It’s all about the singles. No, not $1 bills or people not in a relationship — it’s about music.
Eighteen-year-old Donnie O’Keefe of Medina knows about melody, his guitars and what goes into writing good lyrics. When he’s not doing homework or at baseball practice, he’s busy finding spare moments to write down the words that best relate his mood, feelings and experiences so he can play his songs to crowds at bars and coffee houses, like The Daily Grind in Lockport and Java Junction in Brockport, where he had his first gig two years ago.
“Any free time I pretty much have when I’m not worried about school and baseball, I’ll sit down and write a song and keep working on it until it’s good,” O’Keefe said.
About three years ago, the aspiring musician taught himself to play guitar, putting his words to music, and has since had an album with eight songs produced by Medina native and Henrietta, Monroe County, resident John Pritchard, 25. O’Keefe’s track, “At Any Time” and under the name Boutivon, is also receiving notable recognition on the Web site www.garageband.com, where on Thursday it was ranked 95 out of 402 songs in the alternative pop genre. On Monday, it will be featured as the track of the day in the same genre.
As a producer/song writer with Blackdog Records in Rochester, Pritchard said O’Keefe has a sound he would describe as “probably folk and pop.”
“His raw sounds, his roots, (I would describe) just as acoustic folk and pop, but then, obviously you can produce a song any way you want ... any way you envision it,” he said, adding that if a musician wants to record an acoustic song, it’s them, their instrument and a microphone without any of the flair and fancy additions.
Pritchard and O’Keefe first made connections while the producer was still living in Medina. O’Keefe’s father, local attorney Mike O’Keefe, used to go out to listen to Pritchard when he was on the instrumental end of music instead of behind the scenes. From that point, once the younger O’Keefe began playing, Pritchard was available to guide him in his endeavors.
Throughout the course of their relationship, Pritchard has also recruited a musician and friend of his, Alex Feig from Medina, to work on some of O’Keefe’s songs. Feig helped with a couple of O’Keefe’s songs on a demo they recorded, Pritchard said.
But as a producer, Pritchard doesn’t really focus on albums because “it’s all about the singles. It’s always about the singles.” As in the days of 45s, which typically had one or two songs per side, the Internet has helped bring the idea of singles back with iTunes and other sites available to download music from.
“You shouldn’t fill an album up with filler songs. ... I pick my three favorite and then move on,” Pritchard said.
Like his counterparts, O’Keefe wants to make music a permanent fixture in his life and plans to attend Monroe Community College in the fall in order to obtain a degree in music.
“I’m going to keep on playing guitar all through college,” he said. “I want to start off taking music theory and any other music classes I can take ... pretty much any music class so I can get my fill of it.”
While the band name has gone through several transitions — O’Keefe said he’s had many different names over the last few years — it currently goes by Boutivon, a name he said he plans to keep.
“I don’t really know the exact meaning of it. ... Me and my father just came up with a name for it,” he said. “I’m just trying to find out which one is the best one. It’s pretty unique, it serves me pretty well.”
With many different musical influences, from his grandfather Donald O’Keefe and his uncle Pat O’Keefe to musicians such as Oasis, the Beatles and Green Day, O’Keefe writes his own lyrics and makes music his own.
“What I want people to know is I sing from my heart, from my personal experiences,” he said. “I write about how I feel ... my life experiences.”
Contact reporter Miranda Vagg at 798-1400, ext. 2225.
Local News
Related Photos
-
JOE EBERLE/CONTRIBUTOR
Discussion
MEDINA: ‘Boutivon’ single climbing charts at garageband.com
- Local News
-
-
Giving new life to the Diana
An effort that started four years ago is now nearing completion to get the marquee and the lights turned back on and the curtain raised for a new multi-purpose community entertainment center usage for the historic Diana theater building.
-
Nothing to wine about
The third time was the charm for Wine About Winter, which brought hundreds of residents and visitors to downtown businesses and organizations and showcased a variety of local wines Saturday.
-
Stop and Shop opens
The East Center Street Stop ‘N Shop is one of 27 Medina businesses hosting wine tastings Saturday during Wine About Winter, and the new store will offer much more when customers come back to shop.
-
Showcase event
Wine About Winter, which is being held from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, brings hundreds of residents and visitors into downtown Medina, but local stores aren’t they only area businesses being showcased this weekend.
-
Uniform Processing uses technology to help lenders, borrowers reach alternatives.
An Albion company uses computer technology to help clear up confusing mortgage transactions.
-
Parties nominate in Albion contests
The Albion Democratic and Republican party caucuses held meetings to nominate candidates for two positions on the village board Tuesday, but the evening ended with only two candidates and some disappointment in the lack of interest in local government.
-
Local leaders have power lunch
Business owners and elected officials gathered Friday at the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative luncheon to discuss the current business climate and look ahead to the legislation that could help or hinder the local economy.
-
Prepared patriots
At mobilization ceremonies across the state this weekend, hundreds of servicemen from the Army National Guard were cheered on their way to training for a possible overseas deployment.
-
A church’s rebirth
The members of the Medina United Methodist Church plan to celebrate the rebirth of their community at this year’s Easter Mass, which church leaders said could be held at the partially constructed facility that will soon be the church’s home.
-
Legislature OKs terms for property sale
The Orleans County Legislature approved a set of terms Wednesday on the proposed sale of a vacant Medina property that was once a Jubilee grocery store to Zor Inc., a holding company affiliated with Evans Ace Hardware.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
