Welcome to Secrets From the Scene, a show for local musicians who want to improve their music, grow their audience, and learn about Minnesota's music scene. If you're interested in talking about all things music-related and meeting interesting people from our local community, you're in the right place.
I'm repeating a comment here that I made elsewhere about Ms. Courtney Hadwin and her collab with Kevin. So VERY GLAD those two got introduced, even if virtually! This kid reminds me SO MUCH of Tina Turner...that FLOOD of ENERGY that just inundates the audience as the music starts and this youngster steals that stage away from Simon Cowell. Audience on their feet, clapping, cheering, within 30 seconds. And that voice! With and without all the great vocalist skills and tricks...that AMAZING vocal squall you'd swear was coming out of an old 1950's black church choir singing their praises to the Lord. Ms. Courtney didn't grow up outside of Memphis Tennessee, but she sure learned many of the techniques from vocalists who did! Her blues are sublime. Her plain quiet natural voice is sweet and clear and powerful when she wants it to be. But when it's time to BELT and to let the world know this is ROCK'n'ROLL with a perfect Rock Growl or scream, she nails it every time! As for her potential audience, I really think Kevin is severely underestimating. At her SECOND APPEARANCE, first LIVE SHOW on AGT, the host, Tyra Banks, introduced 14yo Ms. Courtney with the fact that since her audition was released, they'd had 200 MILLION VIEWS of her audition. That's from May/June timeframe until Oct/Nov timeframe of 2018. Since, with all the copies and reactions spreading out from those AGT videos, I've seen believable estimates that at least 1 BILLION WORLDWIDE VIEWS (combining RU-vid, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook). The potential is there, even if many of those were there for the spectacle of what music does to this young girl's body (especially when she's filled with stress and then just lets go and lets the music she loves take her over). Her performance in January of 2019 on AGT: The Champions was, until this summer, our last, best vision of what she could do on a stage, still only 14yo. If that ill-fated 'Woodstock 50' anniversary extravaganza had taken place, with her on the bill for Saturday on the BIG STAGE, this would be a VERY DIFFERENT STORY. But that festival was cancelled so we never got to see that amazing debut amidst all the remaining greats from that time whose music this kid loves. I can't wait to hear what she comes up with next! Ms. Courtney (aka COURTZ) opens her mouth and starts singing and I'm instantly transported back to a hot summer day, in my '68 Mustang, blasting along the rural roads deep amidst the wheat fields, then the forests, of the Pacific NorthWest in USA, with windows down and 8-track blaring the best of 1950's and 60's rock. Haven't heard a voice like that since the 80's. OUTSTANDING!!
I'm so glad Courtney (Hadwin) got hooked up with Kevin. She was boxed in for too long and now she has someone to work with that frees her up to be herself and record the way she needs to record. I'm one of her millions of fans that first saw her on AGT and has follwed her closely ever since. She is an amazing one in a lifetime talent and a great down to earth young lady. She started a Go Fund Me account to support her endeavors and expenses to which I made a small contribution. I get emai from Courtney two or three times a week that she sends out to all her donors keeping us up to date on how she is progressing and how grateful she is for the support. I mean who does that? She is an amazing person and Kevin is exactly who she needed and will need for future projects. I'm praying she stays the humble down to earth person she's been up to now and avoids the pitfalls of the music business so many fall into ie drugs and other bad habits. And finally a huge thanks to Clive Davis for insisting on having Courtney do the Carnagie Hall gig. That was a huge deal!
you got a new sub in me, man! great guest! great interview! i taught with Kevin at IPR. (graphic design and web development) there were so many talented people there! i always felt like i didn't deserve to be there but it wasn't because anyone made me feel that way. in fact, the exact opposite was true. i came out of that place feeling proud of myself and respecting myself more than when i came in and Kevin one of the people responsible for that. he's proof that world-wide success and talent doesn't have to include being a douchebag! now, get John Fields on your show!
