Kristen Kreft
Kristen Kreft deep roots in independent recording in Cincinnati because her father worked in the studio at Fraternity Records, and she performed many different genres there as she was growing up, and she is familiar with recording a range of different genres. She points out that backing vocalists must be skilled at knowing the style and intentions of the artists; they are "instruments that complete a sound." The Jewels, who traveled with James Brown for a year, did not describe themselves as "backup singers," although they were proud of their ability to do back up vocals.
But, Kristen says, it is liberating to "step in front and take your stand as a vocalist and an artist." She is a particular fan of Vicki Anderson's ability to sing backup vocals and express her own talent.
