75. SPECIAL FEATURE: A Fifteen Minutes of Fame Recap
Originally Published on December 6th, 2024
Trying New Things
Here at Fifteen Minutes of Fame, I am learning as I go. I’ve only been in the online entertainment journalism game for a few months. I’m a little bit behind what’s trending, admittedly. However, my mantra is simple. I want to help grow a community of artists that rise together, all lifting each other in unison. That means, I don’t want to simply write an article and never hear from them again. That’s why I’ve established more than just the articles. I do interviews. I do the blind reactions. I do the shoutouts. I love reaching out to you guys to see where you’re at. I continue and maintain a friendship with many of the artists I speak with. Well, that’s great for me. But what if the loyal Fifteen Minutes of Fame readers want to know about whats going on with artists who had been reviewed a few months ago? Maybe they forgot about an artist that they really liked because Fifteen Minutes of Fame can feel like that in an ever-changing culture that feeds on staying new; staying relevant. I want Fifteen Minutes of Fame to stay relevant, sure. But I don’t want to forget anybody. So, I decided to catch up with TWO of the Fifteen Minutes of Fame alumni to see what’s been going on since their published reviews.
I started Fifteen Minutes of Fame in July with no idea of what I was doing except the idea of what I wanted to do. I had a terrible social media presence. But, with all the hope in the world, I threw my first campaign message out there. Lo and behold, I got a huge response! I eagerly got to listening to the music and following up with the artists who were reaching out to me. One of them was Elly Kace, an artist who was working on a project for University and wanted to know if I would review it.
I remember her email as being very professional as she had put a lot of effort into her press release. She explained her project, an EP called if i ask enough could you love me. She explained that it was about overcoming perfectionism, how she was a classically trained voice major, and how she was trying to really create something different and new, calling the genre of music “Baroque-Pop.”
Being a classically trained musician myself, I was very curious to hear what this would sound like. After all, classical music has definitely influenced my music. However, I wouldn’t think it had enough influence to be identified within any of the genres I’ve experimented. So, to have an artist explore the fusion to this degree with this commitment, I found the possibilities intriguing.
Twenty- Two minutes later, I was left stunned. Speechless. So, I played it again. And again. Before I knew it, I had listened to the EP seven times in a row. I found myself feeling anxious because I didn’t know how I was going to do this work near the justice it deserved. How could I possibly? This music was true genius. This young woman, who was half my age, comprehended music on such an intimate level, that I immediately felt intimidated by it. I felt I was in over my head.
Then the message of her album began to resonate with me. I realized, I didn’t have to write this perfect article to match the creative ingenuity of the EP. I just needed to talk about it. Tell people what it was. Let people find her; not me.
Since publishing article number 09. Which came out right as she had her first release for this project, Elly has now released the entire EP; on December 1st, in fact. Now that it is out there for the world, I wanted to catch up with her to get her thoughts on the experience of it all.
Especially since, as of this morning, “if I ask enough, could you love me,” has now charted on the North American College and Community Chart (NACC) in its second week:
FMOF: Elly, thank you for agreeing to catch up with me! I’m not sure you’re aware, but Prelude was one of the first reviews I had done with Fifteen Minutes of Fame. Where was your mind after reading that review and other reviews, knowing that was the first release and you had so much more to follow?
Elly: I do remember that! It means so much to have your support. The review you wrote made me feel really excited to share all of the music. Making songs takes so much time and deep listening, it’s easy to get lost in the process - but reading your reaction to the music and taking it from other listeners as well reminded me to lean in to enjoying the fun part: finally getting to share it!
FMOF: Now that “if i ask enough, could you love me” is out for the world to hear, how does that make you feel to see this hard work realized?
Elly: Now that the EP is out, it feels like it’s always been out! It was exactly a year ago that I began writing it, so this is on the quicker end of my project completion spectrum- but in a way these songs feel like they’ve been around longer than that. It’s wild to remember the manic writing and producing sessions, the personal dark nights of the soul I faced in creating it - it seems so far in the past and like such a different version of me- and at the same time, I’m still personally facing the same demons I explore in the EP. It’s reminding me to give myself grace as I’m working on new things- reminding me to enjoy the process.
FMOF: You’ve had success in other ventures of music as well, as a world-renowned Opera Soprano. Does your work in popular music feel different in any way? Is there a direction you prefer to prioritize?
