As some of you may know from my previous blogs, I study and train in a form of martial arts called Krav Maga, which was originated in Israel for use in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Since this has become a very big part of my life, I recently decided to take a new turn with it and really get my feet wet, so to speak.

Today I will be starting my training process through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to be a certified security guard. The new job opportunities, however, come with mixed feelings. I am indeed more thrilled than I can put into words that I will no longer be working in bars or restaurants for the rest of my life. It was a toxic environment run by a slew of bitter and condescending managers and owners, and I believe it will bring a plethora of positivity to my life to put them all behind me. But at the same time, despite the love I know I will have for this new field, it can’t compare to the love I would have for playing music in this band for a living.

I’m hoping that this new career will be a fun and exciting step along the way to my ultimate goal of being a rockstar. But like everything else in my life, it just serves as a reminder of where I want to be and the steps I need to take to get there.

I’m thankful that Dexter’s Kin has made such great leaps and bounds in progress over the past year, and I know we will continue the momentum for quite some time. We have a lot of big plans in the near future, and we can’t wait to share them with all of you.

Jason…the drummer

If you’re a singer, I’m sure Whitney Houston is one of the many singers you look up to. I may not know her personally, but I felt like she was one of my great teachers. She taught and helped me understand vocal dynamics.

When I was younger – after hearing, “I Will Always Love You”, I scoured her past work and found fun songs like, “How Will I Know” and ballads like, “Saving All My Love For You,” and “The Greatest Love Of All”. Imagine me, 10 years old, pubescent, and still had a high soprano voice – singing Whitney Houston songs lol, I had no shame…. I’m glad to have an understanding, loving, and most importantly – patient family lol. Fortunately for my family, it all stopped ’til I hit puberty.

Ms. Whitney Houston, you were one of my mentors. You will be missed.

“I get so emotional baby, every time I think of you.”

Love,
Paul

P.S. Be my valentine.

For the moment I have been going to school four times a week. Its definitely been helping me apply my musical abilities to the band. I wake up to go to music history class, my piano lesson with a very good instructor, harmony class, and ear training. That’s my Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesdays and Thursdays I spend 2 hours of my time in chorale class singing away. We have been working on an oratorio called Elijah by Mendelssohn. It’s a beautiful oratorio filled with intense drama of the prophet Elijah, Baal, the Israelites, and God.

Although this does not have much to do directly with rock n roll, it definitely makes understanding the basic fundamentals a lot easier when I have to apply it in my rehearsals with the guys.

I’m glad and fortunate to go to school because it has developed me as a musician and person.

Band rehearsals has been coming along great as well! Its been productive. We’ve been putting new ideas to our songs. I can’t wait until we’re done and ready to put on a show for everyone!!

Love,
Gisel

I wouldn’t call myself a writer, I dabble in all facets of art. Every once in a while I get the urge to tell a story or express something beautiful or ugly and I release that surpressed energy through my fingertips as some form of writing.  Other times, it’s music or paintings.  Hope you like this short story I wrote a while back.  It is about the importance of art, the beauty of music.

