Multi-award-winning, multi-genre-artist Troy Kingi is now set to take us on a deeply personal discovery through an album dedicated to memories, lost souls, and 70s funk.
The Ghost of Freddie Cesar is Troy Kingi’s fourth installment in his 1O 1O 1O Series (10 albums in 10 years in 10 genres). Brought to life by Troy Kingi & the Clutch, this record is Troy’s most personal work to date; one that invites the listener to share his journey as he combs through recollections of his father who disappeared while driving from Rotorua to Auckland at Christmas time in 2005. Despite search efforts and sporadic reports of sightings, there has been no reliable trace of Troy’s biological father.
Troy’s journey with The Ghost of Freddie Cesar begins in 2007. While going through his missing father’s belongings, Troy found a cassette tape: –
“It looked pretty old and had this hand-scribbled name, ‘Freddie Cesar’ on it, and on the back was just handwritten names of songs. I recognized some of the songs from my early childhood back when my parents were still together and started writing down the lyrics as a form of therapy. I must have forgotten it for a while – but sometime in 2010, I found the notebook of the songs again, but not the cassette tape, so that's when I decided to find out who Freddie Cesar was. It turns out there is very little out there about him which further compelled me to recreate something.”
“It’s kind of a dedication to my dad and Freddie Cesar, this album. Even though the lyrics aren't fully mine and the music’s not fully mine, I feel him when I’m singing these songs.”
Much of Freddie Cesar’s life remains a mystery, but listening to the lyrics, it becomes evident that Freddie Cesar may have been a Vietnam Vet, struggling with the issues of the day associated with that life: PTSD, drugs, alcohol, and his inability to settle back into civilian society. Troy’s interpretation of this time as a funk-filled landscape, paints an imagined picture of the life of Freddie Cesar – the closest to a realistic picture.
“The Ghost Of Freddie Cesar “ - Troy Kingi and The Clutch
Out September 11th CD / LP through Border and available on all digital platforms.
TROY KINGI
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The Documentary
Freddie, Where Art Thou follows Troy Kingi on his personal and soul-searching journey whilst making his latest album The Ghost of Freddie Cesar. Documented by his creative team, Freddie, Where Art Thou is told through personal interviews, archival footage, and music videos.
The documentary will be released on September 25th, 2020 featuring Troy’s recent tour to New Orleans with an insight into an artist recreating a past that no longer exists.
Troy Kingi & the Clutch will bring The Ghost of Freddie Cesar to life
at the following LIVE shows:
22 October - Opera House - Napier -Hawkes Bay Arts Festival
23 October - San Fan -Wellington
24 October - Venue TBA - Auckland
For ticketing info and updates, visit www.troykingi.com