Chronological


March 24th, 2015

Heya!

I'm back gigging weekends again after a long quiet couple months of winter.  Feels good albeit I'm a little rusty.  Looking forward to meeting new faces and old fans at upcoming gigs.  If you live in Japan be sure to leave me an email and tell me where you live.  I might just end up at a festival somewhere in your neck of the woods.   See you out there!

Kelly



September 17th, 2014

What an awesome summer I had!  I spent 2 weeks with family on Vancouver Island and then I came back to Japan to gig almost every single day.  I sold an incredible amount of CDs and made some great new fans.  It really was one of the best summers ever.  I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has supported me on this journey and a big shout out to all the Japanese fans who have embraced my shows and music with open arms.  Arigatou!!



Recent magazine reviews of Every Sunrise
 
9/10 stars. …”every song on this 11 track set is exceptionally entertaining” Elliot Moxley – Nashville Music News Magazine USA.
 
9/10 stars “…amazing songs…”  “…beautiful vocals…” “…music that can be listened to virtually in any situation.”. – Music Emissions Magazine USA
 
9/10 stars. “A brilliant musical mastermind” “…interesting cross section of classic Americana Folk-Rock, and Classic Country-Pop”.  “Pettit captures lighting in a bottle that will ring true to all listeners”  - Skope Magazine USA.
 
9/10 stars.  “Pettit is a real breath of fresh air…”  “‘Every Sunrise” is a beautiful shock to today’s everyday music…” - All What’s Rock Magazine USA
 
9/10 stars. “Every Sunrise” bursts to life with the fantastic rocked out sound and follows through with a wonderful sequence of songs, 11 of them to be exact”.…make sure you get hold of “Every Sunrise” – Marcy Franco from Indie Artist Alliance Magazine USA
 
9/10 stars  “From beginning to end “Every Sunrise” gives you an Americana anthem with a string of 11 catchy and uplifting songs that will keep the listener mesmerized and fully entertained”.  Rock N Roll View Magazine – USA
 
10/10 stars  “exceptional music and multi-dimensional. … uplifting, thought provoking, & interesting. …possesses an undeniable Americana Country Blues core breaking the traditional mold for Singer-Songwriter style of music”. “…puts Kelly Pettit on the map for 2014”.  –by Allan Prather at Indie Shark Magazine. USA
 
9/10 stars “any music fan can find something they would enjoy in this mixture of brilliant songs.  “…”Every Sunrise” is an extremely bright, cheerful, and thoughtful album. – VENTS magazine USA
 
9/10 stars  Nominated for album of the year.  …”an impressive collection of music. The songwriting is gold standard – full of consistent musical experiences, each one possessing a unique personality, flair, and signature groove. Note for note, song for song, there isn’t a weak piece in this entire catalog”.  Cyrus Rhodes – founder of Indie Music Digest Magazine USA
 



February 27th, 2014
CD of the Week!


Every Sunrise has been released for about 6 weeks and the reviews are starting to come in.  The latest net magazine IMD says "CD of the Week" and is nominated for album of the year!   I am so happy that it appears fans and critics alike are enjoying the latest album.  So far so good.  If you're interested in reading the latest reviews in one spot click here.  To those of you who spent time listening and then sharing your voice - THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  I luv ya!!

If you wish to leave a review at these sites I'd really appreciate it.  Just click on the icons to take you there.









 



January 22nd 2014
Lyrics!


Thanks to those of you who have purchased my latest album "Every Sunrise" and for those of you who have been spreading the word about it.  Word of mouth is a powerful thing.  I am waking up every morning to new mailing list subscribers and album purchases.  So, thank you!

Also, if you didn't know, you can download the lyrics or read them on-line by going to my music page.

After all, I don't want you to be singing the lyrics wrong like my father always does.  You know, like singing Jimmy Hendrix "Excuse me while I kiss this guy" or Madonna's "Like a Virgin touched for the thirty first time".

Speaking of lyrics, here is a lyric video I made to my song "Perfectly Beautiful". More to come...
 



Recording an album in Nashville

Posted on
 

Hi

How are things?   Hope you’re enjoying August!  I had a great time.  As you probably know, I went down to Nashville Tennessee for just over 2 weeks.  After 3 long years since my last album which I recorded in Australia I embarked on a journey to Music City.  I’ve always wanted to record there so with a lot of emails and time management it happened.  I got there a few days early to help fight jet lag and to lock myself in my hotel room and try to finish off some lyrics. I accidentally chose the perfect hotel for that because there was nothing else around that area.

 

January, 2015

Happy New Year friends! 

I hope 2015 brings you health and happiness.  Thanks for making 2014 a year to remember for me. 
Be safe out there.

Kelly



Hi!  Merry Christmas!

It's that time of year again where the weather gets colder but hearts get warmer.  I hope you have a fantastic winter holiday and you get to enjoy whatever or whoever it is that you love.

I'll be gigging a bunch of year end parties and Christmas shows as well as a New Years show in Shibuya, Tokyo.  

2014 has been a great year and my latest album "Every Sunrise" has been received well.  So much so that it sold out and I had to order more.   

Just a reminder that if you're shopping for Christmas - "Every Sunrise" makes a great gift.  If you order from my website I always sign the CD with a personal thank you and attach other goodies as well. 

I sure you hope you have an amazing holiday.  Feel free to drop me a line here or one of my other social sites. 

Warm wishes,

Kelly
 


September 17th, 2014

What an awesome summer I had!  I spent 2 weeks with family on Vancouver Island and then I came back to Japan to gig almost every single day.  I sold an incredible amount of CDs and made some great new fans.  It really was one of the best summers ever.  I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has supported me on this journey and a big shout out to all the Japanese fans who have embraced my shows and music with open arms.  Arigatou!!



December 18th 2013
My 6th Album has arrived!!  HURRAY!


