The band

Kacie Sheik

Location:

How long have you been singing/songwriting:

I grew up singing Frank Sinatra with my parents and my brother, Peter, in our backyard at family functions. I really started training when I was 12 and began doing musical theatre productions around the community. My parents gave me a guitar four years ago, which is when I began my songwriting growth.

Your Website:

http://www.kaciesheik.com

MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/kaciesheik

Brief Bio:

Emerging singer/songwriter Kacie Sheik recently returned to New York City following a year spent starring in Queen’s We Will Rock You in Las Vegas. Younger sister of Grammy nominated recording artist Duncan Sheik, the 24 year-old culled much songwriting experience from her time spent outside New York. Working with Meatloaf’s Paul Crook and John Miccelli, as well as Blue Oyster Cult’s Danny Miranda, and performing alongside legendary Queen band-mates Brian May and Roger Taylor during her Vegas stint provided invaluable and inspirational performance experience.

Press Conference for We Will Rock You

Upon returning to the Big Apple, Kacie began working on her album with esteemed songwriter/producer Andrew Koss and producer Patrick Shaw of Tainted Blue Productions (http://www.taintedblue.com). In the coming months, she’ll play a by-invitation-only acoustic show as part of Tainted Blue’s “From the Penthouse” showcase series, which will eventually yield a CD/DVD double-disc. Additionally, Kacie will perform a set as part of YMC network’s flagship “City Sessions”, a live concert series that will feature ten bands from ten cities and be broadcast over Dish Network and various cable providers. Tune in for her NYC “City Sessions” performance in June, 2006. And check http://www.kaciesheik.com for club dates....

You recently finished up a year in Las Vegas as part of Queens’s We Will Rock You. Can you share your thoughts on that experience and what it was like?

We Will Rock You seemed to have been perfectly aligned in my timeline of what was supposed to happen next. After about five years of working professionally in musical theatre around the country, I ended up in a final callback scenario where I was one of 5 young women flown to Las Vegas for an overnight stay at the Paris Hotel and Casino. That callback consisted of singing two songs for Brian May, Roger Taylor, director Ben Elton, and their entourage of consultants. A dozen or so immensely important artistic and musical forces in one room, listening to a relatively unknown, self proclaimed musical theatre “misfit”. A fairytale ending of getting the role, rehearsing with May and Taylor before opening, and culminating in a grand evening of Rock and Roll greats all performing on one stage, out on the Paris Casino’s pool deck, of all places as an opening night post-performance Gala Event. To be on the same bill, let alone the same stage as Meatloaf, Chad Smith, Steve Lukather, Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Vai, Paul Crook, John Miccelli, Danny Miranda, and the beautiful and humble Brian and Roger...that was the best night of my life so far. An unforgettable bunch of moments that I have literally thousands of pictures of strewn throughout my apartment, even today. It was the ultimate inspiration, and still remains so. The year with the show in Vegas propelled me forward into a bubble of songwriting, vocal experimenting, and allowed me to find my true voice as an artist, along with a greater confidence than ever before. I continued to develop everything I found when I returned to NY, seeking production help, and musical collaboration. This I eventually found late last year at Tainted Blue Studios (http://www.taintedblue.com). And that brings us to today, as I record my album, play live club dates in the city, and continue to grow as an artist with every new experience and decision made. We Will Rock You allowed me to realize what the future really may be able to hold.

Were you a Queen fan before landing that role?

I remember running out onto the soccer field, when I was a jock, in elementary school and junior high...our warm-up was a medley of We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. Ironically enough, the way the musical “We Will Rock You” had the two songs was in that exact same medley form. Foreshadowing?

Sound best described as:

Angry chick rock with pop/soul tendencies-Kelly Clarkson, Avril, the Used, MCR, Stevie Nicks, Taylor Dayne,

What comes first, the lyrics or the music?:

Situational. Great lyric writing happens on the subway...either/or.

Influences:

Sheryl Crow “Tuesday Night Music Sessions”, Nikka Costa, Fionna Apple, Janis, Kelly, Avril, Aretha, Heart, Etta James, Gavin Degraw, The Used, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Queen, Duncan Sheik

Ultimate goal as an artist:

To sing about emotions, emotionally and honestly. To just be accepted as me on the stage, in the studio, in the writing, and hope that it makes a difference, a statement. That a uniqueness would be added to a music scene that is churning out replicas. I am strange when I sing, I am funny looking and sometimes inaudible...I’m stubborn and over energized to a fault at times...all of this - is hopefully relate-able.

Best Gig:

I can’t imagine not replying “We Will Rock You” - even though that may be deemed pretty unconventional for the term “gig”. My first show in NYC singing my own music was pretty raw - lots of love in the room, lots of tears afterward. That was a great feeling too.

Worst Gig:

This would be the perfect time to be bitter....but I’m having too much fun playing live, nothing seems awful yet, I am learning too much to begrudge it. Just wait…

Dream tour:

I can’t decide, someone I could study as we went along, probably opening for a cool rock/poppy group of hot guys
After that....Duncan and I. He is, and always has been, a huge inspiration for this career and lifestyle.

What do you think about the current state of the music industry?:

What I mentioned in an earlier question, everyone is pretty safe it seems. Even if they are loud and obnoxious, or dress strange, or have rude antics on stage...there still seems to be an overall feeling of artists hiding behind that “image” that they are supposed to be. It’s going to be difficult to not give in to everyone who is going to want me to sound a certain way, dress a certain way, and talk about certain things. This is all just beginning, but I don’t want to be the next young singer with a reality show following their career on MTV2, 3 or 4 just because that’s what is normal and what “works” now. I’m sure the PR firm would love it. And it would definitely do its job...but....?

Music right now, I kinda still need to get to know it, understand it, and live in it. I’m just singing now...and hoping for a future. Maybe a successful one....someday....

Upcoming shows:

May 12 2006 8:00P
Lion’s Den New York, NY

May 20 2006 8:30P
Alphabet Lounge (Acoustic Show with Craig McEldowney)
New York, NY

Jun 16 2006 9:30P
Pianos New York, NY

Jul 7 2006 9:00P
Arlene’s Grocery New York, NY

Jul 29 2006 9:30P
The Bitter End New York, NY

Message to your fans:

Thanks for coming to the shows...can’t wait to hand you music on a CD!