A Scene of Sound

A smoky mist, rises and settles, and flutters, with a glint and a beam. A light perched in the sky blazes upon a chrome-shelled cardioid microphone, and its metallic matching stand.  Like a row of diamonds they shimmer and twinkle in the eyes of the impatient people, who are dreadfully anticipating a menagerie of sound and production of which they have never heard.  A mystery to them is what they will witness. They experience the muted aromas of the city street, diminished further by the drifting cigarette smoke and expansion of gases that radiate and spew from the thick cream striped layer of foam swaying in their glasses of dark brew.  A beautiful Miss with a silky red dress, thats ripples twist and sway in a delicate breeze around her tight waist, compromising with her every motion like a sexual partner, prances ever so softly around the room complying to the wishes of the consumers, and more, as she also prances around their indecent thoughts of her without the dress. The consistent sound of common chatter overflows this bar. Talks of drugs and money, lines of lust, arrogance, lies and more lies. The disgusting agreements and criminal thoughts of the hard working man, and the naive and innocent female who is pure and willing. The unpredictable rhythm of yelps and laughs reveals its necessary presence while the chemicals flow freely. As the clocks go to waste, these rhythms become gently enhanced and more frequent as they lose sophistication. The pernicious consumption of alcohol and other substances hinder and drown the inner greatness of a person.  Like a plague, spreading across the industrial unit, it reaches and conquers another person silencing them internally, exemplifying their utter emptiness. Before the integrity of the place is totally lost in an eruption of destructive misery, the lights dim, and as they lose intensity so does the atmosphere. The crowds wide smiles and narrow eyes change shapes. Their stares at each other have shifted and finally focused onto that perfectly constructed rectangle of hardwood and hand woven curtains. They stare into that array of lights and black abyss, that inhabits the unknown sounds they await. Their anticipation is reaching its peak.

A group of mysterious silhouettes disperse amongst the oak boarded stage that slightly creeks beneath their shiny shoes. They chose to wear the formal suits of respected men, double-breasted with matching red ties, James Dean hair, nothing elaborate for they don’t need it tonight. They grasp their instruments with a passive nervousness, they are aware of this night in this city of art lost.

Several decades lived without a single creative thought, expressed or even spoken, for it was not allowed. All papers, posters, buildings, sculptures, sounds and people of art were unlawful. The last existing art men were expelled and banished, punished for their wonderful deeds of artistic enlightenment and self. The musicians left first for their assiduous ruckus called for the city streets to erupt in hysteria until it was silenced by ill-authority. Not long thereafter did the writers and painters follow suit, battling bouts of loneliness and depression without the appreciation and love that feeds the creative soul. They left on their own terms and of the simplest greatest dramatic solutions they knew of.

The people stare like children. Alien to them are the foolish looking machinery these men keep, almost like medieval weaponry they point and whisper at their uniqueness. The silent minds keep that way and wonder about their own thoughts in silence. The loud wondering minds give up to their curiosity and scream out inquisitions disruptively, but a calming hush silences them after all. The pause is now at its greatest. The darkness in the room has calmed the vicious crowd against its will. They want to continue the debauchery. This crowd isn’t interested in a demonstration. Their selfish urges insist against it, but disrespectfully they understand that everyone will wait… and watch…wait…and watch…in silence.

The unsteady acoustic wave of a strings rapid resonance echoes away from the fingertips of a musician and through the air. It bounces off of the walls, halls, and lobby, through and around the chairs and tables, onto the bodies and faces of its witnesses, into their ears, and upon their minds. The sincere melody is shocking and real. It is so beautiful it’s enough to upset this concoction of unruly-free-feeling humanity. They restrain their eyes of tears and pound their chests with an opened hand in the astonishment of its unadulterated character. The sound is as innocent as they once were as children, careless, independent and free of the capricious world they inhabit, loving without thinking.  And they see that it is always going to be that way, as the sound is an immortal entity that will outlive themselves and all thereafter. Then the percussive punch of a drum physically impacts the body as to disrupt the heart itself. It thumps the skull and inner ears of the crowd to which they will hear it long after it’s over, they understand it’s painless, but dominant, and they appreciate the impact it possesses. They can’t help but partake in the motion a kick drum boasts by tapping their toes in synchronization with the beat they hear. The explosion of noise has sparked a metamorphosis within their flesh and possibly their soul.  This crowd has become a physical manifestation of the music, an army of its sounds, fighting the emotions the sounds don’t recognize and cherishing the feelings it suggests.

As soon as this impactful introduction becomes heavy, and feels as though it’s almost too much for one to bear, a soft and mellow howl rises and rises out of the darkness of the stage and into the light of the room. The soft chiming of a bell and its corresponding angels moaning in thick liquid harmony seep from the vocals chords. Outward, it shoots and outward it attacks the minds of all who see the soul of a man confronting a microphone. The essence of his voice reflects all that is possible and what once never could. It triggers an influx of warmth by words, words that can change reality when sung like love. His expression of love and truth flows from his heart and into the unfiltered air of the human imagination.  By doing this, capturing, and connecting the world around him, and building a new one. His expression is pure and untouched as it is being received.