Elly: I will always love opera. I cry when I hear it. But for now, I feel much more authentically me in my pop project. It requires a different bravery of me to stand in my own power and build something as a self expression, instead of regurgitating old things that have been around for a long time. Old things are beautiful and important, but when I obsess in that space, I use it as a way to hide from who I really am in service of what other people need or think. And if I’m trying to “be the change I want to see in the world”… (I’d love a world where we all feel free to express ourselves authentically)… I need to walk the harder path right now instead of the one already laid out. I’m choosing the confrontational one to focus on for now, but still sing classically very often. I also often look to classical composers for inspiration.
FMOF: You’ve been bouncing between Chicago and New York, playing shows to promote your release. Are there plans on expanding your live performance or maybe doing a tour?
Elly: I am very excited to put together a live performance of the EP in Manhattan next Wednesday! I hope that with the video from this performance I can gauge interest for some niche venues around the country to bring the piece on tour. The sad reality is financing a tour as an indie artist is increasingly challenging - and the way this one is meant to be shared is with a 9 person ensemble, projections and singing bowls- which doesn’t make for a very realistic tour. Realism isn’t where I like to hang out too often. So I am hopeful. I will be planning a tour with other music though!
FMOF: After everything begins winding down from “if i ask enough, could you love me,” what is next for Elly Kace?
Elly: I am putting final touches on a new LP at the moment. It’s a mystical swirl of sounds that leans a little more in the mainstream direction - except … not really. It’s also very experimental. A hybrid I suppose. It’s meant to express the spaces in between - uplifting the love within the mundane. I think it’s some of my favorite music I’ve created- and I’ve been working on it for the last two years or so. I’m currently working with my team to put together all the visuals before I set a release schedule for 2025.
FMOF: Thanks again for taking the time to speak with me! I hope you and your family have a happy holiday season and can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2025!
Elly: Thanks so much for your support- it means so much to me!
King Keffa - Single Review of foreplay. by King Keffa
When I first started talking to King, I remember being drawn to this feeling i had about him. He is this very humble guy but he is strong in his distinction from himself and other musicians. He doesn’t intentionally try to stand out; he rather stands out unintentionally. The song I reviewed, for instance, is a rap song. Yet, it was so layered in everything else he was influenced by. It is clear that he isn’t comfortable just operating in one genre. It is clear that he isn’t comfortable with his music being labeled at all.
He has a connection with people. He wants to transcend beyond how we function as a society of listeners and performers. He is dialed into his culture, his allegiance to Philadelphia and Atlanta, and his roots as a musician growing up to gospel music. Like a master chef, he has learned to incorporate these different ingredients and create authenticity and originality within the parameters of the genres in which he performs. He does this without fear. Though he does do this fearlessly, he is also courageous enough to exhibit a vulnerability within himself in doing it. He chooses not to embrace flaws, Instead he shapes them, sculpts them, and change them into these beautiful creations.
King’s influences are a spectrum of diverse sound. He works like a prism to harness these varieties and produce a musical light that can be appreciated by anyone. His lifelong study of music is evident with each release. He is a seasoned professional and unwilling to concern himself with statistics, trends, or things most independent artists stress about because realizes that those things manipulate the integrity of what he does with his music. I have such a high respect for that. I wish I were half as honorable as he.
Needless to say, any conversation with King is a good one. He originally had submitted in July for a song that came out before the deadline, let's stay together. Even though, it didn’t make the cutoff, I really loved the track. It stood out enough for me that I made sure to watch for more releases. I didn’t have to wait long because he released foreplay. at the end of July. I published the review on August 2nd. In that time, I had the privilege of getting to know he and his art quite a bit. He also alluded to the likelihood of releasing an album in November. That likelihood became a reality on November 8th, with the release of commercial lov6 ever after. (an r&b rhapsody)
FMOF: Hey King! Thanks for agreeing to speak with me and giving our readers an update on where you are. Since your review back in August, you’ve actually released your 6th studio album. How were the last few months in finalizing commercial lov6 ever after?
King Kefa: Well “let’s stay together.” was actually the first song written for the album and the only song written at the time of its release. I kind of took a slow burn approach, which is unusual for me. People who have known me for years know that I can fire off song after the song in a days time. But this stage of my life, I’m utilizing the lessons learned from not being patient. Not necessarily with music, but with other things on this journey of life. So with that, in any area I know I need to work on as a Man, I put myself to task to practice whatever that may be, in any chance I get. In this case patience.
So if I want a drink right now, but I know I can wait, I will choose to wait, even if I don’t have to. I’ll give myself a time, and that’s when I’ll get up to grab my drink. It’s just the practice man. And practice makes perfect. I knew which direction I was going next, album wise after releasing my last album “make amends” in 2021. I didn’t even tell my Family. Just myself and THE MOST HIGH. Typically, I would have told someone between then and when I actually did make the announcement. But everybody essentially found out around the same time. My family included. Although they found out first before I made it public. But only a week in advance. Had a whole reveal video and everything for them.