My long awaited new album finally arrived!  I'm not doing a release date until January 2014 but for those of you who occasionally drop by my website then I have a great deal for you.  Only $10 US until 2014 and I will personally sign it and also send you an immediate download for it with a bonus!!  You can't lose!  You can listen here if you wish.

Best wishes for you and yours over the holiday season and a warm hug for 2014!  Remember everything on this planet is here for a reason.  Be giving to all...


November 27th, 2013
Jacket Design Done!

 
I've just got word that the CD jacket is complete and in line for press.    The estimated time of arrival is mid-December.  Hope the wait was worth it.

This is the back of the CD.                                          This is the front of the CD.



Will be in touch soon!

Kelly


October 30th, 2013

The songs for the new album are finally mastered!  I had a quality listen today and they sound big.  The album runs 38 minutes.  Just the perfect commute home length! :)  So now it's off to get them pressed.  Hopefully it won't be much longer.  Thanks for your patience everyone.  Don't forget to hang out with me on twitter or facebook! 

"Every Sunrise"
 
1.  Perfectly Beautiful
2.  Follow Me
3.  You and I
4.  Every Sunrise
5.  I Feel Nothing Now
6.  It Can Be Yours
7.  Tears Carved in Stone
8.  Dead Lines
9.  Gonna Have Days
10. Stole My Cool
11. Road to London
 



Recording an album in Nashville

Hi

Hope you enjoyed August!  I had a great time.  As you probably know, I went down to Nashville Tennessee for just over 2 weeks.  After 3 long years since my last album which I recorded in Australia I embarked on a journey to Music City.  I’ve always wanted to record there so with a lot of emails and time management it happened.  I got there a few days early to help fight jet lag and to lock myself in my hotel room and try to finish off some lyrics. I accidentally chose the perfect hotel for that because there was nothing else around that area.
After a couple days I moved to a hotel near the downtown area.  Producer/singer-songwriter Greg Arnold flew in from Australia and met me there.  For the next couple of days he would come up to my room with his guitar and we did some per-production of the songs.  We worked on a few arrangement and lyrical ideas as well as pick the songs which he felt were the strongest of the bunch to go on the album.  I had written well over 20 songs for the CD knowing full well, they all weren’t going to make it.
From the 18th until the 23rd of August we recorded at “Alex the Great” studios.   The cool thing about this studio is that it’s attached to a house so we had all the luxuries one needs when not immersed in recording.  Sleeping there was a huge savings on my budget.    Half owner of the studio is legendary Brad Jones.  It was extremely exciting to have the opportunity to work with both Greg Arnold and Brad Jones who both have credentials as long as a roll of toilet paper.  Their creative ideas, skills and personalities made the recordings vibrant and fun.
I was also lucky enough to get drummer Steve Bowman (former Counting Crows) who not only is a killer player but if he wasn’t a drummer could have been a stand-up comedian.  I thoroughly enjoyed his personality and more so the vibe he put on each song.  I think the feeling was mutual as he came in quite often after his parts were done to share stories and see how the songs were progressing.
Multi-instrumentalist Fats Kaplin (Robert Plant band member etc) also came on board and threw down a variety of ideas on a handful of tracks.  He was fast and dead on with the thoughts we were relaying to him.   He really added some extra flavor to push the mood of the songs up even more.  I was very pleased to have him contribute.
Every day around 3:30 we would take a lunch break and Brad would drive us to his favorite restaurants.  He wanted us to experience the local cuisine and we pretty much covered it all.   We had Mexican, Barbecue, Southern Fried dishes and more.  It was a great time to talk about things other than my songs and for me to learn a little more about personalities behind the talent.  One of the things I learned was the 6 degrees of separation in the music business.  Especially down in Nashville.  Everyone that has talent seems to have worked with everyone else.  Some of the stories that were shared are priceless but they’ll remain behind closed doors.
When the last day came we were close to finishing up most of the tracking but there were still a few things that need to be done.  Brad will do those on his own time since both Greg and I had to fly out of Nashville.

Brad was quick to tell me often that he really liked the songs but in particular thought my voice was special.  Steve Bowman said my voice reminded him of Freedy Johnson.  Greg said he feels this album is extremely strong.  He said it’s much stronger than “These Days” and he’s excited to hear the final product.  The positive feedback from top guns can do a musician good sometimes!
It was tough to turn around one last time, shake hands and say “until next time”.  For now, I’ll enjoy the spices that this album has to offer.
I hope to see you on the journey.

Kelly

 


20 year old song gets new life.

Anyone remember these?

Anyone remember these?

Back in the 90′s when I was busking every day at the seabus and going to University I wrote a song with a woman named Kate MacColl.  I had this chord progression I kept playing but that was it.  She came back the next day with these lyrics and moving melody.  We recorded the song on my guitar and her vocals at a studio just to “have it”.  I really never thought about it much until 20 years later when she contacted me to tell me she entered it in a contest and it got runner up.  I went to her website and had a listen.  It’s still got legs all these years later.  You never know in the music business when your songs will finally mean something to someone.

Use to busk at the terminal. The seabus departed every 15 min. & we would make some serious money.

Use to busk at the terminal. The seabus departed every 15 min. & we would make some serious money.

You can here the song here if you wish.

Kelly

 


 

Lyrics Lyrics Lyrics!

It's still blank!

It’s still blank!

Why is it I find it so hard to find them!  My life is full of stuff happening all around me yet I can’t seem to write about it.  I decided to just start jotting down anything that comes to mind in this book and then start pulling out the parts that mean something to me.  Last album I was staying up all night the last days before recording because of the same problem.  This time I want some leeway so I can refine and rewrite a few more times.

I best get away from this blog and back to that area of my brain where the creativity sits.  Just have to find it first!


