Kai Exos
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Kai Exos

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2016 | SELF

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | SELF
Established on Jan, 2016
Solo R&B Soul

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"Kai Exos Releases New Single, “Fire & Brew” in Anticipation of His Forthcoming EP."

"['Fire & Brew'] is sonically a lush nod to classic disco/soul”- Singersroom

Singer-songwriter Kai Exos releases his latest single “Fire & Brew” today. While his 2014 independent debut album, Telegraph, had a message of heartbreak, this track and his forthcoming EP mark a triumphant return.

The new single was created at the famed Capitol Studios in Hollywood, home of the legendary Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. “Fire & Brew” was recorded and produced there, by Atlanta-based team Poket (Oakland-native Bennie S. Rodgers II and Philly-native Omar Dominick) whose credits include Mariah Carey, Big Bang and Keri Hilson.

Exos tells SingersRoom upon its premiere, "'Fire & Brew' seems to have more and more meaning every day […] my partner and I got our relationship wrong so many times. We still haven’t solved everything, but we have each other. We've had to focus on positivity and be kind to each other. That’s what got us through hard times and being the have-nots."

Those difficult periods on Telegraph combined heavy blues and jazz influences in a signature Alt R&B sound. Music critics noted his exceptional blend of ‘instant classic’ Motown-era soul with 1970’s lo-fi rock. A subsequent world promo tour found him playing NYC, Tokyo, Ireland and London.

The album’s first single, “Vigilante,” was originally-produced by the team recognized for their work on Ziggy Marley’s “Dragonfly.” Its accompanying video racked up over 2 million views on YouTube and a dance-worthy remix by Proper Villains took it into the clubs. The following single, “Telegraph,” debuted at #19 on the US Triple-A Most Added chart.

The LP has since gained significant retail airplay with two tracks placed on Starbucks’ R&B and Hip Hop play list. In 2015, Exos was a mainstage performer on the closing weekend of NXNE, the opening act at Sundance Film Festival and featured in a much celebrated, unplugged Daytrotter session as part of their legendary music discovery series.

Kai Exos was born in Canada and raised in the United States where he started training at the age of four on piano in a gospel choir. He returned to his Canadian roots as a jazz performer and indie rock songwriter… and is now based in Los Angeles; spending much of his time writing commercial music and collaborating with West Coast talent.

Connect with Kai Exos:
Facebook / Instagram / SoundCloud / YouTube


For more information, please contact Giant Step:
Ben-David Fenwick
bdfenwick@giantstep.net
212-219-3567 x21 - SINGERSROOM


"Soul Newcomer Kai Exos Announces Video For Fire & Brew"

The softspoken LA-based singer-songwriter Kai Exos answered fan requests for a video with a simple Instagram post last week: “my new music video by Indrani drops 02-02.”

An independent rep for the elusive artist revealed that the genre-bending single achieved 750K digital streams this past week. Exos spent the past couple years as a songwriting gun-for-hire, but seems to have shifted back to solo performer with a series intimate pop-up shows across North America. Fire & Brew sees his first release since the critical acclaim of the title track off his debut album, Telegraph, that reached #18 on U.S. radio charts in 2015.

“We co-created such a natural love story here… the piece is a powerful expression of masculine and feminine energy,” says celebrated music video director, Indrani, best known for her work with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys and David Bowie.

Written about the vulnerability of love when physical aspects fall away, the strong melody rides lush production with all-female background vocals on a wave of emotion. Self-penned and recorded at the legendary Capitol Records, opaque visuals explore light play to hauntingly reveal the all-consuming nature of the [now dissolved] couple’s relationship.

With nods to Sam Cooke and Prince, Fire & Brew was co-produced with Atlanta powerhouse R&B duo POKET. The artist instantly connected with the drummer-half of the duo, Bennie Rodgers II (Mariah Carey, Keri Hilson) when Exos appeared for his notable live Daytrotter session. Ron Avant (of Anderson.Paak’s Free Nationals), a longtime collaborator, played keys on the original recording. “Kai started out in church and a lot of his roots are on this record; it’s that classic song structure that takes you back to The Motown Era,” added Rodgers.

The video premieres worldwide on VEVO at the close of Grammy Week, Friday 2nd February and streams there, and is also available on TIDAL. Toronto’s VMP Music Group in an earlier statement, said “He [Exos] wanted Fire & Brew to be a standalone single. We’re excited about his next album and can right now only say… it’s Kai doing what he does best. Kai’s sophomore project is slated for Summer 2018.” - FlavourMag


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

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Bio

His latest single "Fire & Brew" is now available on SoundCloud, TIDAL, Spotify and ITunes!

Kai Exos is mixed race Canadian Singer-Songwriter, who recently launched his first LP called “Telegraph”. Kai Exos was born in Canada and raised in the United States. With a background in classical piano and deeply rooted foundations in the gospel music of his church ensembles, Exos embarked on a career that would take his newfound voice as a young songwriter from Miami to Seattle, NYC and LA's most intimate of live music venues. He spends much of his time writing commercial music and songs for local talent, and works at an ad agency by day. In 2014, he launched his first LP “Telegraph” to critical acclaim, combining heavy blues and jazz influences. Some of the LP songs were presented in a private show in Hollywood, in 2014 where critics described Exos’ style as an interesting blend of everything from Motown era soul to 1970’s lo-fi rock. Subsequent world promo tour in cities including Toronto, Tokyo and London. The LP features the single “Vigilante”, which was originally-produced by the team recognized for their work on Ziggy Marley’s “Dragonfly.”


The single “Telegraph” debuted as #19 on the US Triple A Most Added and the debut single “Vigilante” was chosen as song of the day by Buzznet. The LP has since gained significant retail air play with two tracks placed on Starbucks’ R&B and Hip Hop play list. A few months after Telegraph was launched, Kai Exos paired up with Proper Villains to make a remix of the single “Vigilante”. 


In 2015, Kai was a mainstage performer on the closing weekend of Toronto’s NXNE in Yonge-Dundas Square, was the opening act at Sundance Film Festival’s Belvedere House and recorded a much celebrated, unplugged Daytrotter session as part of their legendary Music Discovery Series. Kai’s newest 5-song EP evolves his sound from neo-soul to Alt R&B, and the message has moved from heartbreak and into a triumphant return.