SSB Entry #2: Dead Language by k.s. Rhoads

Entry #2: Dead Language by k.s. Rhoads

"i spoke my heart beneath the moon
true love songs sing out of tune
turned the lock to let her in
there is no room in this place for a... gentleman.

i lit her smoke in black and white.
she wore my coat the whole damn night.
loved like we were young again.
what a foolish thing it seems to be the gentleman."
- "the gentleman"

I've known about k.s. Rhoads for about three years now, but just recently dove into his full-length album, Dead Language. For me, Rhoads had always been an afterthought on the live music circuit in Nashville. I've seen him perform half a dozen times, and am always impressed with the dimension he brings to the stage. Still, he has always been an opener for a more popular friend or lending support on keys, safely hidden away.

But he's a brilliant musician in his own right. He's a multi-talented instrumentalist -- At any given time he'll be directing a string quartet through an arrangement that he has composed, killing a guitar solo, tickling a baby grand, or freestyling during a beatbox breakdown. Here's what local music columnist Angie Bianchi had to say in a preview of a Rhoads show at 12th & Porter...

"He likes to think of the works of the classic composers as transcendent, high art. And what he hopes to do with his own music is to “get better at blending high art with street art.” Street art, to Rhoads, ranges from what people are doing on the streets today (like beatboxing) to the old, original folk artists who sang and played on the streets of Europe." - Nashville Indie Music Examiner

His songs are little symphonic stories. He plays off of classic literary figures and characters and mixes styles from genres of all kind -- jazz, blues, pop, rock, soul, etc. I've never met someone so diverse in their creativity and still unsure of his talents. Such a blessing to the Nashville music scene.

You can grab Kevin’s music on iTunes, but to tide you over here’s his music video for a fantastic song called “Dark Hotel.” It’s hauntingly beautiful and it very indicative of the creative energy he put into his album. I think it really showcases his ability to create something unexpected and new at a time when creativity in music runs short.