August 15th, 2012
In Canada

I have a 6 week holiday (half over now). The plan was to go to Brazil, then Nashville to record a new CD, and then back to Canada to do a show or two and see family. I realized that I was trying to fit too much into the alloted time so I cancelled the Nashville trip and will do the album next spring. So now I'm here in beautiful BC enjoying family, good food, amazing weather, and finding time to sit down and write songs. The time is going by way too fast but I guess that's what happens when you're having fun.
 



February 20th, 2012
How to write radio friendly songs.

I wrote an article several years back (that I just added to this blog site) called “7 Steps to writing a song you’re proud of” and I was surprised at the amount of readers who found it. In that article I talked mostly of “my” process on how to get a song from inside you out into one that you are happy of.

In this blog, I want to explain some common ideals that are present when trying to write songs to be commercially viable. Please note that these views, while fairly standard, are just my opinion and they are not written in stone... Read More



February 9th, 2012
New album in pre-production.


Song-writing, wrong-writing, and prolong-writing are what stages I am in at the moment. If I don’t have a good song, then I suppose I shouldn’t bother making the next album. Right now I feel I have around 3 songs that are possibilities for the new CD. That leaves me with half a year to write another 7 or 8 worthy of being on the new album. It’s been tough to find quality creative downtime this year. It’s been busy to say the least. I’m hoping if I can get some co-writing adventures going it could spark a fresh and burning fire of strong tunes. I always want to make the new CD sound a little different from the last one but no matter how hard one tries; there are always elements of a song that are uniquely you.

I plan on working with Producer Greg Arnold again. The last album was raw but real and it was critically acclaimed by many. He made the process painless and memorable. The established and credible songwriter/producer wants to make the next album with me in Nashville Tennessee this time. Although, he is an Aussie, he has some solid connections with accomplished people in the industry there. Another reason I want to bring my game face with me. I released my first album in 1997 and since then the industry has completely changed. The one thing I believe that remains true is this: It all starts with a great song. It’s the peak of a mountain.From there, it has the potential via marketing to flow into the hands of fans or into a sea of mediocrity.

Pre-production is like training for a bicycle race for me. In requires dedication and some mind over matter. I love the challenge and fear the failure equally.

Hmmmm…Sounds like a song in there somewhere…. ;) Hopefully an albums worth!



December 14th, 2011

I just got back from my trip to Otsuchi city in Iwate prefecture..

I'd like to thank the Canadian Embassy for inviting me to do a show in Otsuchi city where the place was devastated from the earthquake of March 13th this year. It was incredibly moving being there with the locals and seeing first hand what they endured. Only a week ago did they finally get a grocery store up and running. Power is still scarce and it will take a long time for the people to feel like they have a community again.

Meeting the locals first hand I realized just how much they lost. My goal was not to say "sorry" and to not reflect on the tragedy but instead to bring sunshine and smiles and a positive outlook on tomorrow. Easier said than done but I do sense that the people enjoyed themselves and for a brief moment forgot about a lot of their worries. Hats off to the Canadian Embassy for doing such a fine job of putting a great event together. They offered a great lunch, some fun entertainment and a lot of hospitality. It made me proud to be Canadian.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.



Kelly
November 17th, 2011


Hey friends. Hope you’re all well. It’s been a great year for me personally and there have been a lot of things happening to make it go by way too quickly.

On the music front, not a whole lot has changed. I’m still gigging every weekend and selling lots of CDs from the stage. I've enjoyed meeting some really cool people that way as I usually sit around after a show to sign CDs and share stories. .

I had a fun gig in Hiroshima not too long ago. It was open to anyone interested in coming down and it was a full house. Hiroshima is a very cool city and thanks largely to a fellow Canadian Scott McKeeman who played host as well as help organize the event, I had a fantastic time.

I also have 3 songs from my “THESE DAYS” album in “consideration” for a few Hollywood films. Production for those movies has not finished and I have no idea if or when any of the songs will get used. Wish me luck there.

Producer/songwriter Greg Arnold from Australia and I are talking about recording the next CD in Nashville. Greg has some close ties there and recons it’s a good step to making a strong record. If all falls through, we will be recording sometime around next August. I will keep you all posted.

Finally, if you haven’t checked out all thefree MP3 songs I have in my store, feel free to download them. Oh and remember, you can always contact me as well if you want to keep in touch. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter. Wordpress blog site.

Ciao for now,

Kelly



December 14th, 2011

I just got back from my trip to Otsuchi city in Iwate prefecture..

I'd like to thank the Canadian Embassy for inviting me to do a show in Otsuchi city where the place was devastated from the earthquake of March 13th this year. It was incredibly moving being there with the locals and seeing first hand what they endured. Only a week ago did they finally get a grocery store up and running. Power is still scarce and it will take a long time for the people to feel like they have a community again.

Meeting the locals first hand I realized just how much they lost. My goal was not to say "sorry" and to not reflect on the tragedy but instead to bring sunshine and smiles and a positive outlook on tomorrow. Easier said than done but I do sense that the people enjoyed themselves and for a brief moment forgot about a lot of their worries. Hats off to the Canadian Embassy for doing such a fine job of putting a great event together. They offered a great lunch, some fun entertainment and a lot of hospitality. It made me proud to be Canadian.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Kelly
 



November 17th, 2011

Hey friends. Hope you’re all well. It’s been a great year for me personally and there have been a lot of things happening to make it go by way too quickly.

On the music front, not a whole lot has changed. I’m still gigging every weekend and selling lots of CDs from the stage. I've enjoyed meeting some really cool people that way as I usually sit around after a show to sign CDs and share stories. .

I had a fun gig in Hiroshima not too long ago. It was open to anyone interested in coming down and it was a full house. Hiroshima is a very cool city and thanks largely to a fellow Canadian Scott McKeeman who played host as well as help organize the event, I had a fantastic time.

