Kalin & Myles at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Photo copyright 2015 Deborah Wagner.
Kalin and Myles
Talk New Music and Growth!
by Debbie Wagner, George Seth Wagner & Rachel Disipio
Over a year ago, on a warm summer afternoon, we met Kalin White and Myles Parrish for the first time. In the crowded backseat of a small, non-descript passenger van, we learned about the two talented, young musicians from the Bay area. The conversation was sometimes drowned out by the constant hum of the van’s engine, but it was better than the alternative, which was inside the tiny dive bar in Philadelphia where they were about to perform.
During that first 30-minute meeting, we learned about Kalin and Myles’ passion for music and their love for the fans they fondly call the KAMFAM. By the end of the interview though, you could also tell these two guys were on a mission to share their music with as many people as they could reach. As we stepped out of the van, we had no doubt that they would someday, successfully reach that goal.
Kalin & Myles at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Photo copyright 2015 Rachel Disipio.
Fast forward sixteen months, and last month, on a crisp fall evening, we approached the huge, shiny, black tour bus with Kalin and Myles 11-20-15 spray painted down the side. We were reminded that in the last year or so, these guys have exploded. Parked along side the Electric Factory, which remains a premier concert venue in Philly, the guys are ironically on tour with a band named Timeflies. As we entered their tour bus, we knew time certainly has flown, and a whole lot has changed for the duo since June of 2014.
We’ve checked in with K&M multiple times since that first meeting in the summer of 2014. Of the five or six interviews with White and Parrish, we have seen the venues and crowds change and grow. From stepping on to the “small” stage at Arthur Ashe Kids Day late summer 2014, to the following summer where they blew away the crowd on the “big” stage at that same annual event. Like so many others who have followed their career, we could see the buzz for the duo building. However, it really struck us this time, as we climbed aboard their fancy new tour bus, K&M have arrived.
Kalin & Myles bus at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Photo copyright 2015 Deborah Wagner.
And what better way to celebrate their exciting arrival? How about releasing their debut full length album, hence the 11-20-15 down the side of the bus? So get ready KAMFAM. November 20th is right around the corner and the guys are extremely excited about sharing their new music with their fans.
“The fans are everything, first and foremost,” says White, while discussing the release of “Broken Hearted,” the first single released from the new album, back on October 9th. “It’s cool that they’re liking it because that’s who we do it for. At the same time, it’s cool that they’re accepting ‘Broken Hearted’ because it’s kind of a new sound for us.”
In addition to the expansion of their careers and fan base, the duo’s music, writing and production styles have also veered from past singles like “Love Robbery.”
Myles Parrish at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Photo copyright 2015 Deborah Wagner.
“The new album has roots from our first two EP’s for sure,” says Parrish. “The thing I’d say is it’s a little more grown. And some new sounds. We have a couple of tunes on there that are more R&B than we’ve done before. ‘Broken Hearted’ is a different thing in itself too. It definitely sounds a little more grown up, but the vibes are still there – function music, alternative songs, stuff like that.”
Learning life lessons, growing as an artist and meeting awesome people are all things Parrish says he’s experienced along this journey. White agrees, but tells us one of his favorite artistic parts of their journey so far is probably the progression in his voice.
Kalin White at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Photo copyright 2015 Rachel Disipio.
“It’s cool to see I can hit some notes that I wasn’t able to six months ago or a few years back. It’s cool to see that progression and show that to the fans when I’m on stage,” White says.
While White and Parrish are both extremely proud of the whole album and super excited for the KAMFAM to finally hear it, they did share their personal favorite tracks from the November 20th release.
Kalin White at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Photo copyright 2015 Rachel Disipio.
“It’s a tie for me,” says White. “I really like ‘I See You.’ We actually just got done shooting that music video, so that should be out before the record drops. And ‘Shake It,’ too.”
Parrish, however, is very matter of fact about his fave being “Do What You Do.”
While crossing the country on tour, the guys always enjoy connecting with their fans through social media, at their shows and for some really lucky fans, hanging out on the bus at a tour stop.
Myles Parrish at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Photo copyright 2015 Deborah Wagner.
“It’s just cool to be back here on the east coast. We’re hitting all the cities around here and some midwest. It’s a great time to play some new songs for the girls,” says Parrish. “We’ve also done a little street team listening session on the bus, so we get to listen to the new music and hangout. It’s an exciting time.”
Check out what else the guys told us on the complete interview here and check out their new album on iTunes November 20th.
Copyright ©2015 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: November 18, 2015.
Photos ©2015 Deborah Wagner and Rachel Disipio. All rights reserved.
Comments