Latest…

So, no word from AIR and KEXP so I’m assuming I didn’t get the Seattle residency. Bummer but there it is. However I did get a reporting piece assigned from Marketplace and hopefully that will all pan out. Also, I’ve been hired by WUCF to record and produce some Pledge Drive Promos for them and that’s been a fun project. As for Third Coast, it will be mid-August until I found out if my Short Docs submission was selected as one of the four winners to receive a paid trip to the conference. If I don’t win I’m not sure how I’ll be able to go but will cross that bridge later, if needed.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out my Short Docs submission and are interested, here’s the link…

http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/library/872-all-you-need-is-a-wall-11

And thanks as always for your interest in my work.

Best,

kb

Where I’m at in the world of radio….

Hi all,

First I’d like to offer a heartfelt thank you for everyone who has supported me and found value in my audio work. Until now I’ve let my audio do the talking here on RadioKuralt but there are a select few who are actually interested in my whole zig-zag creative path so I’d love to open up a dialog with you in order for me to keep the momentum going and to exchange ideas on how to really light this candle! Suggestions and comments appreciated and welcomed!

Okay so the latest news…

I just completed a submission for the Third Coast “Short Docs” competition, which is a booger of an undertaking but great for the chops. Each year the Third Coast Audio Conference comes up with a theme and set of production parameters that we producers have to stick to. This year the piece could be 3 minutes max and had to include specific clips from an upcoming record by The Books. It’s astounding how different all the submissions end up being. I threw my name into the hat because it was free to participate and 4 winners will be chosen and given an all-expenses paid trip to the conference in Chicago this October. Since it’s probably the only way I’ll be able to go I am hoping beyond hope that I win. Would that it were a “popular vote” thing and I know you all would have my back, but it’s judged by radiomakers who are WAY up there. Anyway, fingers crossed? Winners will be announced by August 1st.

My Short Docs piece was titled “All You Need is a Wall” and it reminded me of that saying that goes something like ‘writing is easy, just put your arm over the keyboard and open a vein’. This was a pretty freaking excruciating piece to produce because the subject-matter is so personal. You ever drink too much then make “hey” calls or send out texts and then wake the next day thinking, OH NO! Yeah, well that’s pretty much how I felt when I actually submitted this feature, like I wanted to kind of take it back but I couldn’t. And truthfully it needed to be done because recently I figured out that a lot of my art is in celebrating others’ art, but it had been quite some time since I cracked open my heart some and let people in. Well with “All You Need is a Wall” you will be offered a look into my life as it stands right now, and it’s a doozy. I submitted the piece at the 11th hour so it isn’t up online yet, but I’ll keep you posted.

Third Coast also has a grand kahuna competition for works that have already aired and I think I’ll be submitting “Dear Dish” and “Record Store Day”. Any thoughts on that? It’s 75 bucks a pop so I can only offer up one or two. The honor and actual prizes for that competition are ENORMOUS. Will talk more about that soon.

Still waiting to hear whether I’ve made it as a finalist for the Seattle Live Interactive Residency with KEXP and AIR (Association of Independents in Radio). This would be the bomb!! 10 weeks paid residency at a killer station in Seattle. This is the second time I’ve applied for this bad boy but the competition is fierce and I’ve never really gotten a handle on what it is they’re looking for, producer-wise. It would be a great learning experience, a chance to offer up my own goodness, 10 weeks paid work and a chance to scope out Seattle. More fingers crossed?

On the local front I filled in for my old ArtBeat segment on WUCF and covered Orlando band, The Broken Inn and had a great time doing it. I felt bad though because a lot of locals thought I was taking it back over and were psyched, but I’m just filling in as needed. However, station manager Kayonne Riley said she was so happy to hear my voice again that she’d like to pay me to do some fundraising spots for them. Very very cool!

I’ve also got a podcast in the works that will eventually take over the world with its bad-assedness but all in good time, friends.

Okay, so I’ll strive to make future blog posts more short and sweet, but we all had a lot of catching up to do. Would love to hear any ideas or comments you have about all this wackiness.