I also have 3 songs from my “THESE DAYS” album in “consideration” for a few Hollywood films. Production for those movies has not finished and I have no idea if or when any of the songs will get used. Wish me luck there.

Producer/songwriter Greg Arnold from Australia and I are talking about recording the next CD in Nashville. Greg has some close ties there and recons it’s a good step to making a strong record. If all falls through, we will be recording sometime around next August. I will keep you all posted.

Finally, if you haven’t checked out all thefree MP3 songs I have in my store, feel free to download them. Oh and remember, you can always contact me as well if you want to keep in touch. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter. Wordpress blog site.

Ciao for now,

Kelly
 



May 17th, 2011

Hello everyone.

Thank you to all of you who helped out with donating to the Japanese Red Cross via my music. Your generosity went towards a great cause and on behalf of the Japanese people, I thank you.

I haven't received any donations towards their charity for a while so I am closing down this idea for now. If you wish to help out I recommend going to the Japanese Red Cross site.

Again, thank you all very much.

Kelly

April 18th, 2011 THIS IS NOW CLOSED!



Hello

As most of you know I have been living in Japan for a long time. Japan and its people have been wonderful to me. My friends, neighbors and colleagues have always been there to help me. They have always shown kindness.

It's time for me to give back to them. After watching the devastation unfold all around me, I really want to help. All proceeds from my music and merchandise will go towards helping the recent crisis.

All proceeds will go towards the reliable Japanese red cross charity. The only money used will be to help pay for shipping.

If you have already bought my music maybe you would like to buy it as a gift for a family member or friend?


When you purchase my music (in any format you wish ie- physical CD or MP3 download etc);

a) you will be giving that money to the "Japanese Red Cross ."

b) Not only will you be helping people in need but you'll get something back for it as well.

Together we can help.


If you have already done something to help them out, I thank you for that. However, if you have been thinking of it, here is a chance to do so and get something back in return.

I will send an up-date a month later to those that helped out and tell you how much money we were able to give.

Giving to a nobal cause is always rewarding.

Hope everyone is safe and well.
Thanks for you time,



Kelly Pettit
April 9th, 2011
Update


Hey,
My last day in Phoenix today and then I will be returning back to Japan. I'm under the impression that life where I left it in Japan has generally returned to normal. If for some reason it has not, I will probably move away for good. Japan has been my home for the last 10 years and there are a lot of reasons to stay. Money however, has always been the driving factor. If that changes, then I expect I will move home. I'll keep you posted.


Hope you are well!
March 18th, 2011
Update

Hello everyone,
I am heading to Phoenix Arizona for 3 weeks where my brother lives. I will return to Japan in April and return to my day job.



January 25th, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Hey friends,

Happy New Year to all of you. I hope you enjoyed your holidays and the start of 2011. I know I did. It was amazing to spend time with my family again. Living in Japan puts too much distance between my immediate family and myself. It's the one thing that eats me up while I'm here.

But my trip home was better than I had expected. My father has been battling cancer and had just gotten out of the hospital after a month of being extremely sick. The good news is that he was slowly on the mend when I got there and coming back to form. He’s got a ways to go but I believe he’s on the mend. It was just good to hang out with him and spend some time even if it was not enough.

I also managed to see my two closest friends and do some very fast catching up but a big highlight was flying down to Phoenix Arizona where my brother lives and hanging out with him, my mother and his family. It had been 4 years since I had seen him. That’s way too long in my books.

I only managed to do one show while back in Canada. My trip wasn’t geared around it so I never ran out looking for it. But thanks to Jerry Wong and Tina Codwell we threw together a show in my hometown Nanaimo at the Diner’s Rendezvous. What a fun night it turned out to be. It was packed and the crowd came to listen. You couldn’t ask for a better audience. I posted a couple of songs from the night onto youtube if you want to check it out.

Now I’m back in Japan and things are busy just like before I left. I just had knee surgery and a root canal. Signs of age I suppose. But at least I can get them behind me and sunny days are ahead indeed.

A few music adventures in the mix as well. Stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted. If you want to share some words with me, feel free to email me at kelly@kellypettit.com . I promise to get back to you.

I really hope you have an amazing 2011. Life is short. Keep smiling and dreaming.

~Kelly
 



December 1st, 2010
Hey everyone



Hey, if you live near Nanaimo, BC Canada, please read this: I will be in Canada visiting family and friends during the winter and I will also do a short flight down to Phoenix Arizona to spend time with family there as well. However....

I will be doing one live gig in Nanaimo on January 6th. If you live in the area it's a show not to miss. Come down and hang out with myself and 3 other stellar songwriters as we jam the night away. Seats are limited so if you can make it, be sure to get your ticket. I would love to say hello in person! Click here for more information. November 29th, 2010


There is something sad about looking back on great memories. I would love to jump on a plane and go back and say hello to the guys that made this dream a reality, walk down the same beaches where I tried to collect creative ideas and I’d like to talk to locals again about trivial things and swap stories. Fond memories are usually moments you would love to experience again.

Like I said, it’s hard to believe it’s been a year. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons making a CD is something I absolutely love. It’s not just about the song. It’s about the whole journey. It’s about the hard work, the goal of making this dream a reality, the great friends that share the same interests, the challenges, the life long memories, and ultimately the final product that holds all of that in the palm of my hands.

When I look at my CD, “These Days”, I just don’t see a disk full of music. I see a story. A challenge set out and completed. It’s an idea that started with a chord on a guitar, a melody in my head, or a lyric stolen from a street sign. I see a million small tasks that I must do for my dream to finally become reality. I see the inspiration of family and friends and above all, I see myself doing something that gives me a sense of self-accomplishment. When it’s finally done, there is an immense satisfaction I hold but at the same time a yearning begins to do it all over again and to always up the game. That yearning has begun once again.



