Piper McKinnon

Want this badge? I’m honored to be asked to write a little reflection for the wonderful Piper McKinnon. Lovely! I adore the lady. ......Now, it’s always unfair to compare somebody but I’m reminded that it is necessary by Piper herself. In my own defense, I think she reminds me of herself and at the beginning of what promises to be a wonderful creative ripening that will come after many great recordings that will bring joy to the listener. She will not get worse, it is only in her nature to become more of what she already is and that is a creative musical force. ...........Influences or creative kindred spirits with Piper? Well, I can hear Julie Driscoll at times from her days with Brian Auger but primarily she reminds me of the fantastic writing and singing force that was Laura Nyro. There is some immediate comparisons that folk will make to Carol King or other red heads of musical stature and lineage but that’s just a symptom of the disease that is visual music [music is aural... not visual although our Piper is easy on the eyes]. ..........There are times she reminds me of male singers and players moreso than the females, such as the Finn brothers of Split Enz or Chris Cornell & Geoff Buckley in terms of her chord changes and the way she wants to float a melody. In Twinkle little Star she almost reminds me of the late Warren Zevon in terms of her timing and delivery but... all of these things fall flat on their face because she doesn’t sound like any of them really. She is unique. Yes as unique as Sarah Harmer or Sarah Mclachlan or Jewell or blah blah blah... it’s all a wretched mistake to compare her. However, I’ve done the best I can. ..........Just when you hear that she can handle that register of subtle falsetto of Laura Nyro she will deliver a rather lovely full voice treatment with some low register work with great word coloring such as in the song "Too Much." ...........I can hear the reluctant timing of Peter Gabriel struggling with the worry of "dang I better hit that note right where the change is or I’ll get lost" panic that hits all young singers but also adds charm. It boggles the mind that she is still developing a Mic technique and sounds as unique and wonderful as she does. .......... In short, she’s only just begun! Add to that her piano playing and natural born talent for putting together great pockets and grooves and above all "moods" worthy of the tone poem beauty of Debussy and the piano writings of Ravel. .......... I think, Piper is probably an A&R reps dream. She’s a talent that is just beginning to come into her "born with" and hard earned gifts. I only hope she doesn’t get told she’s finished before she’s barely begun! What a treat it is to get to know her. ..........There is no age to greatness. It either is or it isn’t. It is Piper’s nature to grow and ripen into a fantastic singer songwriting force of the universe. It will be a crime if the world does not somehow rise to the challenge of accepting the gift to it that she is. God save us all from "American Idol" musical ethics and get us back to songs and their Sheppard’s. ..........Bob Ironside [aka Carver Bob Ironside] .........................................................
Please feel free to add the above banner to your wee website! I appreciate all the help!.......... ............Playing and composing for years, Piper has definitely proven herself in her songwriting talent. "I have more to say, so I don’t see drying up in material ever" she says...........Having grown up with an appreciation of music and a natural ear for singing along with her dad’s old blues records, she has an understand and depth when it comes to feeling the energy of music and her singing style reflects this. ..........Her song styles range from soft melancholic ballads to more piercing folk rock written with passionate honesty, accented with a musical edge and a "torch" quality to the voice. ..........In 2005, Piper was awarded the F.A.C.T.O.R ’Professional Demo Award’. These songs are the result...........Keep coming back to hear more material as it gets uploaded for your enjoyment!I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)