Val Kinzler Band Music Video Premiere “Heart of Hearing” Monday 6/21/21
We are celebrating #makemusicday2021 with our video premiere of "Heart Of Hearing!"
Filmed by Rigel Mary Sarjoo at the historic Bitter End, New York City during their "60th" year concert series celebration!
Thanks for keeping live original veteran rockers like us in your hopes and prayers! Peace, Music and Healing to all of our dear friends and fans!
Please join us on Monday, 6/21/2021 at 3:00PM EST for this video premiere & special thanks to everyone who came out to see us live!
WATCH VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/J9Zj26QJDyw
Val Kinzler Interview: Unrated Mag
The Val Kinzler Band (VKB) is comprised of veteran rockers supporting Val with a strong passion for creating inspirational and original music. The talent, chemistry and diverse, creative impact of these players has evolved impressively since the band formed in 2013.
NYC’s Val Kinzler Reflects and Rocks On
Playing rock n’ roll requires a lot of stamina. So does motherhood. This month, Rockmommy correspondent Rew Starr talks to NYC rocker mom Val Kinzler — a self-described cross between “Janis Joplin & Karen O” — about life, music and finding balance in a crazy world.
Rew Starr: How’s it going? What have you been doing these days?
Val Kinzler: I’m still adjusting to the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown. Living on the Lower East Side in NYC with my son and two pugs. I’ve been teaching music virtually — which still feels kind of strange — and hosting songwriting webinars. I work with an LBGTQ non-profit record label.
Holly Stephey talks to Val Kinzler aka “Valkyrie” Music and more!
Listen to Part 1 of the podcast here.
Listen to Part 2 of the podcast here.
New York City is still home to Val Kinzler aka “Valkyrie” as she’s affectionately known to her friends and fans. Val started playing piano at age five and as her passion for songwriting grew, she picked up the guitar which led her to playing solo gigs around the NYC area and later in Europe. Through out her life, Val has taught music and created special events involving women in music. Her latest CD titled, “Nothing Sacred About Hatred”, is the culmination of years of songwriting. Val shares a lifetime of joy, pain, love, and loss in her lyrics. Inspired by the blues, Val’s theatrical edge has led her to create her own genre of soulful “sophistipunk”. Val remains an integral part of the downtown New York City singer/songwriter music scene as an event promoter and performer. Her spirited presence, unorthodox vocal style, and award winning songs led her to collaborate with other noteworthy talent She’s opened for and/or shared the stage with Dr. John, Marty Balin, Three Dog Night, Johnny Johnson, Jon Paris and others. Val later joined forces with local musicians to create her band “Validation” playing hard edged punk rock originals at local clubs. Songs such as: “Dirty Blonde”, “Keep Your Baby On A Leash”, and “Metal Swing” which quickly became crowd favorites and Val still re-visits these catchy tunes at her solo dates! Val remains involved playing gigs with VKB (Val Kinzler Band) Comprised of veteran musicians, Joseph Vasta (Mink De Ville, Billy Idol, Joan Jett, John Waite), David White (The Hollies, Stumblebunny) and Ihle Factor (Ian Lloyd, John Ford). She continues to work with students in the New York City public school system as a facilitator of her “Music Cool” songwriting program. After losing her youngest brother to a drug overdose, Val traveled to Pittsburgh, PA on a Martin Guitars Scholarship through “Women In Music”.
"Kinzler's style is all over the map. But that's not a lack of control. And surprisingly it's not even a shortcoming. It's growth and exploration. Kinzler isn't simply a musician. Or a "Rock 'N' Roll Woman." She's not a poet, or an actor or an improvisor, or an entertainer. She's entirely all of those things. And the proper term for that is: Val Kinzler."
- Marc Raco, Monkey Radio With Marc Raco
ALBUM REVIEW: Val Kinzler's 'Resume' needs to be heard
ARTIST: Val Kinzler
ALBUM: "Resume" (no label listed)
Inherently urban and New York, singer-songwriter Kinzler plays guitar, piano, organ and writes quirky and clever old-school rock songs.
Piano ala Freddy Mercury and a delicious retro 1970s sound leads us into "Love Won't Break." "A Place Like This" is a minor key collision featuring her over-the-top delivery -- soaring highs, wicked lows, and lots of vibrato, growling and quavering while singing "what's a place like this doing in a girl like me?" "Resume" touches upon the job market and equality and would make Janis Joplin proud with her emotive belting. "Broken Ballerina" rides a fine line between cabaret and rock 'n' roll.
Kinzler's perspective on the world around her, as well as her unique, passionate pipes, need to be heard.
