K Britz BTD Artist Interview

Welcome K Britz!

I have to say I am loving your single, “Kind.” I want to talk more about your song and music but let me first start out with, where are you from?

I spent most of my life in New York but I now live in Connecticut, a short train ride away.

Can you provide us with a background of how you got started in the music biz and how long ago?

It’s only recently that I figured out that the music business is a BUSINESS. I don’t know why I was so slow on the uptake. I’ve been a musician since I was a little girl and played a lot of clubs in NYC over the years, politely waiting for my turn. In hindsight that was an absolutely ridiculous way to approach a music career, as any successful musician will tell you. But here I am, just getting started and learning about radio promotion for the first time.

Are you a solo artist? Do you have a band? Give us the scoop?

I am generally a solo artist but I LOVE playing in a band and the times I’ve had where I got to be a band member and serve a song as a group rather than lead a song have been transcendent. One can put together a great band but that’s not the same as being IN a band and I would take the right opportunity again in a heartbeat.

How would you best describe your music?

I think everything comes back to rock but I did start out as a little girl singing at Cafe Lena, in my hometown of Saratoga Springs NY, covering folk songs on my acoustic guitar.  That will always be part of me.  I love gospel and I love punk so there’s a little bit of redemption and a little bit of attitude.

Ok, let’s talk about your song, “Kind.” I see you have it everywhere, that’s awesome! By what I can tell, it looks like you wrote this song, am I correct? I did!

What prompted you to write and sing such wonderful lyrics?

My husband, record producer Rob Fraboni, got an email with a call for submissions from an agency affiliated with the UN back in March of 2020. The UN had several campaigns for which it was soliciting songs. One was “Wear a mask” and another “Wash your Hands” and I thought to myself, I am just not that kind of songwriter.  I was about to dismiss the email when I saw one of the campaigns was called “Kindness is Contagious” and thought I won’t know if I can do a song about kindness that doesn’t suck unless I try.

Could you let our listeners know what this song is about and how long it took you to write it?

I hope this song relays the ripple effect of kindness, that if you’re kind to someone they’ll pass it along to the next person who will pass it along to the next person. I imagine most people know this and I’m not talking about anything new. But I also know things can get so hard that you forget in the moment.

The little earworm reminder in this song might help people like me who forget how much influence a tiny act of kindness can have in the world to choose to be kind instead of projecting something unkind.

The song took me a couple hours.  I worked on the idea and then played the chords a bunch of times until the melody worked well enough to record a first pass on my phone.

You also feature Mystic Bowie on this song, how did that come about? By the way, you two sound great together!

Thank you! Mystic Bowie is my friend and he had sent over some music to Rob that he was working on in quarantine at the same time I was working on this song. Rob had a hunch Mystic would like the song and he did!! He sent it back within hours with his beautiful harmony on it and then we got to work making it as good as we could despite the restrictions of lock down.

Do you play any instruments and what?

I play acoustic and electric guitar, electric bass, piano/keyboards and a tiny bit of percussion if needed.

Here’s a question I have been asking many artists, it’s about this COVID stuff, how has this affected your music career?

I had an EP of feminist anthems all ready to release early last year and put together an amazing band to play shows and promote it. At first it was put on hold till the summer but  it just didn’t seem like the right time for the material and it still doesn’t. “KIND” as a  single is more appropriate for the mood right now and I’m glad we have it to share.

Are you doing anything different to boost your music career due to this COVID?

I wish I could tell you I’d come up with something innovative to reach people with new music that nobody else has figured out.  I’ve drawn the line at a zoom concert in my pajamas but that could change.

Who are your musical influences and why?

When I was young I had every Beatles record but later got into the Rolling Stones because I found their style suited me better as a guitar and bass player. If I do cover songs, it’s usually a Rolling Stones song.  I’ve been accused of Janis Joplin style stage antics and that’s fair but Mick Jagger is probably my favorite vocalist. I have always liked singers who are conversational in their delivery and aren’t trying really hard- Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Lou Reed. HOWEVER, lately I’ve been obsessed with female vocalists that are completely out of my league and genre- Mariah Carey, Lisa Fisher, Linda Ronstadt, Lauryn Hill and the layers, textures and technical mastery they bring to the table.  I was too busy figuring out how to play instruments and didn’t pay attention to the voice as an instrument. I’ve been late to that party.

Which artist dead or alive would you like to meet and why?

Frank Sinatra. His phrasing and restraint.

Where do you see yourself in five years in your music career? What do you want to accomplish?

I would like to play some great stage shows with amazing musicians and a live crowd. I hope we get to have festivals again.

We are reaching the end of this interview, do you have any new music coming out, projects, etc., that you would like to share with our listeners?

As I mentioned, I have my EP ready to drop when the time is right. I am waiting until I feel that people are ready to rock again.

Where can our listeners find your music?

“KIND” is everywhere, Spotify, Apple, Soundcloud, etc.

It’s been a pleasure learning more about you and your music!

Thank you so much for your interest!

T Dawn and the BTD Radio Crew