Ife Kehinde releases City Lights EP

Ife Kehinde is a self-taught talent with almost a decade of performing under her belt. Beginning at a young age with piano lessons, Ife has come into her own as a guitarist and songwriter. When asked what kind of music she aims to create, Ife says simply, “I look for music that conveys and evokes emotions within the listener.” Among her own music loves, Ife cites Adele, Lauryn Hill and Joss Stone whom she feels have a true passion for their music. With the singer song writer influences of Ingrid Michaelson and Tracey Chapman, Ife sees a similar passion in herself: “Music is something that I wake up wanting to do and go to sleep dreaming about.” Having many different musical influences has allowed Ife to stay out of a “genre” and instead focus on creating music to which any listener can relate. “Diversity in life and music is so important to me. I take inspiration from anything and everything: people, scenarios and life experiences.” She honed in on this key component to her music while attending Barefoot Republic Camp. There she says, ” I was encouraged to seek out the talents God had given me and was able to strengthen those skills.” After attending Barefoot for 3 years, then volunteering as a counselor, Ife attributes her initial inspiration to pursue music to Barefoot: “Everyone was so supportive and really believed in me, and I can only hope that I can encourage and inspire others to do the same.” With the recent release of her four-track EP, she is doing just that. City Lights is now available on iTunes!

Ife Kehinde releases single Whitest Lie

Ife Kehinde, former camper and staff, has released her first single Whitest Lie. It will be on her EP City Lights. Click here for a listen.

Krystal Meyers, A 16 Year-Old Rock Artist and former Barefoot Republic Camper, Signs Deal With Essential Records

Courtesy of Provident Label Group

Provident Label Group’s Essential Records has announced the signing of 16-year-old rock singer, musician and songwriter Krystal Meyers. Meyers, from Franklin, TN, writes rock music with a punk edge and attributes her musical influences to bands like Blindside, Finch, Further Seems Forever, Dashboard Confessional and Mae. Krystal Meyers’ debut hit stores on June 7, 2005 with the first radio single getting airplay in March.

To deliver the album, this teenage newcomer teams up with producer Ian Eskelin and the highly-acclaimed, L.A. based ‘Wizardz of Oz’ production team whose credits include Avril Lavigne and Liz Phair.

Meyers, on signing with Essential, shares, ‘I couldn’t be happier! I am so glad that God has brought this opportunity into my life and I am excited to see where He takes this new partnership!’

Robert Beeson, sr vp of A&R for Provident, comments, ‘It’s hard to find an artist with real vision, who knows exactly who they are and what they want in a music career, and it’s even more difficult to find in a 16-year-old. Krystal is the exception. She has the ability to speak as a peer with artistic excellence and a passion that cannot be fabricated. Krystal is a unique artist for our market and for this generation.’

Krystal has been singing most of her life with her first performance noted at age 5 at a church in Oregon. She started writing songs while in grade school and regularly attended songwriting-focused summer camps. It was at these writing camps that Krystal at age 13 picked up the electric guitar to help in her song developing. Not long after, Meyers formed a band in junior high to play school events.

In the 9th grade, Meyers co-wrote ‘Anticonformity’ while at a Barefoot Republic youth camp and the message behind the song quickly became her personal mission statement. Krystal explains, ‘The idea of Anticonformity is not conforming to the ways of this world, but instead living a life by God’s standards. By not listening to what the world says you should be, you’ll find life’s true meaning and you’ll feel good about yourself!’

After performing the song for the camp talent show, Meyers was asked to cut her ‘Anticonformity’ theme song for the Barefoot Republic Camp’s benefit CD, joining artists like Audio Adrenaline and Pillar.