Promoting traditional blues music to modern audiences might sound implausible, but KK Hammond, better known by her stage name, The Curse of KK Hammond, defies the odds. This exceptional artist embraces her roots in blues while adding a unique trailblazing twist.
Self-described as a solo blues and resonator player, KK Hammond’s music is evocative. As an artist, Hammond has a knack for mingling the historical roots of blues with her personal fascination for horror, reviving the age-old spirit of folk Murder Ballads. She treats her music, social media, and music videos as a canvas to narrate these intertwining tales.
Born and bred in London, KK Hammond’s journey is relentless in her love for music. Initially part of metal bands in her teenage years, she found a presumably unlikely passion for resonator guitars and bottleneck slide, steering her towards roots blues that underpins her music today. A gratifying symbol of her journey is her new life in the serene countryside of the UK, away from the buzz, carving a world of music in her tranquil hermit’s abode.
Drawing inspiration from the deeply moving music of Skip James and Blind Willie Johnson, Hammond imbues her songs with a sense of empathy, capturing the pain and experiences of others and herself. Her tracks are tinted with dark humor; she composes tongue-in-cheek ballads revolving around doomed characters that grip audiences with their poetic essence.
As for her aspirations, KK Hammond aims for her work to pique the interest of the audience beyond the traditional spectrum of blues. Interestingly, many of her followers come from backgrounds in metal and rock. From her tranquil studio in the woods, she is delighted to touch a multitude of lives across the globe. Hammond enjoys showcasing her plethora of talents through her music videos and vinyl records, bringing to light her creative prowess beyond music.
Reflecting on the crowning achievements, KK Hammond fondly recounts her resonator and banjo cover of ‘Nothing Else Matters,’ shared by none other than Metallica on their Tiktok page. Another proudest moment for The Curse of KK Hammond was her debut album ‘Death Roll Blues,’ gracing the iTunes UK and US Blues charts and making its impressive debut at number 7 on the Billboard Blues charts.
Promoting music in today’s digitized world is no walk in the park, especially given the burgeoning proliferation of home studio revolutions. But Hammond uses these constraints as a stepping stone, creating unique aesthetic content to set herself apart. Despite the dwindling patience of digital audiences, she believes that genuine music enthusiasts would cherish the traditional methods of music discovery, underlining the importance of mediums, such as radio and vinyl records, that are often overlooked in today’s digital frenzy.
Unlike many artists, KK Hammond finds gratification not in the limelight of live performances but in the serene process of writing and recording songs. She believes that her listeners can best connect with her through her meticulously crafted recordings.
On the topic of online music distribution, she wholeheartedly advocates for streaming sites, crediting such platforms for introducing her to a plethora of obscure artists, new and old. While she cherishes her compact vinyl collection, the choice between vinyl and streaming is a no-brainer, with streaming offering unprecedented access and choice.
Given the power to scribe any song, she would choose Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground,’ entranced by its melancholic beauty and the profound thought of the song now literally floating in space on the Golden Record for other life forms to discover.
Hammond currently looks forward to promoting the release of her new single ‘Heart Shaped Box / In the Pines,’ which can be pre-saved on major digital music platforms and pre-ordered on vinyl on her website. This single holds a special place in her heart, being a unique blues-inspired cover of the Nirvana song featuring her close friends Kaspar ‘Berry’ Rapkin and Ian Davidson.
In the future, fans can anticipate more exciting releases and the second pressing of ‘Death Roll Blues.’ While quite content with the music industry’s evolution, she does feel disheartened witnessing extraordinary talent being overlooked.
Well-wishers and music aficionados can explore more about The Curse of KK Hammond, purchase her music and merchandise on her website, and follow her journey on her social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
The Curse of KK Hammond is, indeed, a magnetic persona who compels the listener into a world where music and storytelling beautifully merge. Her passion and singular approach bring a refreshing perspective to traditional blues, leaving her audience eagerly awaiting her next masterpiece.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
