writergirlKevin Rudolf has come a long way since getting his first guitar at the ripe age of 12 years old, and now the song writer, producer, and guitarist is back on the 2013 music scene with his latest single, Here’s To Us.
Previously working alongside music giant Timbaland, and with collaborations with the likes of Flo Rida, Birdman, to Lil Wayne, it is no wonder that Rudolf firmly belongs in the world of rap rock. With albums, In The City (2008) and To The Sky (2010) under his belt, there is a treat in store for music lovers when his upcoming album is released.
Based in Miami, Rudolf’s latest single Here’s To Us reaches out to fans worldwide, asking why “the night feels so long when your heart’s not filled with song.” Rudolf’s music teams energy with an innovative but genuine adoration of music and power.
I got to speak to the man behind the hat about how it feels to play live, and whether he intends on making music in the foreseeable future.
CD: Kevin, great to have you back in the music world, where you rightfully belong. Every time I hear ‘Welcome to the World,’ it reminds me of a holiday back in 2009. Is there a song that you love that has a particularly strong memory attached to it?
KR: Yeah, music has a way of just freezing a moment in time. All my songs transport me somewhere. In a way, that’s what the new one’s about. This little journey we’re all taking, alone and together. It’s not always easy, but music has been there for me. You know, “the music’s gonna save your life.”
CD: Naturally, you’ve collaborated with some big names: Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi, and Flo Rida to name a few. If you could collaborate with any musician, who would it be, and why?
KR: I’d want to collaborate with my heroes growing up. U2, Bon Jovi, and so many others. They’re the ones that inspired me, the whole reason I’m here, doing this.
CD: ‘Let it Rock’ achieved a multi-platinum status, selling over 4 million copies worldwide, that’s pretty impressive for your first song! Would you prefer to play in smaller venues or bigger?
KR: I’ll play wherever they want me. You reach people in different ways with the music. In a small place, you could look into their eyes and see if you’re connecting. It’s more intimate. But in a big place, there’s a kind of excitement. All that energy- it kind of feeds on itself and becomes this whole other thing.
CD: Now, your third album is on its way, and with “To The Sky” dating back to 2010, is it fair to say that you’d rather take time to ensure your album is at its best before releasing, as opposed to producing it quickly on demand?
KR: It takes some time tapping in to what you’re feeling and thinking. In this case, I wanted to take in a lot of what had happened. But once you do tap in, things can move really fast. These songs are actually coming together quickly. They’ve all got that magic feeling, like they arrived fully formed. It just took a while to get to that place where I was open to them.
CD: The third album is something I am ridiculously excited about, how would you describe the album in 4 words?
KR: My best work ever
CD: And of course your latest single Here’s To Us has recently been released on iTunes. What inspired this song, and with its meaningful lyrics, is there a particular message to be taken from it?
KR: I can’t really say I think about the message too much. I just try to express what I’m feeling. My interpretation isn’t going to be any better than yours. I mean, clearly there’s a theme that runs through a lot of my writing – about overcoming tough situations. In my case, music’s always been there to see me through the hard times.
CD: It’s clear to see that you’ve still got the passion for music. Do you plan to make music for as long as you can?
KR: I’d have to say no, because I don’t really plan anything. But my guess is, I’ll be playing music ’til i drop, because it’s who I am, and what I am.
CD: Finally, can we find you on tour any time soon? If not, if our readers want to find out about more of your music and your upcoming album, where should they head?
KR: Yeah, I mean the music on this album is such a blast playing live. So I do want to get out there and play it for as many of you as I can. Just check my website and all the usual places.
SO, it appears that Kevin Rudolf is back with a vengeance in the form of Here’s To Us.
With Let It Rock pitching in at No.28 on Rolling Stone’s List of the Best Songs of 2008, it is not surprising that Here’s To Us has been greeted by a warm reception from fans.
If you’re keen to expand your iTunes library, you can download Here’s To Us on iTunes.
Like Kevin, from New York, to Miami, to wherever you are reading this right now, you can find Here’s To Us here