The people, in their admiration share their inner expression in return. The energy of the moment is being transferred convectively, from a stage to an audience and back. The crowd now is on their feet but would describe a difference, as though they were floating, suspended by the energy of it all. Hanging there like the fruits of a tree, beautiful, bright, and glossy, absorbing the waves of music like rays of the sun.  And growing is the soul itself, forgetting the illness it once created. The place is now of sacred significance! And in this moment the transformation is complete. All is one and one is all. A collection of distinguishable souls, connected forever in time, through sound.

This story reminds of the great feelings performing brings.  It makes me miss the stage even more.  In time, our tedious work in studio will be completed and we will be back on stage doing what we do, entertaining all that comes to watch.  And when that time comes, I hope to see you there!

-Bryan C.-

Hey, world! Andrew here, wanted to bring up a couple things that have been on my “news feed.”

ATDI, that is “At The Drive-In,” have gotten back together after a long hiatus. This post-hardcore band from El Paso, TX was one of my favorites growing up. It’s a little too heavy for my liking now, but they still find a place on my iPod playlists and certainly conjure up a nostalgic feeling whenever played. You may know them as “The Mars Volta,” the supergroup that they created once ATDI broke up at the height of their popularity in 2001. Don’t do drugs, kids!! They were known for their off-the-wall stage performances and unique instrumentation combined with eerie, melodic vocals performed by the unmistakable Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Definitely worth checking out if you haven’t heard. Plans are both new music and a tour!!

On another note, this past weekend saw the first snow fall for NYC! A little late for that white Christmas, but hey, better late than never. It has been taking a lot longer for the seasons to change (am I the only one that thinks that?). Either way, lets hope that some more snow falls so we can enjoy all of the winter joys of sledding and snow angels.

Dexter’s Kin has been hard at work in the studio as much as possible. We are planning something big, so keep your eyes peeled and stay up with us via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Join in on our Facebook convo’s and let us know your thoughts and feelings. We’re all about having a good time, all are welcome!!
Thanks, and always, keep it the realest,

Andrew

I saw a video today that I felt compelled to share with you and make a few comments about. In case you haven’t heard, there was a video that has gone viral on YouTube of 7 teens luring a 17 year old asian boy into an alley and attacking, beating, and robbing him over a span of three and a half minutes. Fortunately, because of the sadistic pride which inspired them to post the video, the attackers were identified and arrested by police.

Watching this video, the first thing that came to mind is that nobody is safe from being the victim of an attack, rape, mugging, or other violent act. As such, I would urge any and all of you, especially those of our fans who live in urban areas, to learn or participate in self defense or martial arts. I can honestly say that martial arts changed my life and is a very big part of it. Simply knowing that I have the skills and knowledge to defend myself if a violent situation occurred is a very comforting thought. In addition to the respect it teaches you for other people, there is a very long list of other benefits; weight loss, increased self awareness, self confidence, flexibility, toned muscle, stress relief and an overall sense of physical and mental well being just to name a few. Don’t get me wrong, there is no amount of training which can guarantee your safety in every single violent situation, but you can certainly put the odds in your favor.

If anyone in the New York City area is interested in learning these skills, feel free to email me. The academy which I attend is called the Krav Maga Academy, ran by wold renowned instructor Matan Gavish and is located at west 26th street and Broadway in Manhattan. For more information you can visit the website at www.KravMagaSolutions.com.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy week,
Jason…the drummer

Hello Everyone!

We have a few projects coming up this year and a few of them involve our music videos. And we need your help.

We will be looking for Non-Union Actors in or around the NYC/NJ area, and ALL EXPERIENCE WELCOME! Please submit your resume (if you have one) and your headshot to casting@dexterskin.com.

