| Ken Elkinson is a brilliant musician with a wonderful | | | | music into every major retail outlet. Especially with the |
| taste for music and it shows in everything he creates. | | | | rise of the Internet and digital music, that has really |
| Being a dabbler myself, I appreciate that his Christmas | | | | leveled the playing field. That’s not to say I would |
| CD includes more than one genre. In my opinion, it | | | | never consider a larger existing label in the future, but |
| spices up the album and makes it more enjoyable and | | | | for now I am fine with having my own independent |
| less likely to grow old fast. I recently caught up with | | | | label. What have been some of the hardest things |
| Ken for a quick interview and I was really surprised | | | | you've had to endure as a musician-business owner? |
| with his down-to-earth approach to the business. Unlike | | | | For me, it has been the fact that I have never been |
| most musicians who have the “all or nothing” | | | | able to devote myself to music full time. I always seem |
| mentality, Ken likes working a full-time job and creating | | | | to live in the most expensive places like New York |
| his music on the side—that’s not to say that | | | | City and Los Angeles, where it is just not financially |
| he’s not okay with going pro full-time. But for now, | | | | possible for me to do music as a sole source of |
| he’s happy to be doing what he loves and to be | | | | income. A lot of people have suggested that I |
| doing it on his terms. Just take a peek at what Ken | | | | supplement with teaching and playing weddings etc... |
| has to say about his music, the industry, and how other | | | | However, while I really respect those two ideas, they |
| artists can turn their love of music into a paying reality. | | | | are just not for me. I know it may sound |
| I understand that you recently created a new CD, | | | | “un-cool” for a musician to say, but I actually like |
| Generations of Yuletide, that combines jazz, new age, | | | | my day job—with the stability, paycheck and benefits |
| and classical music—all on piano. How did you come | | | | it provides. There is also the rejection level which is |
| up with the idea to combine such different musical | | | | super high—but I think that is the case in most |
| styles onto one CD? | | | | creative fields. It makes the successes even |
| I don’t know if it was on purpose! I never know | | | | better—so I really don’t mind it. |
| how to classify myself. I improvised on all 16 tracks on | | | | What is the best part about creating music? |
| the CD so there is definitely the element of | | | | I think coming from a classical background, I learned |
| jazz—more here than on my five other releases. | | | | that even the hardest existing pieces of music are |
| When I was a child, I used to compete | | | | potentially possible if you are willing to devote your life |
| classically—so the classical genre is always | | | | to practice. Of course there is probably some innate |
| imbedded inside me. As for new age, I have never | | | | talent required if you are going to reach the level of |
| liked that term—but my music always seems to be | | | | someone like Leon Fleisher. I certainly never got close |
| classified as that. Generations has elements of all | | | | to that! However, when you write your own material, |
| those genres and I leave it to the listener to decide | | | | there is the sense that you created something that no |
| what he or she feels it most resembles. I am always | | | | one else did. Sometimes when I listen to one of my |
| open to new genre suggestions! | | | | more complex pieces, I say to myself, “Did I really |
| What do you hope your CD will bring to listeners? | | | | write this?” There is also the part when people tell |
| I hope it will bring a fresh approach to the Christmas | | | | you that your music has helped them through a tough |
| piano CD. Let’s face it, there are a ton of | | | | time, or that your music is the only CD their kid will fall |
| Christmas piano CDs out there—and there is a lot of | | | | asleep to. I don’t write music to get a pat on the |
| repetition and boredom. I picked some really obscure | | | | back but it is always nice when you get |
| carols, and re-worked some of the more well known | | | | acknowledged. Even when a critic takes issue with |
| ones—almost to the point they are unrecognizable | | | | something I have done/played, I am always |
| (hopefully in a good way.) I think my strategy is | | | | appreciative because it means to me that the critic |
| working at least initially, because one of the reviews I | | | | writer is being honest. |
| received was from a person who considers himself | | | | What is the one bit of advice you'd like to leave new |
| the foremost authority on Christmas music and even | | | | artists with? |
| he was unfamiliar with one or two of the tracks! Why | | | | Quite often I am asked for advice by new artists, and I |
| did you choose to create your own music label versus | | | | am always happy to help. I have been fortunate that |
| going with an existing music label? | | | | more accomplished musicians have generally been |
| When I started writing my own music and releasing | | | | helpful when I have asked them for advice—so I am |
| CDs (after I graduated college), there were only a | | | | just “paying it forward!” What I usually tell them |
| handful of labels out there for my type of music—like | | | | is to learn from artists doing similar music. Go to their |
| Windham Hill and Narada. I found myself in the | | | | websites, check out their live shows and see what is |
| Catch-22 scenario of the fact that the labels wanted | | | | working for them. At the same time, try to find places |
| artists who already sold a lot of CDs, but no one | | | | for your music where no (or few) others have tried |
| provides any guidance on how to do that without a | | | | before. For example, if there is a brand new airline with |
| label. As I have gotten more established, I really | | | | only 2 planes, call up their corporate office and see if |
| appreciate the fact that I have been able to keep my | | | | they will use your CD as boarding music. I like to tell |
| publishing. With a strategic set of distributors and | | | | them not to get discouraged, as it is a really tough |
| licensing agreements, I have been able to get my | | | | business. |