Kris Anders
1. Please provide us with a brief bio of yourself and your background.
My name is Kris Anders and I am an award winning Canadian singer/songwriter from the beautiful Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada with over a decade of experience in the music industry as a songwriter, performer, executive producer, and music manager.
I was born and raised on a mixed farm and cattle ranch in the small community of Alpine, Manitoba. Much of my musical inspiration came from my Mom's record collection consisting of Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Doors. I was also influenced by the sole radio station available in the family tractor which played Country music and my own collection of Rock from the local record stores.
My writing style is often described as poetic, descriptive and one that allows a sense of place, which I attribute to the Prairie images I was immersed in growing up in a lonely rural environment.
In early 2023, I was signed to the UK based Liberty PR roster and have been making waves with my fresh single, "Ever Enough" released on March 10th, 2023.
2. What led you to become a talent/artist/influencer/performer/current profession?
I have been involved in music from a young age, playing guitar and singing in several bands growing up. I first got involved in the Music Industry as a Manager for my wife, Deanna J Cartea, who is also a singer/songwriter. In 2020, I had the opportunity to become an artist and record my own music. I've been working at it full time since then.
3. Tell us more about your studio/company/academy.
Kris Anders is an award winning Canadian singer/songwriter from the beautiful Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada with over a decade of experience in the music industry as a songwriter, performer, executive producer, and music manager.
His widely acclaimed debut and award winning single, "Shattered" has found rotation on over 1000's of radio stations across the world, and has been featured on commercial playlists throughout North America, South America, and Europe. Kris’ 2022 follow-up singles, "How Did We Get Here" and "This Time" have been gaining momentum with widespread radio play and streaming. To date, Kris' first 3 releases have garnered over 500,000 streams on Spotify and Itunes. These tracks will be featured on his forthcoming album, "Threshing Room Floor", due in 2023.
Kris was born and raised on a mixed farm and cattle ranch in the small community of Alpine, Manitoba. Much of Kris's musical inspiration came from his Mom's record collection consisting of Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Doors. He also was influenced by the sole radio station available in the family tractor which played Country music and his own collection of Rock from the local record stores. Kris' writing style is often described as poetic, descriptive, and one that allows a sense of place, which Kris attributes to the Prairie images he was immersed in growing up in a lonely rural environment.
Look for Kris on tour both as a solo act or with a full band in 2023 with dates in the Okanagan Valley, Alberta and across BC.
Kris' highlights include:
2023 LIT Talent Award - Best Rock Video "Ever Enough"
2022 Intercontinental Music Award Winner - Best Rock Song "Shattered"
2022 Intercontinental Music Award Finalist - Pop song of the Year "How Did We Get Here" 2022 Josie Music Award Nominee - Male Vocalist of the Year
2022 Song of the Year. Com - Semi Finalist "How Did We Get Here" Best Adult Contemporary 2021 Josie Music Award Nominee - Best Rock Song "Shattered"
2020 Song of the Year.com - Semi Finalist "Shattered" Best Rock Song
2012 Music BC Demo award winner - "Cupid's Arrow" performed by Deanna J Cartea
2011 Executive Producer, Deanna J Cartea's "Open Road", which gained radio play in Europe and North America, hitting #2 on the Canadian Roots Rock charts and #12 in the USA. Deanna's single "Open Road" would go on to win an Independent Music Award for best AAA single.
2010 feature in American Songwriter magazine for their Lyric Award winner.
4. What skills have you learned that will help you in your result and/or performance?
I started out in the background as a Manager and learned how to produce an album, and market that music. I also learned a lot about the business portion of the music industry in that role. It all really helped when I decided to become a full time artist as I had already learned from my mistakes and didn't want to repeat that. I'm still learning of course, but I have a more efficient and effective way to get my music heard after learning about all the small details that are required to be successful.