Please be aware that we won’t be filming anytime soon. This is to inform anyone that is interested or would like to recommend someone they know that may be interested in becoming part of our videos.

If you spark our interest, you’ll definitely hear from us!

We’re looking forward to your entries. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Send all inquiries and applications to casting@dexterskin.com .

Hear from you soon!

Sincerely,
Paul
Dexter’s Kin

I’m at Paul’s house right now while Jason is cooking up some pasta for us to try out. By the looks and smell of it, it’s going to be satisfying. Pretty soon we’re going to start with our rehearsal after passing a nice week break from all the festivities.

The highlight of my holidays was heading to my mom’s job and playing Christmas songs for the Pre-K children. They sang along, clapped, and learned what a beat was and how to keep in tempo by clapping! It was fun and an awesome experience to put a smile on those kids faces.

I’m sitting down now and I can’t believe that I have been in this band for almost 2 years. I remember when I first joined the band. My audition went like this: We met at a Spanish restaurant in the City and then we headed towards Guitar Center so Paul could watch me play for a bit. Since composing music has been my passion, I played a song I wrote and by the looks of it, Paul liked it and I was a Dexter’s Kin.

I was at a point before I auditioned where I was not sure if I wanted to pursue music. I was nineteen and at a point of self-discovery. I always felt a great connection with music, but it really was not until I joined this band that I found what I really wanted to do more than anything.

Now almost 2 years is going to pass by soon, and looking back I can say that we’ve made so much progress as a band. From going through new band members, video shoots, shows…etc. It’s crazy how time flies.

We finally landed on the year 2012 – alive and well. Hope everyone had a safe and very happy holidays.

Yours truly,

Gisel Costa

PS

Join our chats on Facebook. c;

So it’s the day after Christmas as I write this Blog. I’m in my room, on my computer, and home. There’s still remnants of evergreen fragrances from the tree, and the warm chatter of family discussions and laughter over dinner and drinks, flowing freely in my head. I’ll never be immune to this atmosphere, especially since I spend most of my days working and forgetting life. Its not often I’m in this room. I pretty much live in Brooklyn full-time. I come home a couple of times a month to see my parents to wind down. I take this room for granted because I’m so comfortable here. This room brings back tons of memories, like getting in trouble with friends, my first real girlfriend, discovering the chemical effects of alcohol, blasting my favorite bands so loud my parents would complain there floor was vibrating, developing on my instrument with the likes of my favorite guitarists playing on their best tracks, and other unforgettable things.

What really comes to mind for me, is the relevance this room has for me today. I spent months in this room after I left school, refining guitar techniques and skills, but primarily to find my own style. This was one thing all of the greats constantly said over and over. Developing your own style is whats most important, sounding like Slash is cool, but sounding like you is better. During these months I hardly left my room, only to shower and eat, but these were never mandatory on any given day. I often had unruly facial hair that resembled a beard and I had unkempt hair, which displayed my obvious carelessness towards anything else. My room would be filled with guitar tablature, sheet music, bags of potato chips, clothes on the floor, old guitar strings, no bed just couches a pillow and a blanket, my computer with surround sound speakers, my Epiphone Les Paul copy, and my Marshall solid state half stack, which was all I needed at the time. I would wake up and get right to it. I would decide what I wanted to learn, and what I wanted to work on. Half of the time I just jammed along with Gun ‘ n ‘ Roses, or The Strokes,  The Red Hot Chili-peppers, Jeff Buckley, and many others. I never really needed to look for the tablature or notation. Listening to parts over and over or only once would be enough to find the key or exact placement of the guitarist’s fingers. I’d get a rush of excitement whenever I’d figure out a guitar lick this way. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re playing what he’s playing, and you found it the way he did one day. This is what I did all day, and unfortunately it helped erode friendships and relationships. From the outside it may have looked like a pseudo-depression, but little did they know I wasn’t just throwing my life away by doing nothing, was I? At least I believed in what I was doing, I never thought that I would fail or be left wondering, “Whats next?” In these months I hadn’t planned anything ahead of a single day, I was just playing the guitar and taking things one step at a time. Eventually, I’d start playing my own parts along with the tracks. Sometimes I’d even like what I was doing better than what the recordings were. Sooner or later I couldn’t even play what they were playing. Once a song would start my desire was to put my mark on the song, in my own way. I finally had more fun playing the guitar my way, and developing things that I had never heard before, but from my finger tips. What I had been doing in my room paid off.

