Kenyth Mogan • Unlock Your Heart Music Video

About a month ago, I wrote about the latest single from the adorable and talented Kenyth Mogan. "Unlock Your Heart" is a wonderful song, perfectly suited for the singer. I just love it, and it instantly went into rotation on my iPod. In my review of the single, I mentioned there was a video coming out soon, but shortly thereafter, life caught up and left me in the dust. It left me with little getting posted to the blog. Well, I am trying to get back to the business of celebrating wonderful music, so I proudly bring you the music video for "Unlock Your Heart". It stars Kenyth, and features a strong acting performance by model/actor/activist Ronnie Kroell. Not only is Kroell excellent in in the homage to 'Wizard of Oz', he deftly manages to be charming both in and out of silver makeup in the role made famous by Jack Haley in the 1937 film starring Judy Garland. I love this modern retelling of the tale of this friend of Dorothy and the Tin Man, no matter what thoughts the pigtailed Dorothy has in mind. And Kenyth was smart enough to get a kiss from this sexy tin woodsman, after sharing a chain saw with him. I hope you enjoy "Unlock Your Heart" by Kenyth Mogan.

You can read my interview with Kenyth here. To learn more about Kenyth Mogan, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook. "Unlock Your Heart" can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. Ronnie Kroell's The Friend Movement celebrates friendships, tries to help build confidence, and make bullying a thing of the past. For more about The Friend Movement, visit the official website. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Kenyth Mogan • Unlock Your Heart

Handsome Kenyth Mogan.

I first discovered the music of Kenyth Mogan a little over a year ago, at the end of 2013. I loved it then, and continue to enjoy it now. So when I discovered he was releasing new music, I was eager to talk to him about it. As he was preparing to release the single "Unlock Your Heart", I got lucky, and was able to interview him. And since the song is being released today, I thought it was the perfect time to share it with you. I've marked my questions with S2MD, and made them italic. The important information, Kenyth's answers, are there for just for my readers!

S2MD: What was your inspiration for "Unlock Your Heart"?

"Unlock Your Heart" was written by Matthew Hayes and Aaron Harris. I've always been a huge fan of the 80s singer Tiffany, and I first discovered the song because she sang background vocals on a version Matt recorded for a project he was working on in Nashville. From first listen, I fell in love with the song and over the years have built up a friendship with Matt, who has written many other amazing songs. When we started working on the project, I found out Aaron lived in San Francisco and was lucky enough to have him appear in the music video as the Scarecrow.

S2MD: How did you assemble your team to make this happen?

My manager Jeremy Sonney is really responsible for most of the assembly. He’s worked with Robb Padgent and Tanya Ihnen at KATR Pictures for years. They’ve done some great web series together including 'Vampire, Zombie, Werewolf' and 'The Ladies and the Gents'. I’ve had the opportunity to work with them a few times, and Jeremy thought they’d be perfect to produce the video. Robb is also an amazing composer who scores for film, so luckily music videos were something they were looking to try. The team was a blast to work with and the end product turned out so much more amazing than I ever could’ve hoped. At the time, the makeup artist Jenn McFetridge was actually my roommate, which worked out perfectly. Everyone else in the video are mutual friends and coworkers. As everything started to come together I began to see the scope of the project and became more and more worried that we wouldn’t be able to pull it off. Then, Ronnie slipped into the Tin Man costume that Shane Dzicek (who was also our cinematographer) had built and all that worry faded away.

S2MD: Is 'The Wizard of Oz' your favorite movie?

Without a doubt, it’s one of my favorite movies of all-time. One of my best memories as a kid is being about four years old and watching it for the first time with my Mom. When the Wicked Witch appeared in the crystal ball mocking Dorothy I turned to her and said “She’s bad and needs a spanking!” My mother thought it was hysterical.

From the video shoot of the "Unlock Your Heart" music video. 

S2MD: How was it working with Ronnie Kroell on the music video?

Ronnie is a sweetheart, which I really wasn’t expecting. He’s a beautiful out and proud gay man in Hollywood -- often such qualities are accompanied by an ego the size of Montana, but not with Ronnie. He’s genuinely one of the sweetest guys I have ever met and continues to be supportive of me and the video. He’s wonderful.

Handsome Ronnie Kroell.

S2MD: Is the single and/or music video available for purchase?

The single will be available on iTunes as of February 13th, and the Video goes live on YouTube on Valentines Day!

S2MD: Can we expect more music to come in the near future?

Yes! I’ve actually already started working on the next project, which I hope to have ready by December. I’m working with some great producers including Gabe Lopez (Universal), Caleb Shultz (The Live Young Group), and Justine Kaye (Bombs Away Studios). I’ve also been writing a lot with my musical partner Phil Evans of The Roads Below, which is a new band out of Nashville. We’ve written about six songs together and I’m really proud of them. The album is still dance oriented, but there’s also a lot of rock influence. I can’t wait to share!

S2MD: Who is unlocking your heart this Valentine's Day? How are you celebrating it?