5. What is your own definition of an impressive performance/show/masterpiece?
An effective performer is able to capture the audience and deliver their message while simultaneously making sure that they are also entertaining. I try to create "moments" during a live performance so that there is a 2 way dialogue between myself and the audience. I love it when there is interaction, it helps me perform better and when I'm having fun, so is the audience.
6. What is your creative or ideation process like?
Everything I write is done on an acoustic guitar, and the writing is on paper and pen. Sometimes it's the chords first, then the melody. Other times, it's the other way around. I usually have an idea or a concept I'm going for and let the creative juices flow and see what comes out. Once I have a good chorus, I work the song over until I'm satisfied with it. We add the other instruments in the studio later or with my live band.
7. What has been the best performance of your career so far?
Last Summer, we were invited to headline at Kelowna's Parks Alive series. This was an outdoor event on a stage in a park next to the marina and surrounded by several restaurants and bars in the downtown area. When we first took the stage, there were maybe 30 people in the crowd. Halfway through our set the crowd had grown into a few hundred and the place came alive right before our eyes. The weather was perfect and we had the entire place dancing and rocking to our music. We have been invited to come back this season and we look forward to it.
8. Describe the worst performance you have seen. What would you change about it?
I don't have a specific performance I have seen that I would label the "worst", but in my years of travelling and touring, I've seen artists on stage intoxicated and lack self awareness. In general, not acting professional. I have standards of professionalism and would not work with acts who behave that way.
9. Congratulations! As the winner of LIT Talent Awards, what does it mean to you, or your team, to receive this honor?
This is an incredible honour. Everyone on my team is really excited to have received this award. I know that the LIT awards receives entries from all over the world from extremely talented artists and producers so to win this category it really means a lot to us. We are elated!
10. How has winning an international awards help promote you and/or your masterpiece?
Being able to say this video has won the LIT Talent award gives it more weight and captures a wider audience. It gives the song more credibility now that it has won an award, and will help us get larger shows and more opportunities.
11. What are the challenges, for your winning entry, that you faced?
This video involved several days of shooting. So anytime you have to put multiple people together in one place and schedule that it can be challenging. I also had to write out a script to ensure we maintained focus. When it came to the outdoor scenes, we had to play around a bit for the best lighting as it was outdoors. Some of the scenes were in public, so I had to make sure I was not distracted by folks who were watching us film and wondering who I was and what we were doing with a film crew following me around!
12. What advise you will give to those who are in the same industry and/or are interested with your craft?
If you plan to be serious, then take yourself seriously. Learn how to do budgets and seek out projects that have value to your brand as an artist. Be consistent, as there are highs and lows in this industry. Seek out a good team that contributes positively to your goals.
13. Who inspired you in your life, and why?
My father was a hard working farmer and rancher. I grew up in that environment where we had to work hard every day to keep the farm going. He is also a great neighbor and would always help others when they needed it.
14. Who do you admire and what did he/she do that motivated you?
I admire my wife, Deanna, who takes care of our children so well. I never have to worry about them because she is always making sure they have everything they need.
15. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I would love at some point to co-write and produce a song with Steve Earle. He was a huge songwriter influence on me growing up and I love his songwriting style.
16. What is the key that made you succeed? Any parting words of wisdom?
It starts with the song. The song has to be great to be successful.
Keep at it, this is a lifelong artistic lifestyle and it gets better the longer one does it.
17. What is your upcoming masterpiece, that you’re currently preparing, about?
I am preparing a new release for June of 2023 called "I'm Ready". This is a rock/alt country style song that is all about Summer vibes and having a good time. In fact, we are planning another video shoot for it as I type!
18. If you could change anything about the entire industry, what would it be?
Streaming services are what most people use now, but they don't pay very well. It would be much better for the entire industry if the artists received more for their content.
19. Do you have anything else you would like to add for the interview?
Thank you for having me on! We are very grateful to have won the Best Rock Video this year and thank you to all our fans who make this possible! Check out my website at www.krisanders.com for our upcoming shows and connect with me on social media at @krisandersmusic. Thanks once again!