Years ago, I had an opportunity to take part in a small singing competition to benefit special Olympics. The prize was to have 2 songs recorded at IPR at the time where Kevin had been teaching. I was able to record 2 covers, and Kevin shared that if I ever wanted to come back and record my own music, I could do so. I took him up on that and recorded a few originals that I had written and a cover of “Thirteen”. His class was able to help with the recording process, which was really neat to see. I’ll forever be grateful for that opportunity and experience and it truly was “the most fun”. He was kind and present. There is so much in this interview that spoke to me personally. I’m a busy mom of 3, working full-time and trying to learn the guitar (late at night when everyone sleeps). I’m the one that you speak of that isn’t as good as the others but has a desire to record my stuff just for the sake of recording it and so that it won’t just live in my head. When I have the money at some point, I have plans to record for those reasons. The songwriting is important to me and it doesn’t have to be heard by others in order for it to remain meaningful to me. My experience with Kevin was that he is a humble down-to-earth person. I remember trying to sell a jingle one time and had no idea what I was doing and he gave me some tips after I reached out. I have a lot of respect for him, and enjoy following all of the things he is doing. Thanks for this great interview and I just subscribed to the channel. 🙌🏼
loved this like to see additional interviews with Kevin. he mentions Courtney Hadwin and with his help she is turning out exceptional music, hope they work together for many years to come
Awesome Interview! I've only kept tabs on a handful of music producers over the years. Two of them are Ted Perlman and another Kevin Bowe. Ted mainly because of his ties to Bob Dylan... Whitney Houston ,...etc.. Kevin Bowe most definitely because of his work with Jonny Lang. Unbelievably, two of my favorite Artists , Courtney Hadwin and Gabe Schillman are currently working with them. Courtney with Kevin and Gabe with Ted. I don't believe either could of traveled the world and found better matches. Absolutely can't wait for the Album drop of Kevin and Courtney's Originals! Thanks for this super Interview.
I’m forever in debt to Brian Reidinger for the generosity of time and energy he put into the basic nurturing of my talents and the talents of my young musical counterparts when we were just teenagers. This is a natural path for him to have taken. Brian, you’re a hell of a guy. 😉 I’m proud to have crossed paths with you.
Sarah Morris is one of the best songwriters ever. EVER! Like in the history of ever. If she was born in the 1940s or 50s, people would look at her music like Dylan, Jodi Mitchell and the other greats. Her songs are that good.
well d4 was a huge band for me. i saw them at the entry when pbs was filming, grumpys, triple rock and the hell house in s mpls plus a bunch of other shows locally. the lyrics were as great as the musicality, and paddy getting naked every show was something. i mean how much art can you take?
Something I've worked with a lot of doing sound and lighting setups for bands and small venues, and I was surprised to see how many artists had their own DI boxes and we're fully equipped but the few times that they either forgot it or did not know they needed it we're thankful that we had extras for them. 😅
Reminders of poor decisions earlier on can haunt us in the future, just like if you chop down a tree you can see the years in the rings where there were struggles, like fires.
I’ve been binging your videos and I just wanted to comment to let you know how much knowledge you’re spreading with your podcast. I’ve never even set foot in your state in my life and the info is still relevant wherever the person is located. Cheers from New-Brunswick, Canada!
Hey appreciate the kind words and the feedback! Happy to see that this knowledge is relevant all over. Don't be afraid to step over and check out the vibrant scene down here, cheers!
i believe him no one will hit like past era everyone will instantly start doing the same as that person then it’s everywhere. we can’t have another star bc to many people are tying to be stars
Big stars have absolutely nothing to do with what the common folk like or choose. They are groomed from a young age to be the next false idol. Look at me with a straight face and tell me that Taylor Swifts music is enjoyable. You have been duped.
i agree that this is bull, theres been plenty of uprising *stars* we just don't call them that and they haven't been all that music related for the most part. (think dsmp, kpop, jordan peterson, andrew tate, etc) people can still get famous. the only reason we don't have new longterm music stars is because taylor swift is a cultish following, and people don't want to admit that its not *pop* that they like, it's taylor theres no reason that we can't have more stars, all it takes is for someone to have a personality and actually want to do that. it has nothing to do with *omg but we can't copy exactly what taylor swift did bc the internet already exists*
