Album Notes

Album Description:
Ken Oak is a Pop-Rock artist who blends Pop, Rock, Folk, and Classical into his own unique sound and style. Half Step Down features 14 original songs by Ken that have a range in styles that is rarely heard on commercially-released albums. "Almost every song could conceivably be a single on mainstream radio - a big credit to Oak, and a refreshing contrast from countless other albums fattened up with filler." - Anita Lu for Chopblock.com (formerly Yolk Magazine)

Ken's debut full-length album contains three solid Pop songs (Maybe, Wonder, and End Credits) and two songs with an edgier Modern Rock feel to them (These Things and Analog Girl). There are some straight-ahead Rock songs (like Inside Me, Catching Up, and Leah), and some songs with a laid-back Adult Contemporary sound (Constellation, This Time). Just in case that's not enough for you, Ken also put a Bossa Nova song (Half Step Down), a Pop-Jazz track (Anyway), a Country ballad (Silhouette), and a Neo-Classical piece (Soma) on the album.

"Ken Oak is a unique artist in that he combines vintage songwriting acumen with modern pop sensibilities. His prowess for blending sounds both electronic and acoustic with expertly crafted lyrics demonstrate a level of artistic development rarely seen in today's more typical singer/songwriter." - Stephen Marsh, former chief mastering engineer at Sony Music

Half Step Down features Ken's mellow baritone voice, smooth falsetto, poetic lyrics, catchy guitar riffs, and soulful cello lines. Although there are bound to be comparisons to artists such as John Mayer and Matchbox 20, Ken's music also contains appreciative nods to other influences such as The Smiths, Oasis, and Sarah McLachlan.

"Though Ken's sound is mainly pop/rock, there is definitely a folksy touch to his songs, given the acoustic guitar and natural, naked quality of his voice. He also cleverly incorporates the cello into a number of songs ... The sounds of the cello can be easily missed, but if you pay close attention to the instrumental background, you can hear its deeper, drawn-out tones and really appreciate the artistry used in blending the classical with the modern -- guitar, keyboard, bass, percussion." - Florence Ip for Asia Pacific Arts

You can learn more about Ken and stay current with the latest news by going to www.kenoak.net. Sign in through the Leak Page to gain access to exclusive content! Also, be sure to check out Ken's online journal through www.kenoak.net or at www.xanga.com/kenoak.