Help Me Fight Cystic Fibrosis!

Hey Everyone,

As you have come to know and trust, I don't often send messages to
those of you on my email list. As such, when I do it means what I
have to say is tremendously important to me.

That said, I need your help and support. Many of you know my husband
is a pediatrician at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and is pursuing a
career in the care of children who suffer from cystic fibrosis and
research towards better treatments and ultimately a cure.

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common genetic diseases that
results in the body's production of thick mucus which leads to
life-threatening lung infections. Children with this horrendous
disease truly suffer and struggle to survive on literally a daily
basis.

Through the great efforts of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and
physicians and researchers like my husband children with cystic
fibrosis have seen a dramatic improvement in their quality of life and
survival. However, we are far from ending their terrible suffering
and the abbreviation of their precious lives.

Each year the Foundation hosts a walk to raise support towards this
end. If you feel moved to join me and my husband in support of this
desperate need and the lives of these special children please visit
http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/TylerKrohn and make your
tax-deductible donation. Every single bit, even $5, makes a
tremendous difference!

Much love,
Kp

11:44 PM - 0 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Kendall Payne New Album Available Now!
Current mood: ecstatic

It's here! It's here! It's here!!!

The wait is over, the time has come!

The digital downloadable version of my latest release "Paper Skin" is available at this website…

www.digstation.com

This is JUST LIKE iTunes, except it pays me a little more for each download! The album will be uploaded to many different digital stores (like itunes) it just takes about 6 weeks and I didn't want to make you wait that long! If your having problems finding it on Dig Station then the direct link is…

http://www.digstation.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumID=ALB000008022


OR if you're a "hard copy" fan who liked to hold something in your hands, you can go to this site…

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kpayne2

However I must warn you that they are currently out of stock, but will be getting another shipment in on Thursday. Within hours of the new album being available for sale it sold out! CD Baby contacted me and said "Send us more cd's A-SAP!" You can kinda pre-order by inputting your email and they'll send you a follow up letter the moment it's in their hands.

ALSO! For those who are in the Los Angeles area, I have a release party/show this coming Friday at ROOM 5! All the info is on my website. Here the link for that!

http://www.kendallpayne.com/calendar.html

I will keep you updated with any new developments!
Hope you LOVE the new album, and tell a friend, heck, tell two friends! ?
Much Love,
Kendall Payne

3:06 PM - 4 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Almost Time for the New Album!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Music

Hello Everybody!

I'm writing today with the most fantastic news! Last night around 12am we finished tracking for my upcoming release "Paper Skin"!!! We still have a few miscellaneous bells and whistles to put on it (FYI There are no literal bells and/or whistles… its just a figure of speech, lest a nasty rumor gets started that Kendall Payne is making a orchestral record.) Anyways, the figurative "bells" and "whistles" will be added in the next few days but the bones of the record are complete. It has been the best recording process imaginable. And I'm so grateful to Tim Schoenhals (my producer) who has discovered a recording experience that gives me life instead of draining me.

A few things to know about this album… First, I didn't think I'd ever make it. After "Grown" I had accepted that maybe I'll never be as successful as I want to be. At which point I re-assessed what I wanted to do with my life. Should I go back to school and become a psychologist? Should I get a 'real' job? Should I pursue writing books? Somewhere in the midst of those questions I was given a keyboard as a gift from my husband. And as silly as it sounds I started playing Christmas Carols. From April to November I pounded out "Joy to the World" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" over and over and over. My neighbors were less than enthusiastic. Sometimes I would wake up, walk straight to my keyboard and Tyler would find me at 6pm still in my pajamas playing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen".

This sounds odd, but you must understand something about me… I love parties! Any excuse to gather all my friends together in the same room to laugh, love and drink some wine is a fine excuse by me. I also love Christmas time. I have often fanaticized about throwing an annual Christmas party and gathering my near and dear around a blazing fire and singing "Silent Night" into the wee hours of the morning. My vision was clear! My goal was set! And that's how (and why) I learned to play the piano. (The party was a HUGE success by the way and we're already planning another one this year!)

Up until that point my main instrument had been acoustic guitar, which for the most part I had mastered. So I had grown bored with writing songs on the guitar. But playing the piano was new and exciting, it reminded me why I love songwriting. Without effort and without a critical mind, the songs poured forth. I truly believe it's some of the best material I've ever written. And so, the majority of the songs on my new record "Paper Skin" are piano-driven because of that. It's been a wonderful process for me as an artist to have undergone.

The next thing you need to know about this new album is we have only been in the studio for 2 weeks now and we're already done!!! If you've seen me perform, you know I don't travel with a band. However both my previous albums have fully produced tracks on them (i.e. tracks with drums and bass and electric guitars and so on and so forth). I wanted the recordings on "Paper Skin" to be much truer to my live performances. This made the process go a LOT faster! My first album (Jordan's Sister) took 11 months to record and my second album (Grown) took 9 months to record! By the end of those, I was so sick of the songs I didn't want to perform them! Now, after 2 weeks I'm chomping at the bit to play these puppies live!