Xo,

kb

The Broken Inn - Young Guys, Old Souls

(FROM ARTBEAT ON 89.9, WUCF).

Orlando rock band, The Broken Inn, has defied the odds by staying together for four years with the same lineup of musicians - a particularly impressive feat considering they started together when they were 15 years old. Hear how this “young” band could teach the old-timers a thing or two.

Audio player below…

the-broken-inn

Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s Kevn Kinney, A Milwaukee Boy at Heart.

Here’s another feature for “State of the Re:Union”…

Since 1985, Atlanta band Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ has best been known for southern-fueled twang rock, but frontman Kevn Kinney grew up in Milwaukee – a city that continues to be his muse. In this Sounds feature producer Katie Ball talks with Kevn about the struggles he’s seen in his home town and the inspiring changes to come.

Audio Link below:

http://stateofthereunion.com/kevn-kinney-milwaukee

From the vaults of WMFE and Central Florida StoryCorps

In the Orlando StoryCorps booth mother and son, Sarah and Max Gonzalez, create a new perfect moment - and share their hopes for the future.

Audio Feature Below…

katie-ball-work-sample

More Central Florida StoryCorps features can be heard at…

http://www.wmfe.org/site/PageServer?pagename=storycorps_mainpage

Record Store Day (My first feature for SOTRU)

Hi all I am so psyched to have signed on as an Associate Producer/Intern for the national radio show, “State of the Re:Union.” These folks are doing some really cool work and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. Hope you’ll visit their site and check out my new multimedia feature about independent record stores and why they matter.

http://stateofthereunion.com/record-store-day

Dear Dish

Photo by Lori Grey

Photo by Lori Grey

On April 15, 2009, brothers Roberto and Nathaniel Aguilar of the band, Dish, officially released their remarkable full-length record, Ma Raison De Vivre Ton Amour. They also announced that Nathaniel is leaving the group to move back to Maryland.

Everyone deals with loss differently - here’s my way.

Audio Link Below

dear-dish_mixdown

All songs courtesy of Dish, from the record Ma Raison De Vivre Ton Amour.

http://www.myspace.com/dishtheband

Martin Atkins: the dude knows.

Picture an irreverent big brother who’s been there - done that, and surprisingly lived to tell the tales. Drummer Martin Atkins (Public Image Ltd., Ministry, Killing Joke, Nine Inch Nails and more) knows the music business. Seriously, he KNOWS it. In addition to being an artist in his own right he also owns the Invisible record label, teaches various marketing courses at Columbia College in Chicago and has written the bible for touring bands, Tour Smart (And Break the Band). But if you’re picturing stale data analysis and tired, overused marketing mantras, think again; Atkins is funny, snarky and straight-up about the pros and cons of becoming a “professional” musician.

In this two-parter Martin and Katie Ball discuss topics ranging from the messy (and funny) lessons learned in some of his past bands and also what musicians are doing to sabotage their careers, and why.

Audio Link below

martin-atkins-by-katie-ball-part-1

Part 2

martin-atkins-by-katie-ball-part-2

Music by: Public Image Ltd, Brian Brain, Pigface.

http://www.tstouring.com

Home for the Holidays.

I was honored to be offered the opportunity to report a story for Marketplace (my first national piece)! “Home for the Holidays” is based in Orange Park Florida and the story covers the Greenlee family, who were facing the upcoming Christmas holiday with little-to-no financial stability after losing their homes to foreclosure.

Beth and Scott Greenlee.

Here’s the link:

Home for the Holidays

Canines, Tapas, The Undead: Fun for the whole family!

Talk about grassroots efforts - When Chris Murphy of Superior Mutts Dog Rescue calls on the undead for some fundraiser assistance be afraid, be very afraid!

Audio Link Below

zombie-carwash-by-kball

Superior Mutts Dog Rescue

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/FL500.html

Central Florida Pug Rescue

http://www.centralfloridapugrescue.org/v2/

Second Chance Rescue

http://www.secondchancerescue.cjb.net/

Songs: Distant Tension, Heart of the Beast, Plucky Daisy (all by Kevin MacLeod)

http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/

Running time: 6 minutes, 6 seconds.