We had the good fortune of connecting with Kanude and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kanude, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“I Am, I Am, I Am,
A highly valued man.
The music-maker money magnet,
I Am That I Am.”

This is an affirmation I wrote for myself a while back that has kept my mind and heart in coherence with the essence and prosperity of my work as a songwriter and recording/touring artist, an artist who keeps building fans one at a time, and being of service as much as I can.

or!

“Time flies like an arrow,
But fruit flies like a banana.”
(attributed to Groucho Marx)

One won my favorite quotes ever. Make sure you read the double entendre in the second line.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This part is really hard. Can I pass?

Alright I’ll try…. I’m a recording and touring artist. My touring has been very sporadic over the year, and never more than 40-50 dates a year. I am actually working with my booking agent on more dates through the end of the year in mid-west and south-east parts of the US, perhaps back in Texas, my home-state Hook ‘ Em! (Life Member).

Mostly I would say, I am a songwriter, recording artist, and to some extent music producer releasing music primarily under my name Kanude, also LightBody Sound, and synth-pop album the has subsequently released more albeit and esoteric releases, and previously as Val Holler from teh mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. My song “Wheels” on my debut album in 2008 was featured in HBO’s “True Blood.”

A funny factoid: I ​was part of the original programming for the inaugural New York Fringe Festival (in which I co-composed and performed in a wild, downtown rock opera, “One Arm Red: Gospel Truth Family Hour”). Also, I was a contributing songwriter/founder & performer with a post-new wave 1990s NYC band called Mind Over Matter. We chased a record deal a the time unsuccessfully. And we had some raging times. Really fun parties.

But the question “Was it Easy?” begs my question: “What planet are you on?” But seriously I’ve never met or heard on screen a successful person talking about how easy the journey has been. But I will say guided meditation with people like Dr. Joe Dispenza and Jason Stephenson, on a daily basis definitely helps me maintain my sanity, and that is saying a lot for an artist.

And to all of you reading this:

Get in touch with me or my team! I love to hear from people and would love to come perform in YOUR town.

Make sure to check out the video, and audio of course, for my recent single “Born Again in Tennessee,” featuring Nashville-royalty The McCrary Sisters) and mixed by Grammy-winner Shooter Jennings.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When people are visiting my current home base of Nashville, Tennessee, I always recommend my favorite iconic location here in town, which funny enough is not music-related like the historic venue the Ryman Auditorium aka “The Mother Church” which is the previous home to The Grand Ole Opry. The location I am referencing is The Parthenon which is a scale-replica of the like-named structure in Athens, Greece. But don’t just stand outside! Inside is the crown jewel. The Parthenon contains the tallest indoor statue in the western hemisphere (!), a 90-foot tall statue of the goddess Athena (aka Athena Parthenos). She is even holding a 6-foot statue of Nike in her hand. It is so breath-taking and so inspiring.

And like Ringo says:

Peace and Love

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Iconic texan filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, who gave me my first break in music while we both were attending The University of Texas at Austin. He brought me on as a co-composer / music producer of his debut feature film “El Mariachi.” It was and still is a great honor.

Website: http://kanude.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/kanude

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/kanude

Facebook: http://facebook.com/kanudeofficial

Youtube: http://youtube.com/kanude

Other: http://lightstone.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
foto 1 credit: Ian Webber
foto 2 credit: Greg Vore

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.