Music is the heartbeat of millions around the globe, especially the music created in the 90s – it hits a bit differently. There is a sense of nostalgia associated with 90's music. Maestros such as David Bowie, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Madonna, and many more created magic with their catchy and original tunes. Their music has the capability to intoxicate an individual and transport them to a parallel universe. Inspired by them and following their footsteps is the music composer, songwriter, and producer Kitt Wakeley.
Kitt Wakeley is a music veteran and is popular for his experimental and unapologetic approach to music. He has an innate talent for creating ground-breaking music by creating a unique mix of Rock, EDM, orchestra, and piano. Being graced by Grammy nominations several times, Wakeley's passion for music and his work is widely recognized.
Belonging to the era when music genres such as EDM were gaining traction, and Rock still entertained the masses, Kitt Wakeley has a profound taste in music. The clarity of building a career in music had been there since he was a child. As he was interested in creating music rather than singing it, he quickly gripped on different instruments and learned to play them fluently within a short period. Today, Kitt is known for his electrifying beats and the vibrant nature of his music that makes one move.
Finding His Way Through Music
Music is a vast field, and it can take months and even years for someone to figure out the kind of music they like and feel connected to. Similar was the case with the Tennessee-born musician Kitt Wakeley.
First cried on July 3rd, 1979; Kitt grew up in Holdenville, Oklahoma, where Jack and Linda Wakeley adopted him. He developed an interest in music at an early age. His fondness for music became evident when he quickly began playing trumpet but later gravitated to keyboards. Even as a kid, the melodies he played and created were extraordinary and very different. Having no prior knowledge or professional training, Kitt started on horns in his young teens, then moved to keyboards and synthesizers.
While playing these different instruments, it was the discovery of synthesizers that struck a chord with him. This instrument, in particular, captured his attention, and he finally realized that this was his calling. At 16, he had his first song on local Oklahoma radio. This success led to him writing and scoring various other regional projects. All the while, Kitt was expanding his writing voice and working with deeper orchestration.
As his popularity grew, Kitt was offered numerous music scholarships at state universities. His early works helped him garner attention from various universities and institutes. He finally decided to attend college at East Central University, where he received a bachelor's in both Pre-Law and Sociology in 1992. Subsequently, he attended the University of Oklahoma, where he earned his Master's in Public Administration in 1995.
Although studies were a priority for Wakeley, he never deviated from music. During this phase, he discovered his growing inclination towards EDM. He began exploring genre-bending in his electronic music compositions, blending electronica with Rock and other musical elements. His love for music intensified as he wrote and recorded more songs. Understanding music better than others, he incorporated the use of traditional sounds, including brass and strings, into his experimentations.
Touching Heaven on Frequency
It was through his high school, college, and grad-school years that he played in several bands, where he developed a love for numerous genres of music. During this time, Wakeley excelled at writing, producing, and recording, honing his skills in the recording studio. His most notable band during this period was Mydion, a progressive rock band. The more time he spent creating music, the clearer it became that he belonged to orchestration, as he went to it time and time again.
Finally, in 2013, Kitt decided to release his first solo album under the pseudo-name AudioKaoz, titled Cinematic Chaos. The album was a hybrid of Rock and EDM with an epic vibe. This project gave him the credibility to become a member of the National Academy of Recordings and Sciences (NARAS) and Grammy Voter.
His increasing fame ignited the desire to play before huge crowds and to work with large and live ensembles. This led him to investigate ways to incorporate orchestration more deeply. He found his way to ensembles in Eastern Europe. He learned a great deal about orchestration from these ensembles and gigs and practiced it religiously to later launch himself in it. His second album, Midnight in Macedonia, came across as a much bigger project than the previous release and was his debut for Orchestral Rock, a hybrid of the orchestra, piano, Rock, and EDM.
The album was recorded in 2015 in Macedonia, with the famed Macedonian Orchestra and Choir. Other notable musicians on the project included Kenny Aronoff on drums and Daniel Uribe on guitars. The album was engineered and co-produced by Tre Nagella, and Kevin Lively who mastered it. A masterpiece created by a group of maestros, this album turned the tables for Kitt Wakeley. It was subsequently on the first round of Grammy ballots in four different categories: Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Arrangement Instrumental A Capella, Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Rock Performance.
After receiving a mind-blowing response on his second album, Kitt's third solo studio release, Symphony of Sinners and Saints, also set new records for him. Recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London, the album's conductor was Cliff Masterson. This project was yet another musical gem, as it hit number one on Billboard's Crossover Classical and Classical Charts and made it to the categories of Heatseekers, Hard Rock Albums, Top Rock Albums, Top Current Album Sales, Top Album Sales, Independent Albums.
Apart from his magical musical creations, he also focused on music licensing and producing for other artists. His experience and skill in music have enabled him to become the recipient of Best Producer, Artist, and Instrumental Album of the year in 2018 by the Indie Channel Music Awards.
The owner of Studio Seven Media in Oklahoma, Kitt continues to turn head and entice people with his tunes and outstanding musical skills.