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BIO
Courtney's first solo was when she was 2 years old. She sang the song "Im a lonely little petunia in an onion patch, and all I do is cry all day!" Courtney studied classical opera at Interlochen Arts Academy and in college at Indiana University. During college, she developed a passion for learning other vocal styles and began studying the Hindustani style of Indian Classical music, southern African folk, and Bulgarian singing.
Also at that time, Courtney Co-led the group The Prom with Kenny Childers. She has played and sang in various bands such as United States Three, Invisible Jet, and Patina. She has also sung in other people's projects both in recording and live. Some of those projects include John Mellencamp, The Wallflowers, Sufjan Stevens, Petra Haden, Yuka Honda, and Sean Lennon.
She began working on her first solo record, which would later be released on Benchmark Records in 2004. Courtney decided to move to the neighborhood of Red Hook in Brooklyn, NY and it is in New York City that she met Benjamin Cartel and formed the duo Kaiser Cartel, which has been her main focus. The band has toured the United States and continental Europe. They have released four EPs Double Standard (2005), Live From Breakthru Radio (2006), Okay and Other Things We Feel (2007), Rock Island (2009) Kaiser Cartel released a full debut album in June of 2008 (Bluhammock Records) and released their second record in June of 2010 (Daniel Records).
Kaiser Cartel is a low-fi, song-driven, harmony-heavy Brooklyn-based duo. They recently followed up their successful debut album, March Forth, with a darker, more experimental collection entitled Secret Transit. Produced by Matt Hales (aqualung) and recorded in an old folkloric church around London, the styles and sounds explored on this album run the musical gamut. Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel have been touring the country headlining their own shows, and supporting Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, aqualung, Carrie Rodriguez and Tracy Bonham. KC have had their music on the TV shows Exiled (MTV), Alter-Eco (Discovery), Private Practice (ABC), the first two episodes of Bored To Death (HBO) and on Starbucks' Have You Heard? Compilation. Their video for "Oh No" can be seen on VH1.com, their video for "Okay" was screened at Slamdance and the "Blue Sky" video won "Best Music Video" at the Coney Island Film Fest.
On top of her indie-rock endeavors, Courtney has written songs with Benjamin Cartel for the conservation group Art of Conservation in Rwanda. For her, hearing children across the globe sing songs she has written is a mind blowing experience. Courtney loves working with children of all ages, facilitating an environment that is assists in fostering each child's individual talent. Music is a bridge and universal language and Courtney takes as many opportunities as she can to be that bridge for children.
"Each musician owns their own style for songwriting. Most have their own unique process, special setting, and muses. With Kaiser, all songs have a muse springing from reality and an actual event in her life."
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