October 2nd, 2010
Hellooooo


Yo my friends, was'up?

I can't believe it's October already. Anyways, I'll make this quick.

Free new live songs and new documentary video up. Go check them out ASAP.

Hope you're all well!

Please leave a comment or a review on iTunes or anything you can think of to support me. Your word of mouth is EVERTHING.

Stay healthy and happy. I'll be back soon!

~Kelly
 


September 3rd, 2010
Hey Everyone,


How is summer treating you? It's a hot one this year in most places on this planet. Reading up on it and it seems that this is the trend for our future. I hope you're all managing to find places to cool off and enjoy the sunshine regardless.

It's been an amazing summer for me. One I will remember for a long time. The highlight hands down was my family coming to visit me for 2 weeks. Despite having over 18 gigs during the month of August and dragging them around with me to many shows, we somehow found time to do lots of other interesting activities, too.

On the music front, CD sales have been great. For over 10 years selling CDs directly from the stage has been the hot spot, but recently my internet sales have really increased as well. I'd like to give a big shout out to a lot of the internet radio stations and my fans for doing what they can to spread the word. In particular, Indie Showcase Radio, The Portal Magazine, FM OZE, FM Taro, Smile FM, Nemu Nemu, and friends Flossie Gateman, Charlie, Dana Brown, Paula Fortney and Simon Smith. There are many more of you as well that have really worked hard to cheer to me on and the list is too long to mention. Thank you all deeply.

What’s up and coming?

I'm planning to get some of my musical friends from overseas to do a small tour here in Japan with me again. While I do have a Japanese band the vibe of mixing the two together was amazing last time so I will be doing it again only playing bigger and better venues. Dates not made yet.

Stay tuned for a documentary about the making of the CD “THESE DAYS”. I will soon be releasing it in 3 to 5 minute parts. It’s been on hold for a while due to an insanely busy summer.

More accoustic video and MP3 versions of my songs coming up on youtube.

Merchandise is just around the corner as well. I’ve been working on T-shirt designs, cups, posters etc but again, almost there.

I’ve been searching for someone to make a proper music video. I had someone in mind and was excited about it but because of time conflicts it fell through.

Finally a small favour.

Those of you who have purchased a song on iTunes before, if you click on myiTunes page and write a simple 2 or 3 sentence comment saying you like the CD “THESE DAYS” and rate 5 stars, it really helps bring traffic to my page. I will send you a FREE download link of your album of choice (one you don’t have). Just make sure to let me know you wrote something, what album you’d like and I’ll get back to you immediately.

Read some of the reviews about my new CD. Click here.

Again, stay tuned for a lot of new things. In the meantime, I hope you're all doing well.

~Kelly
 


July 16th, 2010
Hey everyone!


How's it going?

I have a favour to ask of you if you have 5 mintues to spare.

If you use iTunes and/or CD baby I would be GRATEFUL if you could find the time to all write a two or 3 sentence review about my new CD "THESE DAYS" on their site.

The more reviews I have the better chance of a sale (providing the reviews are nice lol). So, if you have an account with them (or any site) where you could say a couple of nice things about my new CD I'd really appreciate it! Thank you very much!

Have a great weekend!

Kelly
 


May 28th, 2010
Hello again everyone.


Today is an exciting day for me. It’s sunny outside and it’s Friday and my CDs just arrived! You can now purchase my CDs directly from my store and they will ship out immediately and shipping is free! I will also personally sign each CD.

You can listen to the songs in full on the music page.

Please have a look at the different plans I have and see if one of them works for you.
I will be adding more merchandise in the near future.

The CD is also available for download on iTunes, Amazon, CDbaby, and so on.

By the way, a very big THANK YOU to all my sponsors and supporters over the last few months. I am very touched by you all cheering me on! Thanks to you I was able to make a very high quality CD and release it in an environmentally friendly jacket.

I hope you listen and enjoy it.

~Kelly
 


February/2010
Happy 2010


How has 2010 been treating you so far? I hope it’s a great year for you.

I am actually very excited about this year. I spent the first part of it down in Australia recording my latest CD with producer Greg Arnold and I am really happy with the way everything fell into place and the tracks on the CD are sounding very big! The songs have just finished being edited and are now off to get mixed and mastered by Michael Letho at Michael Letho Productions. Once that is done, they get sent off to be printed. I’m hoping the CDs will be available in about 4 to 6 weeks. The vibe on this CD is a lot different than my previous album FUEL but I like to think we raised the bar and I stepped up another level.

Greg Arnold was extremely easy to work with and he brought with him a bag full of tricks and an incredible energy that I think finds its way onto this new album. I’ve been a huge fan of his songwriting for the last 15 or so years so it was a real honor that we ended up co-writing two songs for this CD. I managed to take heaps of photos and video so stay tuned in the next few months for documented footage of the making of this CD.

Don't forgot to check out the video blogs, go to the forum or sign the guest book!

Talk soon!
~Kelly

 


December/2009
Hello everyone


Well, it’s that time of year again where you’re probably all busy preparing for the holidays. I hope it all runs smoothly for you.

It’s going to be a very different winter for me this year as I leave for Melbourne, Australia on December 19th to record my 5th CD. I will be recording it with producer Greg Arnold who I am a big fan of. I fly into Melbourne on a Sunday around 2 pm and then we start rehearsing that evening. I will be documenting the whole trip on camera and video camera so when I come back I should have a visual library full of the events that took place.

Since its Christmas I wanted to let you know that I will be offering my Album “FUEL” for free for 48 hours for anyone who drops by my website on December 25th and 26th. I realize there is a time difference around the world so I will send out a quick newsletter again to let you all know when I initiate it. Most of you already have the CD so if you want to tell a good friend it could make a nice present.

