This time, we get to know The Key of F, AKA Andie K – Lead vocals / Songwriter. Marie Pettit – BGV / Songwriter / Guitar
This female duo rock everything from punk rock to rockabilly to swamp rock with gritty vocals and lush harmonies.
The variety of musical influences include artists: KMFDM, Queen, Dorothy, Joan Jett and Dead Posey.
In 2020, The Key of F made Music Connection’s Hot 100 Unsigned Bands & Artists list.
The track “Need You Now” is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
https://www.newartistspotlight.org/playlists
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
I’m originally from Orlando, Florida and Marie is from Houston, Texas. However, we both live in Los Angeles, California and got introduced by a longtime friend of mine, who I’ve known from Orlando. Currently, I’m driving Marie crazy. Changing my mind every other second about the songs we have in various stages of completion, because I can be a bit of a perfectionist.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
When Marie and I first were introduced, it was at a Halloween party that she was hosting. My friend mentioned that I could sing and Marie said “Great! Do you know Bloodletting by Concrete Blonde”? No sooner than the word “yes” left my lips, I found myself in front of a microphone, Marie on Guitar, her husband on drums and someone I’ve never met before on bass. As we performed the song, I really liked the way our voices blended together when Marie was singing the backing harmonies to Bloodletting. We started joking that we should start a band together since both of us come from a musical background.
π―. Who are your biggest influences?
We have very different influences. Mine are KMFDM, Dead Posey, The Cure, Kidneythieves and Marie’s are Queen, Olivia Newton John, and Dokken but there are several bands that we both adore like Joan Jett.
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
Honestly, I would love to be able to earn my living doing what I love, making music. Plus getting the chance to make music with one of your best friends AND earn a living. That would be priceless.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
Haha, it’s a bit of controlled chaos. Sometimes a melody will come to me first, but most often, I end up writing the lyrics first and then Marie and I get together to work out the melody. I don’t know why, but I usually end up hearing what the drums are doing first. Have you ever tried to sing a drum line to your songwriting partner? It’s hilarious. I’m shocked she hasn’t thrown her guitar at my head.
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
Ohhhhhh Lawdy, I can only pick one? This is hard because I have favorites depending on what kind of mood I am in.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
It was from Lucia Cifarelli who told me to be fierce and fearless. In spite of all my doubts that I was slaying it. It made a huge difference for me. It helped me stop being afraid and second guessing myself. ( Thanks, Lu. xoxox )
8. Proudest accomplishment?
In 2020, The Key of F made Music Connection’s Hot 100 Unsigned Bands and Artists list. This was something that Marie and I didn’t see coming at all and we really contribute it to an incredible team of people who work with us. We’ve had some great Producers with Alexx Calise, Dennis Morehouse, Charlie Waymire and Ernesto Homeyer. Also our vocal coach, Darci Monet is amazing!
9. Just for fun! What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?
So I used to be a backup singer/dancer for a cover band in Orlando. We had a usual gig at House of Blues a few times a month doing covers from The Blues Brothers, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, etc etc…So there were a few costume changes for the backup singers/dancers and to make life easier we wore the wireless broadway style mic’s. My very first gig with these guys was a bit like baptism by fire. We are doing a song ( I think it was Gypsy’s, Tramps and Thieves ) and I had to wear this long flowing skirt that I had never rehearsed in, hold a tambourine and twirl in circles around the lead singer. Yeah, great. What could possibly go wrong THERE. So I’m spinning around the lead singer, praying to Jesus that I don’t drop the tambourine when my foot get’s caught in hem of the skirt and I trip. I don’t know if it was my imagination or the bassist who gasped. By some miracle, I didn’t faceplant on stage, didn’t drop the tambourine but the word “F*CK!” flew out of my mouth…and my mic was hot. It was like that one word had so much reverb on it that it echoed around the House of Blues concert hall for an eternity! To make matters worse, the lead vocalist was looking at me as if I only had until the end of that song to continue living. I plastered a very embarrassed smile on my face and kept going. Oddly, the sound guy started muting my mic when I wasn’t singing after that.
π0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
One of the most gut-wrenching things for me was to have to abandon a song when we were in the studio trying to lay down the vocals. It just wasn’t gelling. We spent so much time on it and studio time is expensive but we agreed with our Producers that we didn’t want to release something sub par.
The highest point for me personally just recently happened. In May, KMFDM came to Los Angeles on their west coast tour. Lucia very graciously put Marie and I on the guest list and she gave us the absolute epitome of VIP treatment. What made it incredible was that I got to meet and spend time with her and Sascha after the show. I’m still floored by her generosity and how wonderfully kind she is.
Stream “Need You Now” now
https://open.spotify.com/track/0FEcOc8wwk8H5txdwANYZK?si=34f86727abad4281
and follow their socials
https://www.instagram.com/thekeyof_f/
https://www.youtube.com/@TheKeyofF
https://www.facebook.com/band.thekeyof.F/
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