"In writing SACRED, I've made peace with a very personal truth -- I believe music is the most sacred expression of emotion and imagination." - Kevin Wood
Son of a Baptist minister and religion professor, Kevin Wood was raised in the Bible belt of the South, living both in Central Texas and near Nashville, TN. Seems like an odd upbringing for someone who found a comfortable niche within the New Age music industry.
"I really enjoyed attending Baptist churches growing up, but Išve been searching for a deeper meaning in life and a deeper spiritual understanding. I believe this yearning is one reason I have been so drawn to chants of Native Americans and New Age/World music. There is so much more to be discovered spiritually beyond what is taught in a typical Sunday school class," Wood said.
Trained in classical piano since age 6 and singing church hymns throughout his youth, Wood was influenced by conventionally structured music a style that affected him and served him well within the New Age genre.
"I agree with Steven Halpern when he wrote that most New Age music is 'based upon harmony and consonance, rather than dissonance,' and it is often based on conventional chord structures, helping make us feel in balance, at peace, and in harmony with the world," Wood said. "This balance is one reason the New Age genre is such a good fit for my music. I like to write music that, above all, makes one feel good."
Wood's second release, "Sacred," shows evidence of a strong World flavor that complements his conventional style of composing. It earned him Backroads #2 World "Album of the Year" award. Wood's initial goal was to pair just Native American chants with Gregorian chants. "Strangely enough, the album seemed to evolve toward more of a World album throughout the latter phases of its creation, during the polishing of the writing and the mixing. Frankly, the more world chanting I included, the more interesting and endearing the songs grew."
While "Sacred" fits nicely within either a World or a New Age classification, Wood's first album only dabbled in World traditions. "Scenic Listening," which earned the #4 album on the NAV Airwaves chart, was really more of a collage aimed at carrying the listener to natural and peaceful settings -- a mountainside, a waterfall, even a cathedral. Only the first song, "Tribal Hymn," is considered "worldly" by containing cross-cultural chanting. "Not only is this song a favorite of many fans, it is the song that felt most fulfilling to create. Adding world chants really makes the songs feel more spiritual," said Wood.
Wood's music has certainly been described as spiritual in nature. "With 'Sacred,' by combining Gregorian chants and primarily Native American chants, I paired two different but equally spiritual styles of vocal prayer, resulting in a unique spiritual experience. I felt a 'calling,' if you will, to develop these parallel devotions into a single seamless musical style. I believe they marry well," Wood said.
Wood will debut "Sacred" by staging musical performances in 2006 that also will feature his oldest brother, Karl Wood (www.fyregod.com), world renowned as a fire dancer, who will perform to Kevin's music. The pairšs performance has been likened to the fire show by Cirque du Soleil, a popular international touring performance group.
While Wood has achieved much recognition for his compositions, surprisingly, he was never taught or encouraged to compose. "Composing was something I discovered on my own at age 12. I had read that Mozart became fascinated with playing thirds up and down the keys, and once I tried it with different variations, I was hooked." By winning first place in several music composition contests in high school, Wood proved his talents early.
Wood is a graduate of Baylor University with a double major in political science and religion. After college he ran several high-profile political campaigns in Central Texas, but after several years turned to music as a lifelong career. Wood also owns and manages a record label, "New Vision Music," which offers his music as well as radio, retail, and consulting services for artists within the New Age/World market (see NewAgeRadioPromotion.com). Wood married Jennifer Phillips of Temple, TX, in 2005, with his father officiating.
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