They are currently working together as artist and producer on an upcoming new album and are up for consideration for the GRAMMYs next February. She has done everything from sing for popes to appearing on “American Idol” to founding her own production company. She has trained in Rome, lived in London and New York, and, of course, released her own original music, all in addition to being an activist. He was a guest on this show more than a year-and-a-half ago on Episode 422 and since then has continued working as a vocal coach with Kenny Loggins, Richard Marx, and more, and recently sang at a David Crosby tribute alongside some key members of the music world. His background ranges from work with household names ranging from Elton John to Michael Jackson to pop supergroup Ambrosia.
(Claire) “A couple years after my firstborn was, he was two, he was diagnosed with autism, so I’ve since become an autism activist, advocate.”
(Ken) “…a little glimpse into the future, which we are now in, which is writing and producing an original record for Claire.”
(Claire) “Ken and I have worked together for over two years now and he was originally my vocal coach, much where he sees Kenny Loggins. And then I quickly realized what an amazing producer he was… and I said, ‘Listen, we need to write an album together. You get me, you get my voice, I get you, I get your perspective, we have a lot in common, and we finish each other’s sentences’.”
(Claire) “My mission as an artist is to speak my truth, to be honest and authentic, and to really celebrate that in others, to kind of be a leader in authenticity and self-empowerment.”
(Ken) “I think the moment we began to work we felt like there was definitely a connection there, that we had this very unique creative connection, that we were kind of like musical brother and sister. We just really resonated with one another.”
(Ken) “We want to make sure that when the world hears Claire… that it’s going to feel very unique and that she will stand out on really embarking and walking down a very unique road that really, it’s kind of like a road less traveled, if you will.”
(Claire) “My friend is the cousin of Kenny Gradney, the bassist of that legendary band Little Feat. And I called Kenny and I said, ‘Hey brother, do you know anyone, I’m new in town’ – I had just moved to L.A. from New York – I said, ‘Who’s the best vocal coach?’ … And I got Ken’s number from Kenny, ‘cause Kenny asked his crew and Ken Stacey kept coming up.”
(Claire) “I had largely spent the last 13-plus years building a production agency and we now have offices remotely in London, throughout the States – New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arkansas, in L.A. here, I guess we’re headquartered here, but it really feels like our headquarters are in New York.”
(Ken) “I’ve been an artist and I’ve been a touring professional and a singing professional and so I’ve kind of definitely lived on both sides of the glass as they say. And I’ve had the chance to be on the stage with some really extraordinary artists and I’ve had a lot of experience in that, so it’s kind of strengthened an antenna in me.”
(Ken) “It is a big challenge to be an artist in this world and to find your lane and to find your market and to find your fan base.”
(Ken) “That’s what makes a great artist. A great artist lives, and it’s not just about their music. They have to be able to bring life experience into their music, whether they are doing it intentionally or not it pours through them.”
(Claire) “It hasn’t been an easy road. I think success, whatever it is, it comes with a lot of hard work and a LOT of sacrifices.”
(Claire) “I started dating a very, you know you just have like one boyfriend that breaks your heart – it was such a toxic relationship, I can’t tell you. His dad was the head of the mafia in Rome.”
(Claire) “It was almost the gig that kept me alive. I think as musicians we all have them.”
(Claire) “I did the last six months of (Pope) John Paul (II) and the first year-and-a-half of (Pope) Benedict. And every Wednesday morning that the pope was in town, he comes out and does, like, a Papal audience… and a soprano opens it and that was me and it was like 150 thousand people every Wednesday.”
(Ken) “When (Claire and I) started working together… I intentionally veered away from that whole pop (genre)… (I) teach a lot of young singers that sing in the pop world, but as a producer and a songwriter, veered away from that in my career. (I) did that a lot earlier on in my career as a writer and part of writing teams and a producer and produced a young artist years ago in that direction, but I found no gratification in it. It was not rewarding spiritually, personally, creatively.”
(Claire) “I got a booking agent after American Idol, I moved to New York… I would sing anywhere I was booked… I was just singing up a storm.”
“There You Are”
“The Prayer”