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New music: Kendra Morris unleashes sultry video to new single ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’

September 26, 2014

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Lauren Laverne, BBC 6 Music:I absolutely love this track, I love it, I think it has a very cinematic, David Holmes-y feel.”
Dermot O’Leary, BBC Radio 2: “I really like it.”

Enigmatic, soulful New York–based singer songwriter, Kendra Morris, is proud to announce her latest single – a cover of legendary British band The Proclaimers’ best-known song ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’. This is the follow up to her hugely successful album ‘Banshee’ which was out on French, independent record label, Naive Records in February 2014.

Kendra’s cover of The Proclaimers displays her respect for their heritage and allowed her to work in new ways with the established building blocks of such a successful, iconic band. It is always stated that in the right hands, covers can be striking, gaining power because they blow apart the seemingly rigid boxes constructed from previous cuts of a song – and that is exactly what Kendra Morris displays.

Possessing one of the best and most unforgettable voices internationally right now, Kendra Morris draws upon cinematic elements, soul, blues and seventies funk in her powerhouse vocals.

Morris grew up imbued with a sense of musicality – her parents played in bands together, and she would often break into their cabinets full of vinyl and listen to their records. As Marvin Gaye, the Spinners, Stevie Wonder, and Jackson 5 washed over her, they soon became her favourite albums.

Morris has built an inimitable reputation as a singer-songwriter and performer, following collaborations with producer Jeremy Page and receiving highly acknowledged prizes following her conscientious effort working on her craft as a songwriter. She was acknowledged by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011. The institutions awarded Morris the 2011 Holly Prize, which recognises excellence in song writing, performing, and musicianship.

Morris toured with Motown Funk Brother Dennis Coffey and has received support from American DJ ,producer and the other half of hip-hop duo Gang Starr, DJ Premier, who remixed her first single ‘Concrete Waves’. It was also exclusively premiered on Huw Stephens’ BBC Radio 1 show.

As a result of Morris’ obvious talent and the success of her album, she has been featured in a host of renowned publications, both print and online. These include Nos magazine, DJ Mag  and Echoes in print, and Music Week and Soul and Jazz online, as well as many influential blogs including The Flaneur and Hilly Dilly. Kendra has also been receiving airtime from numerous radio DJs, everywhere from XFM to Shoreditch Radio.

More recently Kendra has received support from and appeared on influential DJ Toddla T’sT time’ feature on his BBC Radio 1 show. As well as this, Simon Raymonde of The Cocteau twins fame had Kendra in for an exclusive live session and interview for his tastemaker Amazing Radio show.

With Kendra combining both heritage and modernity in this cover, her soulful take on ‘500 Miles’ is one that should not be missed.

Echoes Magazine, 2014 – “Kendra’s style is sitting somewhere between Erykah and Mary J”
http://www.kendramorrismusic.com/

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