Henrick Vartanian
If there really is no business like show business, then it is great to be Levi Kreis right about now. With the welcomed release of his junior album “Where I belong” and a critically acclaimed portrayal of rock-n-roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis in “Million Dollar Quartet” playing on Broadway, a warm embrace of sorts has enveloped the music and performances of this southern boy on the rise.
To be an unsigned artist entering the charts on his own, and sharing space (a debut at #42 on i-tunes Top Pop Albums to be exact), with superstars like Pink & Kelly Clarkson is quite an achievement. In today’s hook-driven, turn-and-burn pace of the music industry, Levi Kreis deserves a Formula One type of an award for such trailblazing speed.
But how about staying power? For 5 strong years, a loyal and growing fan base has made sure of just that. The feeling Levi sings about their personal life experience with insight and sincerity can build a great bond between an artist and his audience.
Kreis is no stranger to music. At twelve his mother would chaperone him to songwriting conventions in his native Tennessee where young Levi learned to work on many styles of songwriting. This long journey has refined the artist to “unravel the most definitive parts” of him, he says.
Brave New Hollywood meets Levi Kreis for an exclusive look into this unveiling.
How did music come into your life and how did you choose music as your calling?
I always felt like music chose me. My grandmother tells me that her mother would watch me “sing in the playpen” as a kid before I could walk. I have a picture of me at 5 years old singing into the water hose outside. There was never a time when music wasn’t expressing itself through me. At six years old, I came home from kindergarten graduation and picked out ‘Pomp & Circumstance” by ear while I had my big brother work the pedals. It was like breathing to me. My granddaddy brought a lot of great music into the house too. Mostly gospel. The first record I remember ever hearing was a record by Mahalia Jackson.
This is your junior album. In which way is it different from the previous ventures?
I feel like it took me doing two prior albums and touring over 350 cities to discover what style was most true to my strengths. This album stays true to the pop sensibilities that the other albums have, yet “Where I Belong” is rooted in southern soul and gospel influences that made me who I am, not only as a piano player and singer, but as a man.
The album seems to be moving easily too, getting radio play, entering charts on i-tunes – why do you think that is?
Well, you and I both know that touring is the most direct way to get your music out there, and early on that was all that I did. I scooped up a strong loyal fan base by staying on the road for 3 years. My team (I don’t like the word “fans”) is a group of people who trust my genuine effort to uplift and heal through song, and they let me into their heart. It’s always felt like a relationship to me.
Melissa Etheridge had the most impact on me, because she was hands down the most accessible, loving, engaging human being during rehearsal, during interviews, the whole time. Then on stage, there was more charisma coming from her than any artist I have ever seen before. There was JOY coming from her, and you don’t’ see that emanate from artists often. So magical to watch.
Does the “Million Dollar Quartet” play more of a role in moving your new album up or does it serve a better role in promoting the name Levi Kreis?
“MDQ” has been really wonderful for my acting career for sure, and while I have gained a few new supporters of my music here and there, the experience has been more of a building block for acting. And at present, I’m sitting here looking at a chalk board of cities I plan on touring over the next 3 months and learning that being a Tony Award Winning actor still means nothing to a club owner who wants to know “when did you play here last” and “what’s your draw”. So, to answer your question, it hasn’t been a direct route to greater musical success. If anything, I think being on the stage for 2 years has pulled me from my core fan base. That’s why I’m getting back out on the road soon.
I have to credit the “MDQ” experience though for raising my focus on acting up to something akin to music now.
How do you like playing a rock icon? What do you love about playing Jerry Lee Lewis?
When I met him in his hotel room at the Westin here in NYC, one person put it perfectly. It was familial. So much of our upbringing is similar. I have always felt like playing JLL provided an outlet for me to access that rich southern background I have.
You have said you have a high level energy most of the time: playing Jerry Lee Lewis must be a perfect outlet for you – is it?
No doubt it has been a once in a lifetime experience, especially since I’m looking at the NY Times this morning and seeing two portraits of me and Jerry Lee himself and a huge story on us meeting for the first time. I have to pinch myself when I think of what this opportunity has provided for me. But I must say, my creative side is very hungry to create another role. One thing doing musical theatre has taught me about myself: I want my acting to be acting, and my music to stay my music. It’s not fulfilling internally to use my musical gifts for material that is not journaled from my pen. Acting roles in the future will not be musical, and music for me will come back to the intimate, personal exchange that it has always been between myself and my listener.
Who are some of the past and current musical influences on you and why?
I have to personally thank Tyrone Wells right now. His new album “Metal and Wood” has resuscitated me as a singer/songwriter when I have felt like my creative self was dying from doing the same thing over and over, 8 shows a week for two years. The minute I heard his CD, I called up my old touring buddy Eric Himan, another wonderful artist I love, and said, ‘Dude, lets go on the road!” Tyrone recently reminded me of where my heart is. We were sharing a night years ago at some club in Santa Monica and he has remained in my peripheral ever sense. I’m also really loving the Ben Folds live CD right now as I’m pulling together my acoustic show. Ben Folds is insane! Love him. But old gospel is always my foundation.
TV and Film placement. What does that do for a musician and how does it come one’s way?
Oh, I would advise every artist make this a priority. It is a beautiful way to get your music out there, and has been a great help for me. It’s really all about relationships. I only have a couple personal relationships that are kind enough to always keep me in mind, and the rest are cold pitches. Cold pitches are often unproductive. In general, there are plenty of resources out there to show artists how to package and submit. Do the homework, be precise, and don’t waste their time!
What happens off-stage. How do you wind down or relax?
I have no ritual to wind down. It takes me about 10 minutes and I’m ready for bed. I’m not a late nighter, not a club hopper, I love my couch and my ipad.
What kind of people do you like and why?
People that I work with that are not afraid to take risks. Safe, polite, and political is boring to me. I seem more inspired by actors right now as the journey into myself as an actor has expanded over the last few months. I love people who can make me laugh, and people who are insistent on their spiritual health. I think that is kinda bad-ass. People who buck the herd mentality. People who demand greatness from themselves. People who dare to be forgiving. People who dare to be compassionate. People who take responsibility for the next guy.
What do you have planned for the rest of 2010 and what’s coming up?
Holding down 8 shows a week here on Broadway, releasing a new single and video in a month or so, and plans are in the works to hit a few cities on the east coast.
At Brave New Hollywood we thank Levi and let him get some rest before the next energetic performance where he delivers the audience to a common synch, a musician connecting with his “team” in ways only he is able to achieve.
Levi Kreis official page: http://www.levikreis.com/live/