This was when I finally decided to break out of my room and get connected with other musicians. My main goal at this point was just to find a good singer. I had connected with lots of other artists in the New York and New Jersey areas. I did some work on their songs and sometimes I never even met the people I was working with. There were many oppurtunities but none that I had really initiated out of interest. I stumbled across a myspace page for Dexter’s Kin, and Paul Benedict. After listening to some great music and scrolling down half of  what was a wonderfully well designed page, I realized he was looking for a guitarist and I immediately sent him an email. He responded promptly, but with a response explaining that the time wasn’t right, and that in a month I could possibly audition. A month later we met up, and the rest is history.

I sit in my room now and look around. I got a lot out of this room. I learned what I wanted to do for the rest of my life in here. I showed myself that it can be done with the help of a little determination, and for me, a bit of insanity. I still get a kick out of blasting music and jumping around with my guitar, through that same cheap amp, in front of that same crooked mirror, and it still feels like Madison Square Garden.

Thanks For Reading,
Bryan Christopher

** The band has a ton of exciting happenings we are about to embark upon in the year 2012. Most of which are confidential, but WE promise they will all be awesome and fresh as usual** Keep following us! We will keep you posted on whats going on. Tell your friends about us!! And check out our cOoOol shirts and our album via our “store” tab on our website dexterskin.com They’d make a great late holiday gift!!

There’s no time more likely to remind us of family than the holiday season. Christmas, Hanukkah, Quanza…whatever your celebrate, it is most often done in the forgiving company of friends and family closest to you.

Unfortunately. this is certainly not the case with everyone. Being from a small town, I was raised to be quite close to my family, and although I always dreamed of accomplishing big things in the big city, my relationships with my family members always remained strong.

But with big dreams, comes big sacrifice…

My father and I have always had a friendly relationship. I never went through the rebellious phase mostly because I had such great parenting from my mother and father that there was really nothing to rebel against. But then again, me and my dad always kept conversations fairly light, like guy talk. Just a week ago I received a phone call from my dad telling me in a very matter of fact way that he wanted me to be home for the holidays, if for nothing else, to see my little sister who is now one and a half years old, and who to date, I have only spent one day with.

This was one of the most painful phone calls of my life.

You see, music fans see and hear the finished product. They see bands on stage and hear their records and see their photo’s and music video’s, but seldom realize the hundreds of hours of work that go into each. And even fewer still can grasp the sacrifices that have to be made in our personal lives to put in the hard work to achieve these results. This was the road I went down when I moved to the city to pursue my dreams.

Brynn Isabella Centner

Sadly, this holiday season will once again pass without me seeing my family and my baby sister. I doubt I will ever have the ability to be a part of her life, or a part of the future lives of any members of my family. But this is the path I have chosen and is a testament to how much I believe in my own abilities and the abilities of Dexter’s Kin.

I write this blog with a heavy heart and ask all of you to not only support the musicians who work so hard and give up so much to bring you music, but to appreciate and love your own family every chance you get, because you are lucky enough to have the option to be a part of each others lives. And to my own family members who grow more distant by the day, understand that I love you all and wish with all my heart I could be there by your side as you make your journey through life, to see all of you grow older and experience all that life has to offer. I am with you in thought, and you are all always on my mind.

“Always remember there is nothing worth sharing, like the love that let us share our name” – The Avett Brothers

Happy Holidays to All

Love,
Jason