George Micheal, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Erykah Badu, India Arie, Alicia Keys, Peggy Lee, Joan Armatrading, Karen Carpenter, Prince, Annie Lennox, Ricki Lee Jones, James Taylor, Maroon Five, Missy Higgins, Sade, Brooke Fraser, Bic Runga, Margaret Urlich, Billie Holiday, Tracey Thorn, Everything but the Girl, Bjork, Sinead O'Connor, Dixie Chicks, The Beatles, great artists of all genres who bring out the very best of who they are.
From the opening track ’your own life’ and its chilled out reggae-ish grooves through to the more laid back singer/songwriter and even Jazzy tunes the notion of easy listening comes to mind. Pene’s album “Flowers and Frolic” would be the perfect companion on a retreat or holiday where you just want to lie in a hammock or sit by the pool and many of the tunes somehow create an islandesque feel and imagery.
It has many good songs and very tasteful production that doesn’t get in the way of the music all sit together through a variety of backings to create some wonderful and always relaxed vibes that nicely reference Pene’s native land but could easily cross over into a more mainstream market. Comparisons have been made to Nora Jones, Jack Johnson, Joni Mitchell. Definitely recommended listening.
Reviews
"Flowers and Frolic” by Pene Kingsford is a CD composed of gentle easygoing, easy listening music. Pene’s easy style and clear diction makes this a good addition to your library of music. There is a gentle Jazz style to many of the songs on this album. “Lily” is particularly interesting in this multi-styled CD combining rap, with both female and male voices and the female vocal. The introduction and back up in “Fibre and the Weave” bring a slightly different flavour to this collection. Both compositions and vocal works are strong and the pitch perfect vocals are a pleasure. You may want to add this CD to your collection for those lazy, rainy days".>>>>>>>> Marshall Cullen Sounds Like Café & Foghorn Records
In an era which seems to produce fly by night pop songs, Pene Kingsford writes songs that are enduring, compelling us to feel spirit, passion and a sense of what is real in life. This singer/songwriter from Little River, New Zealand is an Indie artist making waves on the International music scene. Pene Kingsfords latest album, ’Flowers and Frolic’ is filled with catchy hooks, enchanting melodies, lyrics that provoke thought, meaning and feeling all wrapped up in a voice that is as pure as crystal clear water.>>>>>>>>> CD Baby author: Lea Plumier
"The album reflects my passage through 2007", explains Pene Kingsford. "I had the time, space and lots of intense emotional experiences that allowed me to write a whole bunch of songs over two to three months. The songs are largely interconnected and provide a journal of my life during that time.
I was very clear about how I wanted each song to sound in the overall breath of the album. I was fortunate to work with some gifted musicians these include Karen Hunter from Auckland and Iain Brandram-Adams from Canterbury”.
Pene Kingsford has been passionate about music since her youth, and has studied with many and varied teachers. Pene Kingsford joined the Wellington Junior Choir under the directorship of Ms Judith White. At aged ten, Pene claimed the coverted ’Singer of the Year’ competition singing "Where is Love" from the hit musical, ’Oliver’.
Pene Kingsford commenced classical singing training for a number of years with Ms Anne Albright in Christchurch, New Zealand and Mr and Mrs McIntoch in Melbourne, Victoria. This was supported by Pene performing in several light operettas and musicals throughout Australasia. From here, Pene Kingsfords journey takes us to a very accomplished and professional a’capella group, ’the Vocalchords’ that performed at events and private functions throughout New Zealand and indeed recorded for Radio New Zealand.
Through her teen years, Pene Kingsford wrote songs on guitar and recorded with various musicians. The first band Pene Kingsford played in was as a bass guitar and backing vocals. From here, Pene Kingsford quickly became the lead vocalist of a well know Auckland all female band, Freudian Slips.
Freudian Slips produced two EP’s of which received airtime on several New Zealand radio stations as well as Radio with Pictures television show. After Freudian Slips disbanded, Pene Kingsford went solo and established bands such as Echo Echo playing around the North Island music scene.
Pene was also fortunate enough to receive a grant from Radio New Zealand to record seven original songs for a radio show Pene entitled, ’To This End’. This played on National Radio over several weeks under the direction of the late Bruce Dusky. Pene Kingsford also spent three months working under the directorship of the well known Ray Colombus for a TVNZ performance workshop with eleven others.
This included musicianship, song, dance and choreography. In the mid 1990’s Pene Kingsford released her first solo EP, Test of Time through Ode records.. Since this time, Pene Kingsford has released a further EP of various covers such as ’Roxanne’ and Fly me to the Moon’. ’Flowers and frolic’, the latest album has huge potential. Success has come through airplay in Canada, Australia and the USA.
The song. ’Your Own Life’ is on the latest moozikoo.com pop/adult contemporary compilation CD as well as the Australian, Sounds like Café Compilation Series Vol 20’ due for release late February - early March 2008. The song, ’The tale of the blessed two’ is currently a finalist in the American Lo-Budget Love Songs Competition.
Pene says: "I wanted to write an album that was diverse musically so as to display my ability to write in various genres. Some of the songs are clearly guitar based songs and others keyboard. The album title song, ’Flowers and Frolic’ introduces smooth guitar playing with vocal lines that gently turn and fold, whereas ‘Lily’s’ synthesized sound introduces a young emerging rapper. . .
The album was recorded with limited personal funds in various lounge rooms of Auckland city and the Canterbury Plains. "We had heaps of fun on this project. I love how musicians who are gifted in their own right will readily help others out. It is very heartening".
"I have asked a whole lot of people what songs on the album they most like and everyone has a different idea. I guess that just goes to show that music has no boundaries. It resonates differently for people".
The momentum is certainly building for me musically at present". Pene Kingsford voice is unique, delicate and certainly impacting.
Thanks so much for the request! If you haven’t already, please feel free to click on the banner below to check out TuneCore and let us know if we can be of any help at all!
Hey Pene, Nice to meet you - really enjoyed having a listen. Our band is taking a break while Alicia goes to Europe for 3 months so we won't be playing again till September so can't offer you any supports. It's a great scene in Melbourne - all the best with your tour!
Thanks for finding us.. great sound - I love the harmonies... At the moment we don't have anything booked for Melbourne in early August, but I will definitely keep you in mind!
Thanks for the add! It's a shame you're not here (Miami, Florida) since we're having a Culture Fest and your music sounds like it would go splendid! Oh well, Maybe next time!
Hi Pene! Thanks for the friend request and for the message. LOVE your sound!!!! Brilliant. Looking forward to hearing you live. If anything, I should be supporting YOU! :)