So to answer your question, as I stated, I began writing the album a few weeks before I dropped the first single (let’s stay together) and from there, I left it in YAH’S hands. From there He guided me with every song, as He has been for the last 20 years and this album came out beautifully. Exceeded my expectations. I was very grateful for what He gave Me. I think the bulk of the songs came to me in July, and I had plans writing until September because I had already had the 2 follow up singles ready in June. But it was the end of July when I wrote and recorded “haunting. (part deux.)” and after I mixed it and played it back, I heard THE MOST HIGH say “That’s it.” So I stopped. From there, went the final post production steps the album was sent off to the stores.
FMOF: So, Fifteen Minutes of Fame reviewed foreplay. which is a rather traditional rap record. However, the album is much more diverse. What was it like bringing different genres together and making them so cohesive?
King Kefa: A lot of people have asked me this question over the years, and I don’t know how to answer that question because I don’t know how I do it. That’s the beauty of the esoteric nature of this gift. Some of us are vessels that receive diverse things in order disperse it to a diverse people. Not everybody is moved by the same sound. Our internal frequency’s are unique. I was chosen to be the vessel that speaks to many frequencies. All Glory to THE MOST HIGH.
FMOF: They say in anything, you want to have a strong start and a strong finish. Well, it doesn’t get much stronger than ahavah. What does that song mean to you?
King Kefa: I really love that song. I am very fortunate to received that song from above. It’s beautiful. It’s real. It’s truth. I have always been known to make a big entrance. Every album has to have a strong intro for me, and I am fortunate enough, that I think, I have been able to accomplish that. I wanted to set the tone with “ahavah.” I knew from the rip, it was the opening song. It came out very beautifully and exceeded all of my expectations. Thinking about it now, humbles me, because after all these years, THE MOST HIGH is still pouring into me and giving me the gift of music at higher levels. Very grateful.
This song in particular sets the tone for the message of the entire album “Believe In Love Again.” I wanted people to feel hope from the beginning all the way until the end. It’s pretty much the end of the album, at the beginning. Like how in films and literature, they will show you the ending in the beginning, while the narrative is spent telling you how we got there. I think of myself as an Aural Filmmaker/Novelist.
FMOF: As with foreplay. (Which is on the album as well) the production quality for the album in whole is absolutely superb. What is the secret to getting such crisp sounds? What is the most important part of production to you?
King Kefa: Most people may or may not know that I am a musician first. The very first thing I am is a musician. I am drummer and a pianist. I come from a family of musicians. And I am the First Born Musician of my Father’s children. I have two other brothers who are excellent and in my opinion, living legends, whether you know them or not. My Father does not play an instrument, but He has the greatest ear I have ever known. His ear for music, is bananas!!!!
He put me on to a lot of music in my life time. He has the ear of a producer. I told him that. That’s where I get that from. He could have been an A&R. In our house, you had to be on your shit because you would be clowned. LOL. Me and my brothers, as well as my sister who has featured on a few of my projects, can be hard critics. It’s because we respect the craft and a lot of people don’t. Even really good musicians and singers, do not respect the craft and you can hear it, if you know HOW to listen. But yeah, I am a musician first. So the music and the words have to tell the same story.
FMOF: Now that the record’s out, are there any plans to showcase any live performances?
King Kefa: I would love to get back out there and perform. It’s been 6 years since my last show. I took time off, went off grid, to get myself together. That was primary concern. Still released music, but have not been an active performer because I didn’t want to be around people. I’ve been on a journey and the journey is still going, but I have reached the stage where I’m ready to come back outside, and interact with others. I want to do it with my brothers, because I trust them the most, with my sound. We’ll see. But I am open to working with any great musician who respects the craft and loves it close to as much as I do.
Final Thoughts
As 2024 winds down, and we all are getting ready to settle in and spend some much needed time with our families, I have been overwhelmed by my time in writing this article. This last week, not only did I visit with these two artists, but I really got to take a look back at where Fifteen Minutes of Fame started to where it is today. I am so grateful. I am so lucky to be able to do this.
These last 6 months have been bigger than anything I could have hoped for. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” as Shakespeare once wrote. I have the fortune to live in a world of musicians; each one as talented as the next. Each with something to say. Having the opportunity to listen to you and tell your stories is a privilege I will carry until I “have my exit.”
Happy holidays everybody. Cheers to the new year. I will see you all very soon.
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