- David Malachowski
Artist: Val Kinzler
Album: Resume
Review by Ainsworth Hunt
Val Kinzler’s Résumé is rich musically, lyrically and vocally complex. As such it is wonderful, painful, emotive and original. The songs on this CD are deep and laden with intrigue; Résumé isn’t easy listening pabulum for idiots. If you like Tom Waits, Patty Smith, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Pink Floyd, Warren Zevon, or Loudon Wainwright III, then Val Kinzler’s Résumé will be right up your alley. That being said, don’t expect Résumé to fit neatly into some previous mold of classic rock, pop, blues or punk, because it doesn’t. The tapestry in Résumé combines a complex musical labyrinth that may be best described as a dramatic rock opera cabaret.
The ink splatters on the CD jacket are reminiscent of Ralph Steadman’s illustrations for Hunter Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. As Kinzler’s lyrics on “A Place Like This” describe being “broke in Vegas” its hard to think that despite the obvious images of New York City this is mere coincidence.
Opening with “Heart Of Hearing,” Résumé engages a vocal style and lyrics that are reminiscent of some of Tom Waits’ darkest moments on Bone Machine or Blood Money. The harsh images Kinzler’s lyrics evoke are well matched with the music her growling vocals, which at times float into soaring highs and then bring the listener right back to the nitty gritty.
“A Place Like This,” could easily be the background music for a scene in a Quentin Tarantino film. The song starts with simple guitar work and a talking style that leads listeners into the darkness of mental illness. As the song progresses the music gets richer and its lyrics go to the heart of insanity with a clarity that colludes with an outstanding vocal delivery that is all over the map: sweet highs, dangerous lows, and a quavering vibrato.
The title cut, “Résumé” is heavy, hard edged piece which vents spleen. Yeah, it’s an angry rocker about a painful issue that might resonate well with anyone who is unemployed or underemployed. Beyond that, though, Kinzler’s lyrics may resonate well with any woman who has been hurt through sexist discrimination.
“Broken Ballerina” expands upon the tragedy of Monica Beerle, the Swiss dancer who was murdered by “the butcher of the East Village.” Moving from a conversation over a sweet sounding classical piano which sets the stage, the song becomes a blues based story about drugs and sick relationships. As it does, Kinzler provides an empathetic framework for any woman who has ever been beaten or abused and yet yearns for the pain involved in a sick relationship as she growls “I’m perfectly imperfect” and sweetly sings “I miss your kisses.”
“Angel” is a love song. Love, loss, wanting: “Angel” is a song with themes as old as time.
“The Junky Next Door” sets the stage with dark urban dangerous and scary images overlaid on top of a tense musical background in a minor key. It’s an eerie tune, to say the least, one where Kinzler’s fierce growl and soaring vibrato carry the message as strongly as the disturbing lyrics.
“Genius,” is one of the strongest songs on the album, it demonstrates both very strong lyrical and musical writing skills, as well as a powerful vocal performance. Kinzler certainly isn’t a “fraud of anything.” “Genius,” is marred slightly by “smart ass” at the end of the song, but that and the fact that the tracks on the CD are out of order from what’s printed are my only negative comments on an tremendous creative effort by an artist that deserves big stages and a wide audience.
“Love Won’t Break” is a song of love and loss. In many ways, the song reminds me of music made by Phil Spector’s wall of sound. It brings tears to my eyes. Anytime music moves me to that much of an emotional response, that’s great stuff.
Résumé closes with “The Last Suffer.” The song has a Pink Floyd feel, mixing rock opera with dramatic guitar work. It fills the ears and leaves space, an important combination in composition that many musicians blow right by on the way to their next note. Kinzler’s complex lyrics work well with the vocals she provides, and the music creates a sense of drama that is hard to miss. This powerful song is a tremendous performance.
Once again, Val Kinzler’s Résumé is rich musically, lyrically and vocally complex. This is an intriguing, well woven tapestry that needs to be heard.
Review by Ainsworth Hunt Rating: 4.8 Stars (out of 5)
"What an incredible soul-like voice, no need for song to have an introduction first! She could hit any note and loved what sounded like some type of ukulele as the accompaniment to the song, no need for anything else! :)This is prove of how a real artist can sing without any (or almost any) digital effects. She got me this singer, could not stop listening to her, she could have been singing about toothpaste, I wouldn't have cared/noticed so amazing her voice is! would definitely recommend and buy her CD!"
- Reverbnation
"Kinzler has a driving vocal style, raw at times with words that come right at you. Her social commentary is on the money and delivered in a strong alto voice. This attractive lady is not a wispy,breathless, clueless pop singer.
- Chuck Agonito, Finger Lakes Times