hearing it played on
the radio.
9. Any favourite artists or music styles from today’s music scene?
I really liked Joan As Policewoman. I thought her record was great.
10. How are you going to continue your career, any plans for other projects or ideas that “moving around”your mind these days?
I’m ready to start Volume 2 of THE KEITH REID PROJECT.
MYSPACE PROFILE FOR THE KEITH REID PROJECT: http://www.myspace.com/keithreidproject