There’s a premiere party for the Unlock Your Heart video on February 13th at the Standard in Los Angeles, which was set up by Ronnie and his anti-bullying organization The Friend Movement, but after that I will most likely be celebrating the holiday curled up on my couch with my favorite Disney movies. Alas, I’m still waiting for Prince Charming.

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I must say, I am surprised Kenyth and I both have the same plans for Valentine's Day. And we both are still in search of that special prince! From the 'Fall Apart' EP to this single, I just can't get enough of Kenyth's music. To learn more about Kenyth Mogan, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook. "Unlock Your Heart" can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. To learn about Ronnie Kroell's The Friend Movement, visit the official website. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Kenyth Mogan • Fall Apart Music Video

Kenyth Mogan recently released his EP, 'Fall Apart', and I was enchanted by the collection of music. The song is the title track off his debut EP, which I reviewed just last month. The song was written by Kenyth and Tony Rodini, who also produced the EP. The song takes a look at a relationship, at a particular time. It features a couple, played by Kenyth and Tyler Schuelke, who are facing a moment in their relationship when they can either try to work out their issues to get back to when there was so much love, or else they just might 'Fall Apart'. The video, directed by Angelo Rosati Costa, allows us the opportunity to watch this moment. I hope you enjoy "Fall Apart" as much as I do!

The Electro-Pop track has a real charm, imbued with honesty by Kenyth's vocals. But then again, I loved the song when I first heard it. You can read my review of the EP here. To purchase 'Fall Apart', find it on iTunes and Amazon, both for under $5. To learn more about Kenyth Mogan, 'like' him on Facebook and say hello! You can also visit him on Myspace, where you can also sample some music.

Kenyth Mogan • Fall Apart

As much as I love finding new music, it can be even more exciting when new music finds me! When I opened my email, and found a note of introduction from Kenyth Mogan, I was intrigued. I wasn't really familiar with this work, so I had to do a bit of research. Mogan was born and raised in Montana, but now calls Los Angeles, California, home. There, he has been in the movies, with such wonderful stars as Peter Coyote and James Woods. He has also been an author, using his imagination and talent on the graphic novel, 'The Phoenix Chronicles: Awakenings'. This novel can be found on Amazon. And now he was ready to showcase another talent, with the release of his debut EP, 'Fall Apart'.

The five-song release is a combination of sparkling covers of 1980s confection, and some new material, including one song co-written by Mogan. But the EP opens with a song I so totally remember from the 1981 release of the charming Toni Basil. "Mickey" was written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, and went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. There is something delightful about the cheerleader-inspired tune given an new sheen, sounding fresh yet still recognizable. Kenyth's vocals are strong and fun, and you can hear in this sample of the song.

So fun! I could just eat it with a spoon. That leads to "(Let Me) Unlock Your Heart", a song written by Paul Harris and Matthew Hayes. The Pop tune starts out with an acoustic rhythm guitar, but soon shows it's hand, adding some Electronica that only adds more charm. There is a wonderful warmth to this love song, I thought I lost my heart. Next up, there is the title cut, "Fall Apart". The song was written by Tony Rodini and Mogan. Rodini also produced the album. This wonderful song is the first single off the EP, and will be featured in the first music video coming soon. Until then, here is the lyric video, giving you the chance to hear the song, and truly get to know the lyrics. This is Kenyth Mogan singing "Fall Apart".

"One Worth Losing" is up next, and the energetic song is the most energetic off the collection. Written by Todd Michael Schultz, there is something very 80s-inspired by the track, part Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark with a dash of Giorgio Moroder. But there is also something very fresh, very 'today' about it. I must admit, I wanted to play this one several times on repeat, making me happy. Way back in 1984, some music was coming from interesting places. On of those was California comedy clubs, from artists like Julie Brown. Comedian Brown, not to be confused with the MTV VJ of the same name, was playing clubs and establishing herself since 1981, and finally released 'Goddess In Progress' in 1984. The five-song collection was an independent release, but still brought us the music video for "The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun", as well as the final song off Mogan's EP, "I Like 'Em Big and Stupid". Both songs were written by Julie Brown, Charlie Coffey, Terrence McNally, and Ray Colcord, and had a delicious look at the culture. Kenyth's cover remains true to the humorous nature of the song, but adds just a bit more edge to the song, sounding less like 1980s Pop, and more like the the Punky work of Oingo Boingo. You can check out the preview below.

'Fall Apart' is a delicious appetizer, a plate with yummy bites that leave you wanting more. I can tell you it makes me want to order whatever is coming next, and come back to listen to 'Fall Apart' a few more times. There is a wonderful sense of life in the recording. You can just hear and feel the love Kenyth has for the material, making it all the more appealing. You can purchase 'Fall Apart' on iTunes and Amazon, both for less than $5.00. And you can also find 'The Phoenix Chronicles: Awakenings' on Amazon. To learn more about Kenyth Mogan, 'like' him on Facebook, and leave a message to say hello! You can also visit him on Myspace, where you can also sample some music.