February 20, 2012

Alexander Keith

Hey All,

I have written a cross genre beer song that I truly  hope you will enjoy with your favorite pint of India Pale Ale! I will let ‘YOU’ be the judge on whether it rocks your music palate or not! To the music critics, “Bring it on!”

Click Here To Download The Song For Free If you do like it please buy on iTunes Raito - Alexander Keith - Single

It has been way too long since BOB & DOUG MACKENZIE have dominated the musical beer related genre in Canada. (If that means nothing to you–then please  just listen to the song, bob your head and ignore my written words. I’m an artist… enjoy the ear buzz and cut me some slack!) If you are remotely interested in HOW the song came to be and my motivation behind writing and recording ‘Alexander Keith’ then please do read on:

It was a hot summer holiday, and my wife…. just kidding sorta! It was the first week of July 2011, and I was enjoying a completely unplugged vacation on my deck drinking beer, jumping in and out of the pool with my daughters, and writing songs  much to the annoyance of my neighbors. Magically I stumbled across a chorus, “I’d like a beer. Mmmmm please! Order me an Alexander Keith!” I then proceeded to spend an entire afternoon trying to rhyme different beer names with Alexander Keith and various other lyrics. I even shouted to neighbors asking what beer rhymes with ???? Yes, they know and accept I’m crazy. After failing miserably  at the beer rhyming game, the rest of the Alexander Keith lyrics magically just came to me. I could literally see the pub, the waitress, people dancing and my friends as I was singing.  There is not much more to it than that. At the time, I immediately knew I would be adding the song to my debut album, but admittedly didn’t know that it quickly would become one of my favorite songs, and be the single I decide to lead in advance of my album with. Life and beer works in mysterious ways!

Setting The Record Straight

YES! Alexander Keith is my my favourite beer. MGD is a close second.

NO! I did not plan to write the song  just to try and get a deal with Alexander Keith. Although half way through recording the song in the studio I realized… they just might be interested 🙂

If you enjoy the song. Please do buy it on iTunes, Rhapsody, blah, blah and sign up on the email address thing on the right… so I can stay in touch when I release my album late this summer/early fall!

Here is the link to buy on iTunes Raito - Alexander Keith - Single

Cheers,

Lee

PS. If you love beer and rock and roll please listen responsibly!

Note: This song would not have been possible with out my producer and engineer extraordinaire Len Milne (Bedside Studio), 2nd engineer Mike Pascucci, and musicians; Travis Hauge, Todd Lesage, Darrell Lesage and the very, very patient women in my life!!!

August 26, 2011

Laying the Beat

Back to Bedside Studio tonight to lay the bass & drum tracks for my upcoming EP (no name as of yet so open to suggestions). A few songs that will be on this recording are in very rough form on YouTube: The River Runs, Three Guitars, & Rock the Water. The rest are new and I can’t wait for you to hear them all with a band backing it all up!

Time to go lay the beat!

Posted by in Studio and tagged as , , , ,

July 27, 2011

What To Eat Before Singing

Well, I’m heading back into Len Milne’s Bedside studio an hour from now, to start recording 4 songs for my pending album, and just finished devouring a quarter pounder and cheese, side salad and water (NOT a tea drinker)!

Got me to think, “What should you eat and drink before you sing?” I fear the answer may be, “Whatever you do Don’t eat McDee’s!” 🙂

Love to hear what other folks do.

20110727-124217.jpg

March 6, 2011

I Made You

So my 5 year old daughter Grace was not only the inspiration for this song, but as well the videographer! She blows my mind every day not only because she is beautiful & amazing, but she can work a Flip video camera. A little shaky here & there mind you, but HEY she’s in kindergarten so cut her some slack 🙂

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpuAutxdWa4[/youtube]

Posted by in Primary and tagged as , ,

February 23, 2011

Rock The Water

Here is a new song I’ve been working on called ‘Rock The Water’.

I hope you quickly have your own connection to the song, but for me it is about the ultimate strength we have in our own mind. Our thoughts are our own & nobody can take that away from us. Oh, and there are a million ways to rock that boat 🙂

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk6jOoce8mE[/youtube]

Posted by in Primary and tagged as , ,

February 17, 2011

Open Mic Night

I hate to admit this, but tonight was my very first Open Mic Night… ever!

Literally, just minutes ago I got back from Bellavista’s Wednesday Open Mic night, where I got a chance to perform Three Guitars, Super Woman & a new song I have been working on called Rock The Water.  I have spent so much time this past year writing and thinking about the studio,  I almost forgot how much of a rush it is to perform live. Such an amazing diverse group of local performers were present; blues, folk & pop just name a few genre’s… really cool!

When I was asked what my genre is I again stammered my usual answer, “I don’t know what I am!”  Honestly, I don’t care what genre I will eventually be labeled with . I just write my music from deep down in that place only I can go.

Anyway! The night was a blast and as it came about on such short notice, sorry I wasn’t able to get an invite out to anyone.