And the final thing you need to know about my new album is, it's as honest as I've ever been. The title says it all… "Paper Skin" which stirs up images of transparency and vulnerability. I can't wait for you to hear it.

But it won't be released until mid July (Don't worry, I'll send you an email the minute it's available!) Until then…

Much Love
Kendall Payne

5:25 PM - 17 Comments - 27 Kudos - Add Comment

To Everyone Who Writes Me
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Friends

Hello All.

I just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who sends me notes on here. I don't always reply back because most of the time, I try to write back and MySpace knocks me offline and I get angry and anger is not good for creativity. Unless your Alanis Morrisette and your write very angry songs... but alas, I'm not Alanis and don't enjoy getting angry.

But I promise you I read them all, and most of them make me smile. :-)

SOOOOO... if you have something very important to say, write to me at this email address instead: Kendall@KendallPayne.com then you will "fo-sho" get a response.

That's all I've got for now.
Much Love to You All!
Kendall

Currently listening : August and Everything After By Counting Crows Release date: 14 September, 1993

1:10 AM - 8 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment

I'm So Sorry!
Current mood: aggravated
Category: MySpace

Hey Everyone,

A lot of you have written me regarding the crap that is being posted in my comments on MySpace. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for not managing it better! I'm not really a myspace afficionado, in fact someone else built the site for me and I just log on once every week or two to approve friends and view my comments.

And most of the time I'd try and delete the comments and it would say "An Unexpected Error has Occurred" and then I can't ever get it errased. It makes me so angry!

So basically, I just wanted to say sorry for all you who visit this site on a semi-regular basis for having to view all the porn!

I'll try and get better at checking in!
Thanks for your patience.
Kendall

11:49 AM - 4 Comments - 7 Kudos - Add Comment

Grown review from The Chicago Tribune

RECORDINGS

Kendall Payne
Grown (BHT)

Louis R. Carlozo
Published November 4, 2005

Kendall Payne's story is a major-label cautionary tale. Despite earning critical accolades, securing a Lilith Fair tour spot, landing songs in major movies and selling more than 100,000 copies of her 1999 debut "Jordan's Sister," Payne was dropped by Capitol Records--a black mark that left the singer-songwriter's prospects uncertain. But with help from actor friend Zachary Levi (who financed this release), Payne is back with an album that transcends the cliches and derivative qualities that hound too many Christian music artists. Thoughtful lyrically and unafraid to wrestle with doubts and mysteries, Payne shuttles cleanly between cello-adorned folk ("Scratch," "Pray") and confident, sinewy guitar-rock rhythms ("Superstar," which boasts an indelible chorus hook). The one constant: Payne's voice, which drawls without sounding affected, and wraps itself around each song with the ease and grace of a warm summer wind.

6:34 AM - 8 Comments - 13 Kudos - Add Comment

Grown named "Album of the Month"!!!!

ALBUM OF THE MONTH
KENDALL PAYNE : Grown. (Fierce! : FIERC13)


Already owning Kendall Payne's excellent 1999 CD 'Jordan's Sister', I was pleased to receive this follow-up for review, all of six years later. Kendall's story is one of a brilliant debut 100,000 selling album supported by highly acclaimed personal appearances, a Dove award in 2001 for 'Best Alternative Rock Album', then dropped by a changing record label management who inexplicably did not see her as part of their plans. Here Kendall is back on our CD players - and what an excellent album, more introspective and serious than the first but with a strong character of its own. A bonus is the good sound quality. Those familiar with Sarah Masen will find similarities here, but there is something special about Kendall's voice, perhaps best heard on the opener "Scratch". It's easy to understand why this became a firm favourite with audiences when Kendall supported the Delirious tour on their 2001 D:Tension tour and it is possibly the stand-out track. It is followed by the excellent 'Rollercoaster' - more up-tempo but similarly well arranged and delivered. The remainder of the album remains very good indeed, with best tracks probably "The Moon", "Stand" and "Twenty three". Worth a visit to www.kendallpayne.com, where you can sample the first five tracks. But be warned - you'll probably be tempted to buy!

9/10 Dave Deeks

11:51 PM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Another Review of Grown

Grown
Artist: Kendall Payne
Label: Independent
URL: http://www.kendallpayne.com
Length: 11 Tracks / 53:35

Jordan's Sister, Kendall Payne's debut release on Sparrow Records was well received but within a few years after its release she was let go from the label. The years since have been a time of searching and growing for Payne. The time enabled her to re-discover her passion for life and she frequently returned to her guitar. Even during the dark times after her label released her, she returned to her music and writing.