A Christmas song I co-wrote with good friend Mark Clay a couple of years back in on my site as a free download right now. It's called Christmas Everyday and it's a fun sexy song so make sure to get it and add it to the Christmas songs this season. It’s also getting some exposure on several internet radio stations and the Vancouver Province.

I have posted avideo blog about a week ago here where I answer the question I’m getting a lot lately, “Why Australia”. I will also be posting a video blog once a week while down under. Come back often to check them out!
 


May 11th 2010
Hey everyone!


Just a quick note to let you know that I sent out the CD master to get pressed today. After 5 months of making the CD they will be ready to share after May 25th. I went environmentally friendly this time around and searched hard for a company to manufacture my CDs with no plastic and printed in vegetable ink. It cost a lot more money but I'll sleep better at night. There's also a 8 page booklet included with the CD. I hope you check it out.

You can check out a sample of all the songs by watching the video I made on this page.

Hope you're all well.

~Kelly
 



February/2010
Happy 2010


How has 2010 been treating you so far? I hope it’s a great year for you.

I am actually very excited about this year. I spent the first part of it down in Australia recording my latest CD with producer Greg Arnold and I am really happy with the way everything fell into place and the tracks on the CD are sounding very big! The songs have just finished being edited and are now off to get mixed and mastered by Michael Letho at Michael Letho Productions. Once that is done, they get sent off to be printed. I’m hoping the CDs will be available in about 4 to 6 weeks. The vibe on this CD is a lot different than my previous albumFUEL but I like to think we raised the bar and I stepped up another level.

Greg Arnold was extremely easy to work with and he brought with him a bag full of tricks and an incredible energy that I think finds its way onto this new album. I’ve been a huge fan of his songwriting for the last 15 or so years so it was a real honor that we ended up co-writing two songs for this CD. I managed to take heaps of photos and video so stay tuned in the next few months for documented footage of the making of this CD.

Don't forgot to check out the video blogs, go to the forum or sign the guest book!

Talk soon!
~Kelly
 



December/2009
Hello everyone


Well, it’s that time of year again where you’re probably all busy preparing for the holidays. I hope it all runs smoothly for you.

It’s going to be a very different winter for me this year as I leave for Melbourne, Australia on December 19th to record my 5th CD. I will be recording it with producer Greg Arnold who I am a big fan of. I fly into Melbourne on a Sunday around 2 pm and then we start rehearsing that evening. I will be documenting the whole trip on camera and video camera so when I come back I should have a visual library full of the events that took place.

Since its Christmas I wanted to let you know that I will be offering my Album “FUEL” for free for 48 hours for anyone who drops by my website on December 25th and 26th. I realize there is a time difference around the world so I will send out a quick newsletter again to let you all know when I initiate it. Most of you already have the CD so if you want to tell a good friend it could make a nice present.

A Christmas song I co-wrote with good friend Mark Clay a couple of years back in on my site as a free download right now. It's called Christmas Everyday and it's a fun sexy song so make sure to get it and add it to the Christmas songs this season. It’s also getting some exposure on several internet radio stations and the Vancouver Province.

I have posted a video blog about a week ago here where I answer the question I’m getting a lot lately, “Why Australia”. I will also be posting a video blog once a week while down under. Come back often to check them out!

 



September/2009
Hey everyone!


How are you doing? It’s been a while since I sent a newsletter out and I am surprised how quickly the time has past by. For most of you its summer and I hope you’ve been able to enjoy it. I was very busy the last two months and I performed over 30 shows. Half of those shows where at my reliable Theme Park where I’ve been gigging for years but the other half were made up of a wide variety of venues. One of my favorite places to perform is in a town called Kusatsu. It’s a beautiful place with many natural hot springs and visited by many Japanese throughout the year. I did a video blog while staying in my hotel there if you want to check it out.

I also went to Tochigi prefecture and shared the stage with two other bands at a cool place called Nemu Nemu. My good friend Hibiki and I drove there from Gunma and it took about an hour but it turned out to be a fun night. I played an acoustic set and tried out some of my new songs I might release on my next CD and the response was good.

On August 23rd I did a show at a new venue called “JHK”. It used to be a place for weddings but the owner converted it into a really funky place to perform live. After the show the owner turned on the Barbeque and poured ice cold beer and we all sat around sharing stories.

September has been really busy. I’ve got a foot inside the door of a bunch of projects.  For starters my friend Mark Clay and I are working on a very cool song he sent me called, “Dunkirk Spirit” that has a Celtic vibe to it. He also helped finish off a song of mine called, “What Have I Done”, and recorded his take on it with just a couple of acoustic guitars. Mark is generous enough to offer it to you exclusive on my website for free. You can find it here. Down the road I will attempt to record my version of it, too.  I'm also trying to finish up a song and  enter it in an annual songwriting contest that takes place in Japan.  I must have that song complete and submitted by the end of September.  I best buckle down and get on with it!

October 16th, a friend of mine Simon Smith is coming to visit me in Japan. He will be here for 5 days and is flying all the way from England. Some of my loyal supporters might know him from our small community. I’ve got a few  small shows lined up that I’ll be dragging him to. One of them is a venue I’ve never gigged at before so we’ll both be checking it out for the first time. (Simon, I hope you’re ready for a culture shock)

Aside from my music career, I’ve been cycling and training often. I road over 2500 km during the summer.  It’s getting dark earlier lately so I’m not able to ride as far. But ice hockey has started again and so now I’m doing that 2 to 3 times a week, too. If you want to go on an 8 minute bike ride with me, click here (but I warn you, it's not too thrilling unless you like that sort of thing).

OK, I’ll sign off now. Sorry for the long delay from the last update. Hope you’re all well. Feel free to email and fill me in with what you’re up to. I’ll be sure to get back to you.

Until next time, take care.
Kelly

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May/2009
Hi!


