Kloud 9 contest

Contest closed August 1tst

First, thanks to all who entered in the competition, not only from me, but also from Kendall and Kelvis. They really appreciated all your nice reactions. 

Second, thanks to Kendall for giving me the opportunity to do this. And also thanks for the delicious dinner when I was in Atlanta.

And now the moment you have been waiting for;  who won the 3 CD's?

1. Alvin Lofton (USA)
2. Fayaz Nathalia (UK)
3. Greg Sudberry (USA)

For all others who entered as a consolation price click here to listen to "Everything about this love" by Kloud 9.

You can also buy this album at CDuniverse  

                                                       

 

Chemistry has always been the key ingredient for two or more people to click. Kelvis and Kendall Duffie have been developing chemistry together for the past 15 years. Originally performing together as part of a 4-member contemporary gospel outfit, the twin brothers performed and recorded all over the continental U.S., Europe and South America and with many stellar artists.

After years of experience and growth in their craft, the brothers found themselves working on the industry side of things, being involved in radio promotions, artist development and production. With a strong desire to still make music, Kendall, the younger of the set by 34 minutes proposed developing songs as a duo and targeting what they have always done so naturally, smooth mellow grooves. Kelvis felt they had the experience and talent to do just that, and thus Kloud 9 was birthed.

 

 

The group's first release came in 1999 on a compilation project entitled Soul Steppin' on the UK label Expansion Records, and gave them strong visibility at smooth jazz radio. After a short break from the scene, the brothers started working on material for their debut album. After months of studio recording and song writing sessions, the guys' felt they had all the right ingredients for success and presented the project to Expansion Records. The duo was signed immediately and the long awaited CD was completed December of 2001. Keeping with their concept of smooth grooves and laid back vocals, the new CD entitled "On Kloud 9" is a collection of smooth soul, adult R&B and smooth jazz tunes.

The CD features Incognito doing what they do best on a powerful dance tempo groove entitled "Promise", which speaks to the heart of many of today's issues. Karen Bernod is featured on the jazzy, feel-good tune "Let's not lose" addressing the importance of relationships, the difficulties therein and making a declaration to not lose what you have. Saxophonist Kirk Whalum will blow you away as he lends a hand on the sultry yet slick "Make you mine" which reminds us that romance and chivalry is still alive while offering a refreshing twist to the monotonous theme of most of today's love songs. This CD was released early 2002.

Kendall and Incognito front man Bluey

       

1. Can't Stop Thinking About You
2. If You Ever 
3. Never Knew
4. That's How Love Should Be 
5. Let's Not Lose featuring Karen Bernod
6. Priority
7. Soul Mate
8. On Kloud 9-Interlude 
9. Promise
10 With Me
11.Make you mine 
12.Mercy Of Your Love 
13.A Moment
14.Lullalaby For K.C
15.On Kloud 9
16.Keep Me Coming Around

 

The first single off that project "Can't stop thinking about you" also appeared on a  compilation CD entitled "With This Ring-Forever I Do". The song was written and produced by Mitchell Jones of the famed Gospel group Commissioned, (who by the way are responsible for influencing superstar R&B and Pop acts Boys to Men and Black Street among others. The future is bright and there's a lot more music to come from these guys. Kloud 9 is sure to offer something special to music lovers everywhere. And while the turn of the century doesn't have us flying around in space cars on the moon, Kelvis and Kendall will be doing their best to put you on Kloud 9.

Now the brothers are featured on another compilation. "Take my hand" is on stores now or order online at CDuniverse

 

Tracklisting

1. Always - Claudius Craig
2. Forever -  Da'dra Crawford Greathouse
3. I'll Still Be Loving You - Denise Walls Allen
4. Whispers of My Heart - Daryl Coley
5. Here and Now [Instrumental] - Roger Ryan
6. Now - Chris Willis
7. Only You - Lisa Shipman
8. Covenant of Love - Desmond Pringles
9. This Feeling I Have Is Love - Wendy Moten
10. Everything About This Love  - Kloud 9

 

Interview with Kendall Duffie:

Question: How did you get started in the music business?

Kendall: Well our mother was a church musician and she would get us around the piano
and teach us Gospel songs. The desire to sing grew in us, and we eventually
started a Gospel group and sang together with our sister Michelle and family
friend named Ray Vaughns for about 15 year as "Meekness. That's how it all
started.


Question: How did you as US artists get signed by a UK label like Expansion?

Kendall:  Well we 1st started shopping Kloud 9 for a record deal around 1998. Most of the feedback we got from US labels was that we needed to be more this or more that.. basically more like what was on the charts at that time. We didn't want to be a gimmick group so I decided to take our music outside the US and try and secure a deal that way. I moved to London in 1999 and stayed there for nearly 2 years! The 1st week I was there I took CD's around to at least a dozen labels. I got a call back from Ralph Tee at Expansion and he wanted to include on of our tunes an a compilation he was doing called Soul Stepp'n. That's how our relationship with Expansion stared. I met a UK producer named Ray Hayden from Opaz studio's while I was there and started developing more Kloud 9 music with him, he also had me working on tracks for artists that he was working with at the time like Mica Paris and Martine Giralut. I met Maysa Leak through Ray and I met Bluey from Incognito through Maysa and the rest as they say...is history!

 

Question: What artists did you grow up listening to?

Kendall: The Jacksons, Andrae Crouch, Stevie Wonder. As we got older it was stuff like The Isley Brothers, Sade, Anita Baker, Loose Ends, Chicago, Ambrosia, Take 6, Commissioned.. the list goes on and on

 

Question: Do the two of you always agree with each other musically or do you have strong fights about that sometimes?

Kendall: Well usually we agree, I will bring a song that I wrote to Kelvis and if he likes the idea then we both start working on vocal arrangements and giving it the Kloud 9 treatment. If he doesn't like my songs I just beat him  up:-)

 

Question: When you are writing songs, do you write from personal experiences?

Kendall: I always write what's in my heart. Sometimes it's personal sometimes it's things I just dream about in my heart. I'm a firm believer that what comes from the heart will reach the heart. I try not to force idea's if I ever feel like I'm forcing I walk away and come back when my heart tells me too.


Question: On your first album you worked with artists such as Incognito, Kirk Whalum and Karen Bernod, are you planning more quest appearances like that on your new album?

Kendall: Every great artists is always inspired by other great artists. I love vibing with other creative people and I hope we can continue that on the new project.

 

Question : Speaking of the new album, can you give us any indication as to when it will be finished and in the shops?

Kendall: Well we're working on some new material now, we don't wanna rush the process, but we hope to have it finished by the middle of July. Hopefully we can put out more quality soul music to please our fans.

 

Question: Suppose you win an all expenses paid trip around the world, who would you take and what places would you want to visit? And you can't take
your brother :-)

Kendall: What! I can't take my boy! ok.. well.. I would have to say my new bestfriend Londie. She's a wonderful person and I love doing things with her. I would love to visit Africa with her. This is the mother land and I've always been intrigued with it's history.

 

Question:  If you could pick any artist, producer or musician you haven't work with before to do a song wiith, who would it be?

Kendall: Either Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson

 

Question:  Finally, tell us one thing you admire in your brother? 

Kendall: 1st off it's hard to just pick one thing, I think my brother is a great guy, but I really admire Kelvis for being able to achieve success in so many
areas of life. He can be happy doing so many things. I have a hard time
enjoying anything but making music.