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-Zionsville grad Michael Krejci releases Nashville debut, 'Out of the Blue'- (Josh Green / Daily Sun) NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Michael Krejci's genre of choice, Americana, is an amalgam of different things. There is country music in Americana. Also bluegrass, rock and folk. Much like Krejci’s musical influences and subsequent sound, several interesting parts comprise the Americana whole. "It's kind of an ambiguous genre," attests Krejci. "It's kind of roots rock. Kind of folk rock." Whatever its makeup, Krejci's Americana sound is pretty good. Krejci, 27, a Nashville, Tenn. resident, graduated Zionsville Community High School in 1998 with budding but vague aspirations of creating country music. Nearly a decade later, his elevated drive – and experience in the vibrant Nashville music scene – is reaping dividends. After a more than two-year recording process in Nashville, Krejci released "Out of the Blue" in January. The album, Krejci's debut, is laden with 11 catchy, tuneful jams, straight-forward lyrics and a pure singer with an earnest, hopeful voice in the vein of early George Jones. Ten of the album's 11 cuts are Krejci originals, the other a cover of vintage Travis Tritt. "The (Nashville) music scene is pretty exciting and thriving," says Krejci, over his cell phone earlier this week. Krejci (pronounced "kret see"), a resident of Music City since 2002, speaks with traces of a Tennessee drawl. "Aside from Broadway where all the country bars are, there's all kinds of sounds. You can find all kinds of great music on any given night." By day, Krejci works as a talent agent for Red Ridge Entertainment. His work schedule interfered with the recording process of his debut, which he funded entirely himself, backed by session musicians. The album is available in select stores, through Krejci's Web site and other Internet outlets. In Krejci's sound the imprint of his diverse influences can't help but emerge, if only a little at a time. He channels everyone from the Beatles to Merle Haggard, from John Fogerty to Waylon Jennings. In his Zionsville adolescence, through Alan Jackson's heyday, Krejci was admittedly an odd-man-out in his admiration for country. But he wasn't the only one. "Actually, I really didn't care for country or listen at all until I was (age) 12 or 13, and a neighbor from Terre Haute moved in," says Krejci. "Before I knew it, I was hooked. I got a hard time for it in middle and high school." -True To His Roots- Krejci moved from Chicago to Zionsville at age 6. His parents, John and Christine Krejci, were proprietors of a Main Street outfitter business in the Village, but have since relocated to Minnesota. His upbringing, says Krejci, can sometimes appear in his songwriting, almost unintentionally. "Being from a small Midwestern town," he says, "yeah, it comes up in my lyrics." Following his Zionsville graduation, Krejci studied economics and music at Kenyon College in Ohio, where he started to seriously play guitar and write music. By the end of Krejci's junior year, he was hellbent on making music his life. He uprooted to Nashville in 2002, attracted mostly by the "small-town feel, a real close-knit community." "Toward the end of college it became clear," recalls Krejci, "I didn't want to be a financial advisor." In addition to booking bands and writing his own tunes, Krejci cuts "pitch songs," or commercial country songs geared to suit various artists and publishing companies. "That's more what I moved down here for," he says. "I've got four songs I'm shopping around. I've gotten some bites." As a performer, Krejci's career highlights thus far include opening for acoustic sensation Lucy Kaplansky, bluegrass acts Special Consensus and Bottomline, performing at Nashville's storied Bluebird Cafe and the prestigious Americana Folk Festival, he says. He also continues his perpetual gigging around the Midwest and middle South, spreading what he feels is a truer country style. "I don't like the direction (contemporary country music) is going these days. I like more traditional style and feel, rather than pop country," says Krejci. "It's more bubble-gummy now, isn't as interesting. It's kind of lost the creativity and originality I think it had." Krejci typically makes it back to Zionsville a couple times a year, mostly for friends' weddings. A song on his debut called "Southbound on 65" was inspired by the drive between 'villes and a long-distance relationship that went, well, south. Krejci has set his goals before him more in step-by-step increments than in larger-prize chunks. He looks forward to a CD release party in March. A potential gig in Zionsville soon. And to slowly making the connections that are the lifeblood of success in Music City. "Ultimately, my goal is to get cuts with major artists, always trying to co-write with bigger people," says Krejci. "It's hard to get your song to Alan Jackson without knowing somebody." Mchael Krejci's debut album "Out of the Blue" can be ordered on his website, www.mknashville.com, select stores, and on iTunes, CDBaby.com, and other Internet outlets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (NASHVILLE, Tenn.) – August 27, 2008 – Nashville recording artist and former Zionsville resident (1998 ZCHS grad), Michael Krejci, will perform with his band at the 55th annual Zionsville Fall Festival in Lion’s Park on Saturday, September 6th at 7:30p.m. (fireworks to follow). Krejci is currently touring in support of his debut album, Out of the Blue, released last year to critical acclaim. The full length disc features ten original “Americana-style” songs as well as a contemporary-bluegrass spin on the Travis Tritt classic, “Anymore.” Several notable guest musicians appear on the album, including Andy Hall and Jeremy Garrett of the “Infamous Stringdusters” (Sugar Hill Records) and famed guitar-slinger, Eric Heatherly (Flowers on the Wall), among others. Some of Krejci’s career highlights include opening for acoustic sensation, Lucy Kaplanski, bluegrass acts Special Consensus and Bottomline, as well as performing at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café and the prestigious Americana Folk Festival (Patty Griffin/Mindy Smith/The Avett Bros.). Krejci was also chosen by Disc Makers, the nation’s leading CD/DVD Duplication Company, to be featured on the cover of their monthly catalog, reaching millions of consumers and music fans alike. For more information on Michael Krejci and his music, visit www.mknashville.com, www.myspace.com/michaelkrejci or stop by his merchandise booth at the Zionsville Fall Festival on Saturday, September 6th. Krejci will be on hand to personally meet with fans, sign autographs and perform acoustically throughout the day. Admission to the festival is free, however costs vary for parking, carnival rides, food, arts & crafts. Visit www.zionsvillelions.com for more information and a complete schedule of events. *Out of the Blue is available at www.mknashville, cdbaby.com, iTunes and other internet retail outlets and select stores.