A turning point came when her friend, actor Zachary Levi (star of ABC's "Less Than Perfect") approached her with an offer she could not possibly refuse. He was so moved by her voice and talent that he offered to finance her second album. The pieces were falling into place and pretty soon the final piece fell into place: a producer was found. The album was recorded in five months with the help of their producer and studio musicians who were brought in as needed.

The final product is one of the top albums of the year. Track styles range from an almost acoustic folk sound to a rock sound to a southern rock sound that tiptoes into country.

The first track, "Scratch" has an acoustic feel to it, which is in stark contrast to the rock sound of "Superstar." This contrasts with the whimsical feel of "Ups and Downs" which is one of the more fun and enjoyable songs of the record. The album slows down for "The Moon" the fourth track of the CD. Another one of the more enjoyable songs on this project is the pop feeling "Little Things". The rockin' feel returns with "Johnny" which has a southern rock sound to it.

Payne deserves major kudos for the Chronicles of Narnia referencing song "Aslan." Aslan was a lion who represented the Christ-figure in C. S. Lewis' epic books. This whimsical song is easily one of the highlights of the CD as Payne sings of "a frightening lion, no doubt / He's not safe, no he's not safe". She also sings that "He's not fair, no he's not fair / When he fixes what's beyond repair / and graces everyone that don't deserve." "Twenty Three" starts off with a haunting instrumental introduction and continues the acoustic-like sound that is found on several other songs on this project. The CD ends with a similar feel in the acoustic sounding "Pray". This song sounds like a prayer for friends as Payne sings "May you find every step / To be harder than the last / So your character grows...May your weakness be / Your only source of pride." She also asks that her friends say these prayers for her.

"Pray," the last track clocks in at 13:09, which is an obvious hint that there is something extra hidden at the end. Sure enough at the 10:06 mark listeners are treated to an original song along with commentary about the song. It is simple and yet amusing and highly enjoyable.

This CD is easily one of the top albums of the year and people should not let the fact that this CD was done independently deter them from listening to this wonderfully enjoyable project. This album will leave listeners anticipating hearing more from Payne in the future.

Burton Wray October 17, 2004

11:16 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Sitting in a Coffee Shop thinking waaaaay to much.

"You are what you love, not what loves you." a quote from the movie Adaptation.

I fall in love, and MY feelings are just that... Mine! His feelings (god bless 'em) have nothing to do with it. Though it might sound selfish at first, it is simply an ownership issue. And when we "own" ourselves, we are far less likely to try and "own" others. Love is not possession

But we become frozen, afraid that who we love will not return that love- therefore we do not dare to feel for others until we are assured that they will reciprocate our affection.

There is much freedom, and great fear in this statement, "I love you. And that love is not contingent on being loved in return." When we care for someone- we feel, almost at their mercy, so heartbroken to discover they do not care for us in the same way.

Do not be afriad of your feelings, even if they are never returned. Though I hope (for your sake and happiness) they are. Go ahead and love unashamedly, and do not insist that they match your affection.

For a long while this will feel like only weakness and loss. But at the end of all the awful vulnerability you will discover its power, and you will feel strong again.

11:43 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Grown Review from Christianity Today

Kendall Payne
Grown (independent)
Released September 2004
reviewed by Andy Argyrakis



Sounds like … a deeply personal account of personal setbacks, played over sparse acoustics and earthy instrumentation, a la Natalie Merchant or early Jewel

At a glance … the one-time product of a major label strips down her sound but continues to possess production and songwriting smarts in her independent status.


When gal with a guitar Kendall Payne debuted with Jordan's Sister in 1999, she was backed by extensive buzz in the mainstream and Christian markets. Although she toured with Lilith Fair and Dido, landed songs in movies like Never Been Kissed and Beautiful and penned the theme for the WB show "Popular," she got stuck in the middle of record label mergers. Her split homes between Capitol and Sparrow both went through significant changes, and come 2002, Payne was a free agent.

She has since been sorting out her emotions from those setbacks, but thanks to funding from a friend, they've been channeled into her sophomore record Grown. Despite stepping down from the big leagues and booming budgets, Payne holds up to her artistic form via producer Tim Schoenhals. The pairing may appear humble compared to Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Guster) on her debut, but the lost studio wizardry is made up through heart and honesty. When it comes to opening up in lyrics, Payne has no fear of laying her vulnerability out on the table, especially tracing her frustrations on the mellow "Ups & Downs" and the rootsy pop of "Superstar."

"Happy," despite its cheery title, is a yearning for satisfaction and inner peace. On "Twenty Three," Payne rolls out her cynicism in several relatable steps, animated further by melancholy orchestration. But she refuses to stay knocked down on the plugged-in rocker "Backwards," featuring co-writing and guitar-playing by Lifehouse's Jason Wade. The following C.S. Lewis inspired track "Aslan"—harmonica-led jangle pop—is even more uplifting, citing God's grace as a means of deliverance. We'd all wondered what had happened to this talented artist, and if Grown is any indication, there's plenty of musical life left in Kendall Payne.

8:25 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment