** 2005 Outmusic Award Nominee **
Outstanding Debut Recording - Male
Keyth Lawrence, the powerful song force hailing from Manhattan spins his yarns through his life-long love of the piano. Keyth has been accompanied by his instrument, and talent for playing it since he was 7 years-old. "Before I could really even add numbers together, I knew I wanted to perform," says Keyth. "I had it all figured out at 6 years-old. In my head, I was destined to become a clown or a magician. A year later, the piano was rolled into the living room and the musician in my heart came alive." After a listen to his body of work, one might agree that there is still a bit of magic involved.
After gigging extensively as a solo artist in popular New York City cabaret venues such as Don't Tell Mama, The Duplex, and other intimate spaces, he logically began bringing other musicians onto the stage with him until he formed what has become Keyth Lawrence and the Purple Circle. The now 5 - member ensemble puts on high energy rock shows with tailored storytelling capabilities throughout New York City. The Purple Circle is an inclusive metaphor for the unity of the band and the unity fans have to the music they play, and to the stories Keyth shares. "The Purple Circle started as a personal and artistic sacred space. It continues to maintain that quality, but has evolved into something much bigger," says Keyth. "It is now something that expands to include the energy and experience of the audience."
Keyth's most defining artistic traits include a character-driven, storied style of songwriting, an acrobatic and emotive voice that tells it, and a classically-inspired, powerhouse style of piano playing that falls somewhere between Chopin and Jerry Lee Lewis. With a brave and dramatic style reminiscent of The Cure, Keyth also maintains a solid passion for the piano, like that of more recent artists including Rufus Wainwright and Coldplay. The instrument is what "makes the music physical, tactile, visceral- it has always saddened me that the piano has been lost over the years as the nucleus of music," Keyth says.
Candid songwriting that reveals unexpected truths- think Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bowie, Tori Amos- a fusion of prophet and bard, equal parts soul searcher and dramatic performer. With a unique vocal styling, Keyth sings against melody, beyond measure, and outside borders. Phrasing that mimics the rhythm of the human breath lends a vulnerability to the songs. Songs are rarely sung the same way twice. "Songs are like children," Keyth says. "You nurture them and they grow. They surprise you and begin to take on a life of their own." His songbook makes border raids on every conceivable emotion, soaring from a riotous rock-rolling peak to an audio adagio.
Currently promoting Figures, the 12 track musical novel that promises to be his pivotal break-through record, Keyth Lawrence and the Purple Circle have been capturing audiences at renowned New York City venues including Fez, Knitting Factory and the Cutting Room. Figures was recorded live at Chung King Studios in NYC in one 9-hour session, "so as to preserve a very specific synergy," explains Keyth. "The original intent of a record was to capture a live experience, so tracking the individual instruments was just never an option for this work."
The album, following a sold-out release concert at NYC's FEZ, zoomed to #1 on the Outvoice Top 40 Chart and was named Best Album of 2004 by The Stonewall Society. This was supported by rave reviews from publications such as Frontiers (LA), Philadelphia Gay News, PM Entertainment (NY), HX Magazine (NY), and Indie-Music.com. In addition to the overall success of the CD, the first single off the album, "Leaving," has been receiving national airplay and was recently recognized by the International Songwriting Contest. Keyth will also have the privilege of performing at the Tori Amos Tribute / RAINN Benefit in North Carolina this year for the sceond time. FIGURES was recently named one of the Best Albums of 2004 by Gaywired.com.
***** www.keythlawrence.com ********
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