From kay:
“The source of these songs is a mystery to me, a deep and abiding one, and more than anything else, I seek to keep my channel open to honor the vitality that comes through. I have had help in so many ways from many people. First and foremost, I want to thank Rip Florence, not only for his mad producing skills but also for his kindness, support, and calm, steady encouragement. I want to thank all the amazing folks who play on Mondays at the Ugly Mug Cafe in Soquel, CA., Planet Earth. It is so life-affirming to share in the weekly ritual we enact of holding space for each other. I have made friendships I never expected and have grown there as a songwriter, performer, and person. Thanks to all my friends, particularly Kristen and Marcus Cortez, for feeding me in so many ways and who let me play for my dinner; and to Tamera Parks for helping me believe I could come out as Trans, for being there at my shows and teaching me about gracefulness; and to Cathy Head for her insight and unwavering support of me, in more ways than I can recount. Finally, I want to acknowledge and thank Steve Volk, owner of the Ugly Mug Cafe, for his unflagging support of local musicians and artists, for his perpetual motion, and for his generosity and encouragement: he knows how I feel about him.”


From rip:
"My friend Kay has made a unique, special, and intrinsic contribution to music and the local community via her debut album, ‘one candlelight’! This is the type of musical endeavor makes me feel most fulfilled in curating this label and collaborating with community…

I knew that when I first met Kay, heard her music and learned about her personal journey, I wanted to work with her. She had told me that after coming out as Trans and navigating a tumultuous divorce, (as a consequence of her coming out), she felt empowered and ready to start sharing her music publicly.

Kay’s songs are empowering and all about the spirit of being hopeful, loving, and true to oneself. Because of her spirit, I have found her music to be exceptional, and it’s been so enjoyable to listen to these songs while in the mixing and mastering process of this project.

In the contemporary social media landscape - where people clamber for each other’s attention via signaling the idea of being cool, popular, and homogenizing their art/aesthetic to suit trends - Kay is truly original and refreshingly cool. Cool being: genuine, sincere, loving, and encouraging to all the people she meets in her life.

I feel wholly great about collaborating with Kay on this project - and I hope that her music lands with the audience she deserves: one that values community empowerment in music, altruism, the intrinsic creative impulse, and not being afraid to be a genuine artist even if it means not being the most popular. Nurturing that honest spirit is what this label and lofi, outsider music are all about!"