Kanye's Heartless Cracks Top 5!!

What a great way to start my New Year!!! "Heartless" jumps to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart!

2008 - Auld Lang Syne

Another year has passed us by. Where does the time go?! 2008 turned out to be quite a great year for me career-wise. This years highlights included scoring four #1 albums!!! (Danity Kane, Day 26, Young Jeezy, Kanye West). On top of that, i mixed a Top Ten Billboard Single, "Damaged" - Danity Kane, and played on another Top Ten single "Heartless" - Kanye West.

To start 2008 off, i bought an SSL mixing console, which has been a great investment. I've worked with many great artists this year, and at my own studio, I've mixed songs this year by (or featuring) Danity Kane, Day 26, Lee Carr, Fabolous, Joe Budden, The Game, Sullee, Busta Rhymes, Donnie Klang, Marina Chello, Notorious BIG (Notorious Soundtrack), Ariana Grande, Josh Xantus, Jadakiss, Ben's Brother, Joss Stone, Bizzie Bone, King Phaze, DMX, Sheik Louche, Stylez P, KK Alese, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, and I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. In addition, I mixed an album here for Asian mega-star "Rain". I also created alot of music here for three songs on Kanye's new "808's & Heartbreak" album and worked on Jeezy's album here too. And i've done mixes elsewhere featuring Rick Ross, Fat Joe, P Diddy, Mario Winans, and others. As i'm writing this off the top of my head, i'm sure i'm forgetting some great label clients, but wow! What a year!!!!

That all doesnt even scratch the surface of some of the great indie projects I've been fortunate enough to be involved with in 2008. Start to finish, this has truly been a great year, and I have loved every minute of it. Having said all that, i think 2009 is going to top 2008. I dont know how for certain yet, but i have very high hopes for 2009, and every bone in my body tells me its going to be a phenomenal year. I'm really excited about a new artist I'll be developing, as well as some seriously awesome songwriters i've been working with. Watch out for my Skywalkers Production team to have a serious breakout in 09. I was also recently contacted by one of my musical idols about doing some production and mixing for an artist he is developing. I wont say who he is until the gig fully materializes, which should be soon, but lets just say that round here we stay up very very very late. And i'll leave it at that. I am VERY excited about that project, as it might also include another one of my favorite artists as a guest appearance. All i can do is Breathe in for Luck.

2009 should start off with a bang credit-wise as i will have my first big release of the year on January 13 with the NOTORIOUS SOUNDTRACK. I'm hoping to add to my current tally of 48 Gold & Platinum records with that Soundtrack, and i hope to finally surpass 50 by the end of the year. I got 4 more plaques this year so two more for 2009 doesnt seem like an insurmountable goal to achieve. Lee Carr's album on Jive Records could certainly bring me to 50. Watch out for Lee's new single "Breathe" which i mixed here. it is a GREAT song and should be a big hit if Jive does their job, and the album will hopefully be a big hit as well. Its truly a collection of great songs, which i rarely say, but he's really got some heat on that album, with plenty of singles to follow "Breathe".

2009 should also see the release of the first single and album by "Small Town Sleeper". they are signed to my production company as well as Upper11 / Fontana Records. I developed them and got the band their record deal then produced and mixed their album "Conversations". Check it out on itunes! The label is gearing up to go to pop radio with STS's first single "Backseat", a song that I've known could be a big hit from the first moment i heard the acoustic demo. Small Town Sleeper has already toured with Daughtry as well as Candlebox and has shared the stage with many other big big artists. Hopefully 2009 will see them capture the spotlight we've all worked very hard to get them.

So, now i'm off to enjoy my New Year's Eve with family and friends!!! I hope your 2008 was healthy, happy, and prosperous, and that your 2009 brings you all of the success and happiness you are striving for. I know it will bring that and so much more for me.

Happy New Year!!!

-Ken Lewis

Christmas Card

Well, its Christmas Eve. This is the night my family always celebrates Christmas, so we've already had our Christmas dinner and opened some presents, but i wanted to send out a special Christmas Card to you, my family, friends, clients, co-workers, and everyone i've worked with this year. Thats ALOT of people!!! So, Merry Christmas to all of the artists, musicians, vocalists, producers, engineers, managers, label people, songwriters, blog readers and everyone else who has made this year such a memorable and exceptional year.

I really wanted to get Christmas cards out this year, but just about every minute of every day for months on end has been going from this mix, to that production, to this performance, to that songwriting session. Don't get me wrong, these are WONDERFUL problems to have. Being too busy in this business is truly a blessing, and fortunately for me, i still very much love what i do, thanks in large part to all of the genuinely great people i get to work with and around all the time.

So, i know this is kind of cheating, but its the best i could do this year. To all of you, have a very Merry Christmas!!!

-Ken Lewis

Kanye "Heartless" at #7

Those staccato Flutes that come in right after the intro and basically keep time thru the song. Thats me. How could you bee so Heartless........

BMV is #1 in Macendonia

Recently i finished production and mixing of an album by Icelandic pop rock artist "BMV". BMV has been busy promoting the album worldwide, and i just got word that the single "Runaway" is #1 in Macedonia of all places!!! For those geographically challenged, Macedonia is a small country in Europe bordered by Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, and Serbia & Montenegro.

Radio 106, the biggest station in the country, is spinning "Runaway" 14 times a day!!!! Holy Cow! You can hear "Runaway" and several other songs on BMV's myspace page at MySpace.com/BMVsounds

You can also buy the song straight from his MySpace page if you really like it. Don't be shy! Here's a screen capture of the Macedonia Chart. Quite an impressive list of artists beneath him :-)

-Ken

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