How is everything going? I hope spring is in full bloom and you’re able to get outside and enjoy some decent weather. It’s been fantastic weather here in Japan and it’s nice to put winter behind me for a while.

I want to give a big thank you to all of you who have joined my mailing list and my eteam. As you might know, I’ve posted a couple new songs on my site for free download. I’m really happy with how many came by to grab them and leave comments as well. The newest song “What Have I Done” as you know, is a really rough demo (recorded in my bedroom live). It needs a bridge, and the lyrics need to be moved around, axed, or altered. But the feedback on the song makes me think I might just re-record it when I’m making my new CD. Hopefully in the upcoming months I’ll post some other ideas I have so that I can get your honest feed back. I really want the songs on the next CD to be for you. Meaning – while I always write from the heart, I write often and sometimes it’s hard to know which songs will end up being the most universal. Your opinion really matters to me.

May was a great month for gigging and it was nice to play on a regular basis after a fairly quiet winter. Hands down, playing live is where I sell most of my CD’s. It goes to show there is nothing more captivating than a live performance. To me, a great CD and a great live performance are completely separate from each other. A great CD can have all the bells and whistles and be polished to perfection but doesn’t always show the true artist. I wish I had a chance to play live in front of most of you on a more regular basis. If I get enough support and a healthy budget I am planning on doing that after the release of my next CD.

I would really love to know more about your music interests. What do you like in a good CD? What do you like in an artist? How I could better myself? How can I better my interaction with you? If you have any questions or comments please email me or join my forum and share your thoughts. Again, I’m looking for ways to improve in all areas of music. After all, it’s not called the music business for nothing.

Don't forget to join me on facebook or twitter or myspace. 


I hope to see you around and thanks again for your support!

Kelly

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April/2009

G’day!


Another month passes faster than I expected it to. How about you? Spring is finally here and for the last couple of weeks the Japanese have been celebrating it with their Cherry Blossom festivals. It really is beautiful when all the trees are in full bloom. I did a cool concert outside in a park on a warm sunny Sunday and everyone and their dog was there.

It’s also playoff hockey time and I am a huge Vancouver Canucks fan. They look really strong so far in the run for the Stanley Cup and I have been cheering them on at top voice while watching from here in Japan. GO CANUCKS GO!

On the music side of life, I’ve been performing regularly again as this country seems to have woken from a long winters sleep. It’s nice to be playing frequently and getting my chops back. I tend to write a lot more during this time, too.


Come by my website from time to time and check for new free downloads. In particular I am going to start posting some acoustic versions of songs that you can add to your collection. Most of the songs will be MP3 taken from a video that coincides with it . You can download my version of “Hey There Delilah” right now. Click here. I’d love it if you watched the video on YouTube and left a comment.

Also, some more merchandise has been added to the store and some great discounts.

Also, just a friendly reminder that I have a forum on my website as well that you can check out. It’s feeling very lonely over there and it would be great to get some social networking going. There are a few fun topics already started by me and my friends. Two of the questions I have asked that I am curious of are: “What are your current top 5 favorite bands/musicians?” and “How are you discovering your music these days?” If you post, maybe I’ll find some new artists and outlets I never knew about. Hope to see you there.

There’s also a questionnaire where I ask a few simple questions to help understand what you like or dislike about my music. It’s just one of the many things I’m doing to try to become better. You can find it here.

Join me on facebook, twitter, myspace and more.

Finally, don’t forget if you join my eteam (it’s free), you have access to everything on my site, including contests, freebees, and more. Just fill out your name.

Hope you are all well and thanks for all the support lately. Many of you have been great at keeping in touch and it means a lot.

Take care and have a great month!

~ Kelly   (return to main page)



March/09
Hey everyone,


Hope you’re all doing swell and life is peachy keen. March has been a month full of highs and lows for me. I had another birthday recently and it was very low key (just the way I like them) and spring is finally here so that is all positive. I have two family members that became quite sick at the beginning of this month and it’s been a tough time for them. One of them I’m happy to say is almost fully recovered but the other is about to enter chemotherapy and radiation treatment. It’s going to be a very tough battle but he’s an extremely positive person with a lot of fight so I’m waiting for good news to come. Life definitely is full of surprises and at times seems unfair. It really makes you appreciate it when you’re healthy and happy.
 


The next CD.

S
o initially I was planning on recording my new CD in August this year but I’ve been having a hard time getting everyone together to do it. It appears August is a very busy time for musicians (like I didn’t know that). This means, I believe if all goes according to plan, I will be recording the next CD in Late December in Australia. I’m not going to say much more until it’s all finalized but let me just say, the producer is very well known in the land down under and is one of my favorite songwriters (no, it’s not Neil Finn). Stay tuned for more on this later.

Also, I'm going to try working with another producer from Vancouver via the internet. We're going to co-write a song together and see what happens from there. If we're happy with the relationship we might try it again. We'll be collaborating next week and when it's done I'll post it on line here for you to get.
 



February 21st/09
Blast from the Past


Hey everyone,

How did you survive January and February? I bet you are as excited about spring as I am. These last two months are always the slowest gig months for me which means a lot of free weekend’s trying to write songs for my next CD.

So, the other day I received an email from a fan who asked me if I had any past songs for sale. I've been asked this question on many occasions and my answer is usually, "Sorry, I'm all sold out". While this is true, there has also been a part of me that feels I am not that person who wrote those songs anymore. I've improved and those older CD's don’t meet the standard I’ve set for myself now. Secretly, I'm proud of the journey I have taken despite it being a slow one because I've never let go of my dream. Yet my pride has kept me from releasing my older CDs.

So, after much thought, words of wisdom from friends and a change of heart, I decided to release my older songs in MP3 format for download on my website.

I sat down one evening and for the first time in ages I listened to them again. It was immediately obvious to me that they were not produced by Mutt Lange or Mitchell Froom, they were not co-written with Jeffrey Steele, nor were they recorded in Nashville at Dark Horse Studio with the worlds best musicians and a bank full of cash.

