Geri King Masquerade – The Mask Comes Off June 28th, 2011

May 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Much industry buzz and anticipation has been surrounding Geri King’s fourth full length album “Masquerade”.  The process of writing “Masquerade” as Geri described it, was creatively freeing and emotionally draining.  “As hard as I tried I could not figure out what to do with this next album.  I’m known for love songs and I felt I had no more left in me and musically I wanted to do something different.  I kept thinking that I need to write what I was going through, but who wants to hear that?” She says with hearty laugh.   “The more I wrote the more I worried that I may be alienating my fans because my style was so different.  But I did it anyway and people are connecting to these songs.”

Doing it anyway, even if it’s out of character is something that is not new to this mellifluously seductive chanteuse.  In 2008 she released a one off white-label rock track entitled “Running Away” that many fans thought was the debut single for an upcoming album, but in fact it had been written for another artist.  “Oh, yeah “Running Away,” I had actually written that song with Kimo Kaulani for another artist, but their publishing company didn’t believe we wrote the song and played all the instruments because we were only known for doing R&B and I’m an R&B artist.  So I just put it out myself because I could and I thought it was a great song.”  It became the number one ringtone on Jamster.com for 2 consecutive months and Geri grew a new legion of fans, that didn’t mind she was not a rock artist and her loyal fans didn’t mind that she became one for a short time.

Many don’t realize that aside from being a gifted vocalist Geri is also a songwriter and producer and has written and produced all the songs on “Masquerade” along with her longtime writing and production partner Kimo Kaulani, with the exception of the debut single “Out Of My Head” which Geri and Kimo wrote with Devon Sabatier, Jordan Mason, Sheena Nicholl and Jason Neufville all new writers recently signed to their production company Audio Blueprint.  “I was recently described as having the voice of an angel with the heart of a thug.” She says speaking of another of her unlikely projects with Wu-Tang for “Wu-Nited States”, and Wu-Tang’s Killa Bee’s Watchmen with the singles “Banga” and “Glorious Fist”.  “I guess I have diverse musical interests and don’t want to be put in a box, who wants that…it’s cramped and dark!” She laughs.

So given Geri’s recent diversions from what is expected of her it is no surprise that her own project would deviate slightly from the norm, but that could be said of her and her career since her start in 2001 with her debut album “Tenderly”.  When asked how she felt about her albums reception in the U.S. she had this to say;  “I was disappointed at first when my previous albums got no support in the US, but then things started taking off in other places, Europe, Asia, Australia and even in Russia and to get fan mail from people that truly appreciate what you do, it doesn’t matter if your own hometown doesn’t notice because there are other people that do.”  And with Gold and Platinum albums in over 7 countries, if you have never heard of her there is someone who most certainly has.  

Geri King’s “Masquerade”, is an eclectic mix of R&B, with flecks of Jazz, Electronic and Hip-Hop undertones while staying viably commercial and taking care not to stray too far from Geri’s well known sultry style.  It is a lavish sultry blend of soul, innovative musical textures, great musicianship, top notch production, and lyrical wit, originally touted as Geri’s official US debut, “Masquerade” will instead be releasing world-wide on June 28, 2011.

When asked why this album was difficult to write, she says, “I have a pet peeve that lyrics have to mean something.  They have to evoke something even if it’s describing a day.”  Referencing one of her most popular singles “Sunny Days” which stayed in the top 10 on radio in Australia for over 20 weeks.  “I thought lyrically “Sunny Days” had no depth, but there was a real sentiment with that song, so much so I heard about a group of young ladies who made a whole dance to it. It was their ‘going to the beach song’ and they did just what the song said- got a convertible and rolled to the beach with the top down.  That’s what I write for!  That’s what I love, to have my music woven into the fabric of someone’s life.  Songs that people can define periods of their life with.  So, sure I had a hard time making this album and it’s a reflection of me and my philosophies, but if what I say makes someone know they are not alone, it’s well worth it.”

And worth it, it was, at Geri’s private listening session, open only to select industry tastemakers, it was almost comical to watch.  As the album played listeners would excitedly announced a song as their favorite until the next song played which they announced as the new favorite and on it went from song to song with each subsequent song becoming the favorite until the album’s final song when it was decided that they loved the entire album and couldn’t pick a favorite.  There were jovial bribes for exclusive copies of the full album but so far, the label is keeping it all under wraps until the release date of June 28, 2011.  “I tell you I am so relieved and honored to receive such compliments,” says Geri.  One of the tastemakers recent blogged that she was privy to the album that the label keeps so guarded, and trust her Geri King’s album is worth the wait.

The album’s debut single “Out Of My Head” is now available exclusively at iTunes for download as a Pre-sale before the official release date of May 31, 2011 when it will be available worldwide at all major digital retailers.

“Masquerade” will be releasing world-wide on June 28, 2011, with special performance dates in Greece, Morocco, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia and Turkey to be announced.

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