New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Rock singer/songwriter Rich DePaolo mines the shadows on his riveting new album, 'Killed for Kings'. It's a smart, deep, haunting, quietly assertive collection - and it rocks. DePaolo comments, "the songs spring from universal themes of personal challenge, self-reflection and triumph against heavy odds."
The tracks evoke a cathartic reaction, as they reveal small victories of the everyman -- struggling, sometimes with clenched teeth, to rise above his day-to-day indignities and the injustices of an adamant world.
Ithaca, NY-based multi-instrumentalist, producer-engineer DePaolo shines on highlights including 'Seconds,' 'Hammer Lee' and more, delivering complex, literate music that casts a reflection of our times, even as it weaves its broader narrative.
Listen to the music here: https://www.richdepaolo.com/music
Lyrics are here: https://www.richdepaolo.com/lyrics
In recent interviews, DePaolo talks about the genesis of the project and how his writing reflects the human condition. In an engaging Q&A with Eponymous Review, he commented, "Words really matter to me. I'm looking to make mirrors and medicine out of language." ER premiered the video for focus track 'Where Believers Don't Go': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oit_u44L46Y
Read the full interviews, here:
Eponymous Review - Interview and Video Premiere By Laurie Fanelli, 5/3/18
Rich DePaolo talks process, the human condition and his new album 'Killed for Kings'
https://www.eponymousreview.com/3593/interview-rich-depaolo-process-human-condition-new-album-killed-for-kings/
VENTS Magazine - Interview Feature:
4/2018
No Depression contributing writer Frank Gutch, Jr previewed his forthcoming album review for 'Killed for Kings':
Rich DePaolo sent me his album, eieio. One damn fine album it is, too. Damn fine! Tom Mank has mentioned him to me many times, so why the hell did I not scope him out? Hell if I know. I should have. Like it says, he sent me a digital copy of his album. Did I listen right away? To a couple of tracks before filing it away until he brought the matter up a couple of months later. Know what? It is one of the best albums I have heard yet this year. Easy rocking tunes written by a guy I consider masterful when it comes to music. The arrangements are stunning (which means a lot to me, me being an arrangement freak). The production is immaculate. The performances top notch. DePaolo has a voice not unlike that of a higher octave Johnny Rivers and uses it extremely well. Titled Killed For Kings, it has me hungering for more. Time to hit the back catalogue.
DePaolo offers these additional thoughts about 'Killed for Kings', his second full- length solo album:
"I didn't start writing for this record with a theme in mind, but it soon became clear that the characters were crawling out of similar shadows with common stories and questions. Where is the line between ambition and greed? When does desire become obsession? With so many false idols demanding to be worshipped, why do so many of us fall to our knees? What are people willing to do to others, or have done to themselves, just to feel alive?
There are forces that take hold of our lives that can either be embraced, battled or ignored- and the choices ultimately determine whether we can accept what we see in the mirror at the end of the day. are real. We have all killed, and been killed, for kings."
DePaolo started experimenting with recording as a teenager, using two cassette decks, loudspeakers and a cheap microphone to simulate the tape machine he would ultimately earn by painting the side of his parents' New Jersey house. He is entirely self-taught, honing his ear by playing along with the albums of his heroes and jamming with local bands.
After moving to Ithaca, DePaolo became a prominent figure in its music scene, performing and recording in genres as diverse as art-rock, country pop, folk, blues, and Americana. He was a principal writer and collaborator in the avant-rock quintet, Red Letter, before hitting the road as a sideman with the
Burns Sisters Band (Rounder Records) for years. Touring led to spontaneous festival hookups with
Sarah Harmer,
Martin Sexton, Jimmy LaFave and Tom Paxton, among others, and recording sessions produced by Garry Tallent (E Street Band) and Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket...).
DePaolo regularly performs throughout the Northeast U.S. in support of numerous acts, and has confirmed a series of shows to coincide with the May release of 'Killed for King'. A May 3rd CD release concert at Lovin' Cup in Rochester, NY kicked things off, and additional dates are here:
May 19 A Place for Folk Concert Series Schenectady, NY
June 14 Casita Del Polaris Ithaca, NY
June 16 Cyber Café West Binghamton, NY
Keep up to date on all events, here: https://www.richdepaolo.com/shows
Visit: https://www.richdepaolo.com
