This summer has seen Kevin Davy White take his heady brew of blues, funk, soul and ragged classic rock on the road, taking in huge outdoor shows as guest to Lionel Richie and Gabrielle as well as festival dates from the Montreux Jazz Festival to Weyfest. Further boosted by the singles ‘Honey’, ‘Thousand Stars’ and ‘Tomorrow’, Kevin now fulfils a lifelong ambition with today’s release of his debut album ‘Keep Dreaming Wild’. It is launched along with its new focus track ‘It Will Come’. Listen HERE.
While the Frenchman has enjoyed a big summer, ‘Keep Dreaming Wild’ most definitely isn’t the result of a sudden overnight rise. Each chapter of his story presents a bigger tale than most people would experience in a lifetime. It started when he moved from Paris to London in the hope of establishing a career in music. From there it became every more unpredictable. First was a brief spell of homelessness when that move didn’t work out, which he escaped from constant busking. Show-stopping performances on the French edition of ‘The Voice’ and ‘The X Factor’ in the UK followed, and then – while firmly in the spotlight -he had the bravery to step back to really discover his musical identity. And now he is flourishing once more on his own terms.
Kevin says, “Through all those years of work, my only motto was: have hope and have faith. When you start music, you know it’s going to be hard. But the fuse has to be the passion and the fun. So all the songs for this first album are talking about the future. That’s why the name of the album is ‘Keep Dreaming Wild’. Because that’s what keeps you going.”
The product of that dream is a set of songs that showcase everything Kevin Davy White can do. Written, played, recorded, mixed, produced and mastered by the technology-loving man himself, it’s the culmination of everything he’s ever dreamt of. A set of songs leaning into his lifelong love of rock, blues and soul, it’s the sound of an artist aiming high, digging deep and catching fire.
Beyond the singles, ‘Keep Dreaming Wild’ drops brand new highlights at every turn, from the garage-blues hybrid of ‘Impasse’ to the taut, muscular funk of ‘Vulnerable’ and a real flair for driving hard-rockers with ‘Sucking The Air’ and ‘Wind’. The album as a whole is best encapsulated by its closing song and new focus track ‘It Will Come’, a show-stopping ballad in which Kevin delivers lyrics about hope with such unstrained passion it’s as if he’s in the midst of a life-or-death prayer.
He adds, “‘It Will Come’ was inspired by Ray Charles, and particularly his song ‘Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)’. Hearing that was the first time I cried to a song, when I finally understood the meaning of it. It was just an amazing feeling. I wanted to try to honour that in my song.”
Now it’s Kevin Davy White’s time. He’s put everything of himself into his album, and is living, smiling proof of the power of passion, commitment and rocket-powered talent. The moment has come to look ahead to his next dream.
Kevin Davy White will embark upon a UK headline tour in support of ‘Keep Dreaming Wild’ this November. Tickets for the shows, listed below, are available HERE. He will also play a benefit show for the Cash For Kids charity at Blackpool Opera House on October 15th and another for Newcastle West End Foodbank in Newcastle on October 14th with Scouting For Girls.
NOVEMBER
14th – Manchester, Gullivers
15th – Carlisle, Old Fire Station
16th – Glasgow, SWG3 Poetry Club
17th – Inverness, The Tooth & Claw
19th – Newcastle, Think Tank?
22nd – York, Fulford Arms
23rd – Hull, The New Adelphi Club
29th – London, The Grace
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