Jamie Kent is a cut above the average singer-songwriter. Not merely an acclaimed musical act and creative voice with soulful and rootsy influences, Kent is fiercely independent and entrepreneurial, creating a unique business model (known as “The Collective”) that has helped him build his fanbase from the ground up. He has since expanded “The Collective” concept to “The Collective Music Group,” which sees Kent consulting other artists on how to build their fanbases after Kent’s example.
As he tours the country with his band, Kent travels with two L1 Model II systems from Bose Professional Systems.
Relying on the sound of the L1 systems and working with the artist community of fellow Bose L1 users, Kent has been able to advance his career by thrilling audiences with accomplished performances and building strong relationships with other like-minded independent artists.
A few years ago, Kent connected with Matt Szlachetka, the primary guitarist/vocalist for California-based act The Northstar Session. The two bonded over their shared roots (the same hometown in western Massachusetts), and Szlachetka got Kent in touch with Bose and exposed him to the L1 system, which he has used ever since. Immediately, the Bose team welcomed Kent into the fold, forging a close relationship that Kent values to this day. “My Bose people are my close friends, and they would do anything for me,” Kent notes. “The level of support that Bose provides is something that you don’t see from many companies.”
The L1 Model II systems have been a more-than-welcome addition to Kent-and-band’s stage setup. Running through the L1 systems are vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar, banjo and accordion. For the full band lineup, Kent will use two L1 systems, and shows with a streamlined lineup will usually use a single L1 Compact system.
“The sound of the L1 system is just what we need – things sound right and pure, which makes us comfortable on stage,” Kent notes. “I am admittedly very picky about my vocals, and the L1 system helps me capture an authentic quality when I sing. And we couldn’t believe how light and easy to pack it was – with the amount of gear we have, that was key.
“Aside from that, what we really appreciate is the automated and customizable settings. Each venue is different, but once we get a sound dialed in, we can call it up and tweak accordingly. The on-board instrument presets on the T1 ToneMatch audio engine help bring out the natural qualities of each instrument, which we can also alter when we need to.
“Things started out amazing when we first used the L1 Model II system, and they’ve just gotten better and better as we have homed in on our sound. It’s like traveling with your own sound guy, because the settings are matched to you every night.”
“The Northstar Session and other artists that we work with are very close – we all support each other and help each other with booking and playing shows,” he states. “It’s a tightly knit community, and it has helped all of us grow in our careers while making good friends and inspiring one another. And Bose is there too, helping us grow in a big way. It’s a great thing to be a part of.”
