Chart-Topper DEEANN Joins Her Master Producer Ted Perlman On Honoring Sade’s “Kiss Of Life”

ACCLAIMED SONG STYLIST DEEANN FINDS FRESH JAZZY SOUL AND DEEPER, MORE PERSONAL SPIRITUALITY IN SADE’S 90’S CLASSIC “KISS OF LIFE”

To say I’m pleased and inspired by all the love I’m getting for my new version of Sade’s “Kiss of Life” is an understatement. In addition to receiving more and more streams on Spotify, it’s been climbing the charts at Smoothjazz.com, was mentioned on the Jazz Chill Blog and one journalist wrote that I breathed “new soul” into the song. Combined with my recent breakout success with Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful,” which rose to #3 on Urban Influencer, all of these accolades mean a lot. It’s confirmation that my producer Ted Perlman and I made a great choice that is not only a powerful track, but one that is connecting with people and makes an impact on their lives. 

Ted played a huge part in making the song my own and for the success it’s having. Initially when we were choosing songs to release as singles from the new album we’re working on, we started with “Kiss of Life” but set it aside when other tunes came up. But I had told Ted the whole story about my son William, who passed away in a motorcycle accident at 23, not long after I had completed most of the tracks of my second album It’s My Time. Ted knew there was a point where I was so consumed with grief that I didn’t want anything to do with music – and I considered giving it up entirely after performing as a singer for most of my life.

We kept coming back to “Kiss of Life” because Ted felt there was something in the feel of the song and the lyric that meant something beyond what Sade originally intended. Ted started to feel, and I agreed, that William’s presence was an overriding force in the music we were creating for the album, and it played a major role in my healing process. Whether we were lifting weights as we worked on bodybuilding or I was working on a music project, William had an expression he would always say: “No excuses, Mom. You can do it!” Realizing now how everything in your life can change in a split second, I recommitted myself to music a few years ago and decided to give it everything I’ve got.  





As we worked on Ted’s fresh, bluesy, jazzy-soul arrangement of “Kiss of Life” with the incredible musicians he gathered at Station West in Nashville, the song began taking on new meaning to me. I think as we go through life and experience emotional changes, songs that struck us a certain way in the past can hit you differently at other times. It’s a great song and I’ve always loved Sade, especially “Smooth Operator.” I relate in a different way now to the lyrics of “Kiss of Life” about an angel bringing someone special. I’ve learned so much since losing William, and to me the song works on a deeper level, illuminating our connection to God. To me, it’s saying that God sends those angels to bring us new life and love after loss takes away so much of our heart.

It's a new, unexpected feeling where, to paraphrase the lyrics, the world can truly hear our hearts beating once again. Sade is no doubt singing about a romantic interest but obviously to me, I see that angel as William, bringing the beauty of God back into my life. Someone once said to me about children, they grow in your belly but stay in your heart. I definitely feel that way about my son. On a musical level, I love how the track brings out both the low register of my voice, which is actually my favorite way to sing, and the higher register when I start scatting towards the end. The tempo Ted created is great too. But to me the magic that people are feeling comes from the whole spiritual vibe of the song. Everything I work on seems to have that even if it’s not intentional or immediately obvious. 
 
Before Ted and I began working on our first song “Simply Beautiful,” he came to my home in the Buffalo area and really got to know each other To him, those foundational conversations help set the tone about the direction our collaboration would take. The results of our work together so far make it clear that it feels comfortable on a lot of levels, not only musically but spiritually. We talk often about our love of God and our individual faith journeys. Once Ted got to know me, he felt the most important aspect of our work together was bringing out my soul, or what he calls my “special sound.”

Even before I go in to record my vocals, he works with the musicians to make sure everything is geared towards bringing out the deeper essence of my voice. In the case of “Kiss of Life,” that included drummer Brian Czach’s amazing brushes which helped give the track its jazzy feel. Keyboardist Jody Nardone and bassist Jonathan Nixon were incredible as well. I agree with Ted you can’t just call on any musicians to come in and play with so much feeling like they did. He told me they got into the groove of the song immediately. They locked in so peacefully without overplaying. Which made it feel natural and seamless when I came in to record my initial scratch vocals. I like it when Ted says there’s one word he has for working with me: Effortless!

People might want to know why we recorded only a scratch vocal in Nashville and waited to record my full vocal in Ted’s Ocean View studio in West Palm Beach. He says it’s the same reason Aretha Franklin sounded better when she recorded at Muscle Shoals – the humidity in the South is great for the voice!

Ted and I are developing an incredible creative relationship but that doesn’t mean we initially agree on everything. We both wanted a certain energy in “Kiss of Life,” showcasing my range to bring listeners in with a full sonic experience of me. But we fought over the first line of the song for a few weeks before we agreed on how I should sing the opening line. I preferred to do it in my lower range, and the final result with the backing vocals by Moe Loughran and Damien Horne is pretty sultry. That opening line needed the energy of low notes, but he worried they might sound muddy and too sad or dark. Then as I kept singing, I created a contrast by singing higher notes and scatting freely in my higher range. Ted really brings out the best in my vocals. Our going back and forth on such issues to me reflects that we’re a really good team whose musical experience and instincts balance each other out. A lot of producers take control of an artist’s work and tell the artist to keep quiet, but I love the fact that these songs are true collaborations.

I’ve enjoyed a long career singing many styles of music, from pop/rock and country to jazz and blues. But I think I’m sounding better than ever - and the best is yet to come! My re-energized creative flow is due to a combination of the strength William gives me, my publicist Tom Estey believing in me and the incredible way Ted has developed a new sound for me while bringing out the best in my vocals. I think there’s honesty and authenticity there that people are responding to emotionally.




While I certainly attribute the success “Kiss of Life” is having and the great reviews it’s gotten to the excellence of the production, I also believe there are a lot of spirits moving it for me in heaven. My father Frank was my mentor and #1 fan who taught me how to sing, and my brother, also named Frank, who was a great photographer always believed in me and loved my low notes, telling me they had a beautiful tone. He said my voice always made him smile and feel peaceful. Then of course, there’s William. I feel like all the doors are opening in God’s perfect timing.  

LINKS:

https://deeannmusic.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3TQejr5SYcgEAec0DJDaEb?si=mtduheaVTQa6Mq6hJ3Wapw
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/deeann/1122534487
https://www.facebook.com/DeeAnnMusic
https://www.instagram.com/deeann_dimeosings/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeann-dimeo-1075b8150/
https://x.com/DeeAnnSings

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