Mucho thanks to Tim Butler for getting me on the docket early enough  in the night that I won’t be bagged working tomorrow. Also a big thanks to Rick for pushing me to go & not actually being there 🙂

Until next time…

Posted by in Gigs and tagged as , ,

February 13, 2011

Music Recording Production Fund

So on February 3rd, 2011 I handed in my application for Level 1 funding at Manitoba Film & Music. (If you are a Manitoba artist and haven not checked out the various funding programs… you should! WARNING- It is a pretty intense application process!)

So what does this mean?

Well, if the two songs that I submitted along with a detailed application, marketing plan & two pounds of flesh are approved by a jury of music professionals, then I will receive funding assistance (up to 75%) to go back into the studio to record a few more songs. I’m going to make my 1st album happen, one way or another, but MFM will be a good resource to have on my side going forward regardless of their immediate decision. I am definitely itching to get back into Len Milne’s Bedside Studio…

Either way, wish me luck as jury decisions are made in about 2-3 weeks!!!

Also, have a few more updates coming soon! So stay tuned…

November 29, 2010

Three Guitars Video

Here is a song that I have been working on called ‘Three Guitars’. I’m just starting to experiment with video, so bear with me as I start to work out the glitches. Maybe Santa will be good to me and get me an HD video camera 🙂

I fear what this song means to me, and why I wrote it, people may either not understand or think I’m pretty weird when they do! Either way my wife doesn’t like the premise behind the song, as I wrote it as a wish to be fulfilled when I die. I want my ashes built into Three Guitars and for these guitars to be passed down to my three daughters.

October 4, 2010

One and The Same Update & RadioStar

Sorry it has been so long since I have sent an update on the fate of ‘One & The Same’ & everything else musical.

I am very happy to say that ‘One & The Same‘ made the top 55 in in Canada out over 700 songs for the David Suzuki Playlist for the Planet Contest. Unfortunately, it wasn’t selected to make the final top 11 in Canada. I am so pleased it did as well as it did… and couldn’t have done so with out the help of all my friends voting every day on CBC Radio 3.  Thanks again!!!

This qoute sums up my feelings:

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” ~Michael Angelo

On to my update for today. This afternoon I attended the Canadian RadioStar Songwriting Workshop held at the Park theater in Winnipeg. Not only did I receive a live panel critique of ‘One & The Same’, but as well took away some amazing songwriting tips from Dan Hill. For those of you who don’t know Dan is one of Canada’s true songwriting geniuses, who has penned songs for the likes of Celine Dion, 98 Degrees, Brittney Spears & 100’s more. The advice I received WILL make me a better songwriter and I can’t wait to show YOU some of the stuff I am working on. I also was able to meet Renee, of Keith & Renee, the artist(s) whose song ‘The One‘ ended up being one of the Playlist for the Planet Winners. Congrats again Renee and it was great meeting you.

Lastly, I have selected my next two songs to go into the studio with; The River Runs & Three Guitars. These are two very different songs that will reveal two completely different sides of my writing! I will be trying to get into the studio over the next several months and so look forward to updating you soon.

Thanks a million for your support and make sure to post your thoughts as a comment and or send me an email to stay in touch.

Cheers,
Lee

September 1, 2010

Round 2 Voting for Playlist for the Planet

(In about 20 minutes) 06:30 am PST Wednesday, September 1st Round two voting for David Suzuki’s & CBC Radio 3’s Playlist for the Planet officially gets under way. Please keep reading as I need YOUR help over the next week (explain more at the end)…

With over 750 songs entered in the contest & after all your voting in round one, ‘One & The Same’ has made the top 5 songs in Manitoba & with your help this week it could be chosen as the number one environmental anthem in Manitoba, and be put on the Universal Music album being released this October! All proceeds from the sale of this album will go to help saving our planet through the David Suzuki foundation. Our children deserve to inherit a healthy planet!

For the next seven days please  vote once per day to help ‘One & The Same’ go down in history as an environmental anthem next to such great artists as Joel Plaskett, Bruce Cockburn, Broken Social Scene, k-os, Gordon Lightfoot, Randy Bachman (with Sarah McLachlan and Nikki Yanofsky), DOA, Tom Jackson, Johnny Reid, Raffi, LIGHTS, Jessie Farrell, Rush, the Trews, Great Big Sea, and Tanya Tagaq.

Here is how you vote:

1. Please go here & vote once per day for  ‘One & The Same’ until  Wednesday,  September 8th: http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/polls/?pollId=73 (Login if you have already registered as a free member or take 2 seconds to signup)

2. If you want me to keep you up to date & hear how this all turns out please enter your name & email on the left side of this site or select the ‘Become a Fan’ button this page: http://radio3.cbc.ca/play/band/Raito/One-and-The-Same

3. Please share this with anyone & everyone you can..

Lastly, I can’t thank you enough as I couldn’t have come this far with out you & all my other friends!!!Now, lets go & win this thing!