All of you, who liked the Chicago Soul Sessions Vol I album on Listen Up Records as much as I do, will be pleased to read the follwing interview with label head and musician Stewart McKenzie. And the rest of you, well, read it anyway and check out Stewart’s website for some sound samples :-)

Q: As Stewart McKenzie you are a part of the McKenzie Burns Project and the man behind Listen Up Records. Please tell me how the McKenzie Burns Project came into existence and why you’ve established Listen Up Records.

Stewart McKenzie: David and I met in Washington D.C. through a mutual friend back in 1999. Our friend knew of our mutual musical aspirations and thought we might be able to help each other. David had sent me some demos of what was to be “The David Burns Project.” When I had visited Chicago later that year, I intended to just help lay down some bass and guitar tracks. That eventually led to a substantial contribution in the compositions and arrangements, to the point where we decided that we would form a partnership. Our goals and tastes in music were similar, and our strengths (and weaknesses) as songwriters complemented each other, so it seemed logical. And “The McKenzie Burns Project” became the new name.
It was a little difficult completing that first project because I was still living on the east coast and David was in Chicago, but traveling for his job. But we approached our debut CD with a mindset that if we wanted to make a name for ourselves as producers, we would have to create a buzz.
We knew a recording contract wasn’t going to fall into our laps so we felt that the best way to garner label interest is to prove that you don’t need them. Nowadays, it’s such a risk to be signed to a major label. An artist may get a great deal, but then they are at the musical and financial mercy of an entity other than themselves. If you do not get the proper promotion, you may end up stuck in a no-win situation that includes being stifled musically.
While we have not found fame and fortune from our self-titled debut, “The McKenzie Burns Project,” we have learned so much that will make future projects easier to promote. And in the process, you gain momentum with fans, reviews, airplay, etc. When you release your own CD, and are responsible for every aspect of its recording, promotion and distribution, then you are already operating like a record label. You may not have as much money (laughter) but you are in fact your own label.
David and I just decided to “formalize” the concept with the release of the Chicago Soul Sessions CD, and gave ourselves a label name to record under. So now, we have a label and website that our releases, and other compilations will come under. With that, we have the freedom of being under no musical or commercial constraints whatsoever. We can release music that we like without necessarily worrying about what’s hot at the moment.

Q: How pleased are you with the reaction to the McKenzie Burns project and the Soul Session CD so far?

Stewart McKenzie: With our first CD wanted to prove that we could write, produce and record a commercially competitive CD on our own. The fact that we were recognized worldwide and played on the air in several markets was very rewarding and surprising in some instances. I think with every artist’s debut effort, especially independent releases, they want validation and to create a name for themselves in the music industry. I think we accomplished that.
We are very pleased with the response to the Chicago Soul Sessions CD, at home and abroad. With the legacy of Soul music from the Windy City, it sort of sells itself on the title alone, not to mention that there are some great artists involved.

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