I recently interviewed fellow solo piano artist Kendra Logozar. I’ve known Kendra for almost 10 years and really enjoy her music and hanging out with her socially. After the interview I’ll include a playlist that includes our music.
PW: Thanks for speaking with me today.
KL: My pleasure!
PW: Please tell us about your background.
KL: When I was 12 my aunt moved from next door and gave us her piano. We had some old method books that my mom had used so I started playing through them and was excited by being able to start picking out songs.
My dad was a pastor and needed someone to play piano at church so I learned some chords and started chording along to the choruses and hymns as best I could. I took an ear training course and looked through the old school Hal Lenoard paper catalogs and picked out teaching books, theory, learning music styles workbooks that helped me grow. I enjoyed playing through classical but mostly played for church.
I first heard New Age style piano music because my dad had a Jim Brickman cassette (his Picture This album I think) which always played in the car when we were driving. I think he wore that tape out. As a young adult I started composing a bit and decided to try to record myself on an old keyboard. I didn’t know anything about recording but downloaded a free recording program on my brother’s laptop and started trying. It felt like an uphill climb as I knew nothing about recording or even computers, and knew no one to ask for help. But persisted till I recorded an album of some original pieces and covers of hymns and folk songs. I cringe when I listen to that album now but given my ignorance and lack of resources and I am proud that I did it.
I found a place to manufacture 100 cd’s and began looking for places to send them too. I had been following David Nevue for a while and bought his book for indie musicians and sent the cd to Whisperings Radio. After plugging into Whisperings and attending a concert that David, you and Joe Bongornio played at Michael Logozar’s house I was in a fever of excitement and inspiration that this was a real thing that I could be a part of. As you know Michael and I later married and have been working together ever since. He is a fantastic engineer and producer so he takes care of the technical side of music now for me and leaves me free to have fun with creating.
PW: Who were your earliest musical influences?
KL: Like I mentioned: Jim Brickman was my introduction to New Age piano. My parents played a lot of classical music when I was growing up, so Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and other Romantics and I loved playing Debussey as I started playing classical.
PW: When did you know that you wanted to be a solo piano artist?
KL: In my late teens I started writing and wanted to see what could happen if I recorded it. After experiencing my first Whisperings concert I really caught the first vision that maybe this was something one could do as an indie artist.
PW: What inspires you musically?
KL: Whatever I’m listening to musically, from pop to classical, strong emotions, stories I hear and listening to other pianists.
PW: Your most favorite song in your catalog?
KL: Song I like the most: Wish. Most fun song to play: Hummingbird.
PW: Biggest joy in your career/life?
KL: Relationships! Sharing life with my best friend Michael and making music together. Our daughter Aria and our friends and family. My family has always been my 1st love and my 1st priority. Career highlight has been hearing from people who have been touched by my music. It’s incredibly humbling and a special gift when someone you’ve never met is deeply touched by something you’ve done and shares that with you.
PW:Biggest struggle in your career/life?
KL: The marketing and technical aspects of music (recording, mastering ect) is hard. Like most musicians I just want to make music but the biggest bulk of the work seems to be admin and marketing stuff.
PW: Advice you’d give to up and coming artists?
KL: Seek advice whenever you get a chance, be persistent and consistent with making content and finding new ways to market it. Network with other musicians whenever you can. Making a career in the arts is a longterm game and most likely will need to be supplemented for many years.
PW: How do you want to be remembered?
KL: For what I invest in those I love and for leaving a little sparkle and sweetness with those who knew me.
PW: Thanks for the interview!
KL: Thank you Philip!
Check out this curated Kendra Logozar Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/1vRGRbpkzR0l8iCYxKFJDr