Native Window - Press Releases

News Releases

KANSAS / NATIVE WINDOW - Part Three Of We Will Rock You Audio Interview With Violinist DAVID RAGSDALE Available

As previously reported, Sterling Whitaker at We Will Rock You recently caught up with KANSAS / NATIVE WINDOW violinist David Ragsdale. Part 3 of the audio interview is now available at this location

According to Whitaker, "in this segment we discuss the pros and cons of drugs in the musical creative process; Ragsdale's stint in the Tulsa Philharmonic; the rigid discipline of the classical world; his years playing with Louise Mandrell; and how he first contacted Kansas by self-dubbing his own parts onto the Power album and sending the recording to Phil Ehart."

Part One of the interview is available here.

Part Two can be found here.

Artisan News Service - Native Window, Phil Ehart and Richard Williams Interview

ClassicRockRevisited.com - To Glimpse the Other Side: An Exclusive Interview with Kansas & Native Window

Goldmine Magazine - Native Window scratches that itch

Rock Daily - Native Sons

Vintage Rock Magazine - Toto, I Don't Think We're In Kansas Anymore

Native Window, Kansas Roots

Review

By Chris Cruz, Topeka Metro News

Yes, you will do a double-take.

The debut CD from Native Window features four of the five members of the rock band, Kansas. That’s right, four of the five.

Kansas fans will speculate. And to make matters more interesting, Native Window will open for Kansas on tour. Yes, another double-take. It is Kansas personnel without Steve Walsh.

This cooperative effort began with the realization that Kansas knew they could no longer expect ample writing contributions of former member, Kerry Livgren and current member, Steve Walsh. Both writers have indicated they may write an occasional song or two but they were basically done writing any album length material for Kansas. "The four of us decided that we were not done yet," said drummer Phil Ehart, "and Native Window was born to scratch that ‘new material itch’."

Without Steve Walsh’s voice and keyboards, Ehart, Richard Williams (guitar), Billy Greer (vocals/bass), and David Ragsdale (violin) decided to see if they could develop music that would sound good acoustically.

Establishing a band name was a challenge because they discovered many of the names have already been used. Ehart came across "native window" as a computer term and felt the correlation to reference "a start or a beginning" seemed appropriate to their collaboration. "No one else had used the name for a band," Ehart said, "and after we discussed it we agreed to use it."

So, why not write new material for Kansas instead of a new group? "We wanted to do something different," explained Ehart. " Kansas will always be our main focus yet we wanted to take ourselves out of Kansas to see what could develop." Thus Native Window was born.

With different material, more vocal harmonies, creative musical contributions from all members and the absence of keyboards and Walsh’s voice, Native Window strove to offer something unlike the familiar Kansas sound. When you listen to Native Window, you will feel and hear a sense a familiarity, especially if you are a Kansas fan. No, this is not Kansas reinvented. It is four musicians, who happen to be members of Kansas, exploring and creating melodic rock that allows their talents to expand.

Overall, the CD is consistent throughout with high quality, memorable songs that will impact and engage the listener. You will soon find yourself singing along either with the lead or the harmonic parts. You will want to turn up the volume and immerse yourself in a rock sound that makes you feel good. All ten tracks are worthy works and it is difficult to select some favorites. "Still (We Will Go On)" with somewhat prophetic lyrics and "The Light of Day" are both thought-provoking with quiet energy and emotions. "An Ocean Away" builds on this and intensifies in a blend of musical colors. Ragsdale’s violin is a perfect complement to each song, adding an almost obbligato vocal-like element that flows throughout. Driving and pulsating rhythms can be found in "Got to Get Out of This Town," "Money," and "Blood in the Water."

The Native Window CD will be released on June 23. They have already performed and opened for Kansas on April 25 in Patchogue, NY and will do so again at Boomtown Days on June 13 in Joplin, MO. No, Kansas fans will not have to be concerned that Native Window will replace Kansas. "It is a side project," explains Ehart.

For a preview of Native Window, visit their Websites at www.nativewindow.com or www.myspace.com/nativewindow. You will want the CD. Not bad for a group that evolved from the once Topeka based Kansas. And yes, you will do a double-take.

Native Window, SCR6903, produced by Steve Rawls, Star City Records, www.starcityrecording.com

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KANSAS VETS LAUNCH NATIVE WINDOW - DEBUT ALBUM, ROCKLINE APPEARANCE, AND SUMMER TOUR TO SOON FOLLOW

Longtime Kansas fans may have a hard time dealing with the fact that the group's two main songwriters, Steve Walsh (singer/keyboards/synths) and Kerry Livgren (guitar/ keyboards/synths) have stated that they are done writing any more album worth's of new material for the group. But it's time to rejoice, as Native Window – which is essentially Kansas minus Walsh – will certainly help fill this void, with a self-titled debut, issued June 23rd via StarCity Records (run by Jeff Glixman, who produced some of Kansas best-selling releases).

"It was a bit presumptuous of us to assume we could write a whole CD of music, considering we did not have song one when we started," explains Kansas/Native Window drummer, Phil Ehart. "We wrote songs ourselves, collaborated with other writers, and even found some outside songs."

"Without Steve singing, without keyboards, it is fundamentally different from Kansas right out of the box," adds guitarist Richard Williams. "A conscious effort was made to not sound like, write like, or emulate anything Kansas would do. Kansas already does that just fine."

Produced by Steve Rawls and Native Window and recorded at Real 2 Reel Studios over a two-year span, the 'new' group (which is comprised of Ehart and Williams, plus singer/bassist Billy Greer, and violinist David Ragsdale) has picked up where Kansas left off musically, especially after judging from the melodic rock anthems heard throughout the disc. And all this happened despite the band members being entirely uncertain what the material would ultimately sound like. "That was the exciting part...we had no idea what it would sound like! We had one criteria - the song had to sound good acoustically. If it sounded good with just acoustic guitar and vocals, then we developed it from there."

Questions also arose regarding the group's vocal and lyrical makeup, but once again, everything fell nicely into place. "We could all carry a tune and sing in pitch, but could we actually sound good together? It took some work to get over the hump of singing harmonies, but once we did, you couldn't shut us up! The lyrics were a total group effort. Someone would have a title, a one liner, a chorus, and the lyrics just sprung from there. Sometimes Billy would have a bunch of lyrical ideas, and we'd brainstorm from there."

When asked to pick a favorite track of the album, Ragsdale ran into some difficulty limiting it to just one. "All of them, and why not? Seriously, though, I really like the mood of 'Miss Me' , and how it develops and returns. 'Blood In the Water' makes me grin a bit as well." Greer offered his own praise about the project, as well. "The writing and recording process on this project was more rewarding and fun than any I have been involved in a very long time. Vocally, this was one of the most challenging and rewarding CD's I have ever recorded!"

The day after 'Native Window' arrives, the group will be appearing on the renowned nationally syndicated radio show, Rockline – on Wednesday, June 24th – followed by a summer's worth of tour dates, opening up for...Kansas! And for those who wonder how the launching of Native Window sits with the only missing member of Kansas, Ehart is willing to put any speculation to rest. "Steve has been very supportive of Native Window since it's inception. He has wished us the best since day one."

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