What I did discovered however, was quite spiritual. They are without a doubt, 100% me. They are my thoughts, my heart, my stories, and my influences captured into 3 minute time capsules. They brought back fond memories and surprisingly years later, if I do say so myself, they are not that bad ! In fact, I've had fans that I won over with some of those songs who are still with me on this musical journey today. That's got to say something right? LOL.

If you’re interested in checking out those songs just click here. If you have a question or want to leave me a message or sign the guest book I’d appreciate it.

I would also love to hear what you’ve been doing.

As always, thanks for your time

Kelly   ( return to main page )



January 20th/09
365 days bring musical joy


Wow, there is so much happening in the world of Kelly Pettit lately. I am just really excited that I have stuck with doing what I love. The last 365 days have been amazing for me as a musician. Here are some of the highlights:

 Out of 2000 bands competing for top prize of $200,000 worth of promotions, marketing and gear, I won the Ultimate Band Contest thanks to the support of family, friends and fans.

 By far my busiest year as a performer in Japan. I have played some incredibly cool festivals, functions and gigs including a concert where my good friends Jerry Wong and Aaron Grant came to rock out with me.

 I have received some great press from TV, radio, newspaper, magazines and internet.

 My song “She’s Just Like Summer” was nominated for best in Pop at the Hollywood
music awards.

 The famous ABC’s Fame Games radio show which has 4,400 affiliate radio stations reaching more than 105 million listeners a week has made me a house hold name for listeners of their show. My song “She’s Just Like Summer” won track of the month a half year ago. Recently they held their annual Effigy Awards and I was nominated for 5 awards (Best songwriting, most popular song, Best overall song, Best song in light rock, Best song in Country) and took home two of them (Best song in Light Rock and Best song in Country). Not bad for a small town kid who now lives in the rice fields of Japan. Simon and brother Tony Cowell have backed up the show and even mentioned my name a couple times.

So what does all of this mean? Well, I suppose time will tell but for now it has given me a lift. It offers me a sense that I really am a songwriter/musician and that I am on the right track. This is the kind of stuff that feeds the fire and keeps my passion burning strong. In fact, I’m really excited to get underway and start recording my next CD.

In the meantime, thanks for coming by, thanks for helping me stay in the game, and thanks for sharing in the journey. You helped get me here.

Look out 2009!        (
return to home)

 


 


January 16th/09
The New Year!

Hello friends,
     Happy New Year! I hope 2009 is an amazing year for all of you.  I spent my Holidays in Canada and I had a fantastic time

     My plane touched down at Vancouver International Airport the day before bad weather hit which caused many people to spend their holidays waiting for flights. I spent a bulk of my time shoveling snow at my fathers house which was probably a fortunate thing since I was eating and drinking more calories than I knew were good for me.

     It was so great to see my family and friends again and to share in the festive season. Highlights include meeting new and old friends, buying a new Larrivee guitar, watching the Canadian Junior ice hockey team win gold in fairy tale fashion, eating all that Canadian food that I don't get a chance to eat while in Japan, and laughing harder than I've done in some time. 

     A couple of downfalls on the trip were saying good-bye to my favourite Grandfather who has Alzheimer’s and appears to be on his last legs and also missing my international flight back to Japan on January 12th because of heavy fog that kept me trapped on Vancouver Island. It gave me an extra two days to chill in Nanaimo but the rescheduling cost me $800. Still, I'm never in a rush to get back to Japan and the extra two nights allowed me to spend more time with everyone.

     New Years Resolution you ask?  Not really.  My main goals this year are to stay healthy and record a new CD in August.  I'm hoping my friend Cory Churko will be able to help produce it.  I'll keep you posted.

     How was your holiday?  Feel free to leave a comment, an email or go to the forum and leave a message there as to what you have planned for the new year.  I'm looking forward to stronger friendships in 2009.  Thank you for helping me in my most successful year yet - 2008. Now it's time to step it up a notch or two ;)

~Kelly          (return to home)
 

 


 

 

 


December 12th/08
Christmas Everyday Rawking the Airwaves!


Thanks to an amazing indepentent artist show called "Fame Games", The song I co-wrote with Mark Clay looks promising to head into the final show to be aired in front of millions for the 3rd time this week. My song "She's Just Like Summer" won track of the month there and opened up doors for heaps of new friends and fans. It's also a great site for music fans to check out the latest and also get involved in deciding what we should listen too. Check it Out!
 

 

 

 


 


December 1st/08
Hollywood Music Nomination
My song "She's Just Like Summer" was nominated for the best pop song of 2008 on the famous Hollywood Music Awards! Though it didn't win, it was really close and it's motivation to keep working hard in this tough industry.
 

 



December 1st/08
Christmas News

Hey Everyone,
It's that time of year again! Winter holidays are approaching quickly and I wanted to give a shout out to all my friends, fans and supporters out there to enjoy the holidays with those you care about. I will be heading back to my hometown Nanaimo, in Canada to spend quality time with those I love. I've got an arsenal of guitars back home so I'm hoping my holiday mood will create some news songs for my next CD.

While I'm currently writing new material for the new CD, the latest CD "FUEL" is still available and still receiving great reviews and press. Don't forget CD's make a wonderful present. All CD sales from here on in will go directly to funding the new CD which I am working harder than ever on.

Please join my mailing list to receive the latest up-to-date news on what's happening in my life. Those that join will enjoy a journey that includes receiving free MP3 songs, entering contests, communitcating with me on the FORUM, sharing and contributing ideas towards the new CD, unplugged material, raw video blog links and more.


OH YEAH: Click here to download the Christmas song I co-wrote with Mark Clay. On behalf of the two of us, Merry Christmas!      (return to home)
 


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