Latch Key Kid
Encyclopedia
Gavin Heaney "pka" Latch Key Kid is an American singer-songwriter from Manhattan Beach, California. His albums include the self-titled "Latch Key Kid" released on September 21, 2005, "Miracle Mile
" released on January 23, 2008, "All Becomes One
" released on January 22, 2009 and "Live and Acoustic
" released on October 19, 2009.
, attended Mira Costa High School
and went to University of California, Santa Barbara
, where he lived for about four years before moving back to Manhattan Beach
.
Latch Key Kid creates his own signature sound by playing the guitar
, bass
, piano
, drums, mandolin
and harmonica
on his recordings. "Heaney's biggest strengths: He produces, plays multiple instruments, is stylistically diverse. . .His live show has been marketable, too." Think mid-60's Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Simon and Garfunkel: it's the ability to write songs that are like smiles.
His song Good Times was used in the opening of the DreamWorks
movie I Love You, Man
, and was included in the Lakeshore Records
soundtrack of the film. The song is also used in the advertisements of Australian drama Packed To The Rafters. Good Times was also used in the 2008 Coca-Cola commercial entitled "Jinx" that first aired during Super Bowl XLII
and reached an audience of over 97 million viewers. The commercial was considered, "A close second to Kina Grannis
in terms of worldwide coming-out parties" for new artists. "The spot, featuring Democrat James Carville
and Republican Bill Frist
cavorting together, perfectly fit the mood of the cheery ditty about sharing good times with good friends."
Good Times and Almost Anything were used in the promos for the second season of the Australian TV show Packed to the Rafters
and was featured in the Packed to the Rafters Soundtrack Volume 2. Good Times has also been used on "Dancing With The Stars Australia" and in the trailer for the Warner Brothers movie "The Invention of Lying
." In October 2009, Good Times was featured in a one-minute short film entitled Dave Knoll Finds His Soul, featuring Heroes
star, Masi Oka
and directed by Milo Ventimiglia
. The short was made for the Responsibility Project, a joint initiative of NBC
and Liberty Mutual Group. The short aired during the Heroes
episode "Hysterical Blindness" on October 12, 2009.
In May and June 2010 Good Times was included in Continental Airlines in-flight radio show "Hit Factory" on every Continental Airlines
flight.
His new album, "All Becomes One
," was released in Australia and New Zealand through Warner Music Australia
. "Last Song" became the unprecedented tenth song to be licensed off of Latch Key Kid's album "All Becomes One
," when it was used in Skyrunners which is the first Disney XD Original Movie that had premiered on November 27, 2009.
and The Surfrider Foundation
, among others.
Miracle Mile (LKK)
Miracle Mile is the second Studio album by singer/songwriter Latch Key Kid. It was released on January 23, 2008.In the United States, the album is available as a single release in most retail and online stores.- Track listing :1. "Turn It Out"...
" released on January 23, 2008, "All Becomes One
All Becomes One
All Becomes One is the third Studio album by singer/songwriter Latch Key Kid. It was released on January 22, 2009.In the United States, the album is available as a single release in most retail and online stores...
" released on January 22, 2009 and "Live and Acoustic
Live and Acoustic
Live and Acoustic is the ninth album of the Filipino rock band, Rivermaya featuring Slapshock. This is a 2-disc album and has 22 tracks . The album has been released under Viva Records on 2002...
" released on October 19, 2009.
Biography
Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, CaliforniaManhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
, attended Mira Costa High School
Mira Costa High School
Mira Costa High School is a four-year public high school located in Manhattan Beach, California, United States that first began operating in 1950. It is the only high school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District...
and went to University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
, where he lived for about four years before moving back to Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach may refer to:PlacesIn the United States:* Manhattan Beach, California* Manhattan Beach, Minnesota* Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York...
.
Latch Key Kid creates his own signature sound by playing the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, drums, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
on his recordings. "Heaney's biggest strengths: He produces, plays multiple instruments, is stylistically diverse. . .His live show has been marketable, too." Think mid-60's Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Simon and Garfunkel: it's the ability to write songs that are like smiles.
His song Good Times was used in the opening of the DreamWorks
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
movie I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film...
, and was included in the Lakeshore Records
Lakeshore Records
Lakeshore Records is the independent music division of Lakeshore Entertainment . They started out as WILL Records.Will Records were started by Skip Williamson in the early 90s...
soundtrack of the film. The song is also used in the advertisements of Australian drama Packed To The Rafters. Good Times was also used in the 2008 Coca-Cola commercial entitled "Jinx" that first aired during Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
and reached an audience of over 97 million viewers. The commercial was considered, "A close second to Kina Grannis
Kina Grannis
Kina Kasuya Grannis is a Japanese American guitarist and singer-songwriter. She is of Japanese, English, Irish, French, and German descent....
in terms of worldwide coming-out parties" for new artists. "The spot, featuring Democrat James Carville
James Carville
Chester James Carville, Jr. is an American political consultant, commentator, educator, actor, attorney, media personality, and prominent liberal pundit. Carville gained national attention for his work as the lead strategist of the successful presidential campaign of then-Arkansas governor Bill...
and Republican Bill Frist
Bill Frist
William Harrison "Bill" Frist, Sr. is an American physician, businessman, and politician. He began his career as an heir and major stockholder to the for-profit hospital chain of Hospital Corporation of America. Frist later served two terms as a Republican United States Senator representing...
cavorting together, perfectly fit the mood of the cheery ditty about sharing good times with good friends."
Good Times and Almost Anything were used in the promos for the second season of the Australian TV show Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
and was featured in the Packed to the Rafters Soundtrack Volume 2. Good Times has also been used on "Dancing With The Stars Australia" and in the trailer for the Warner Brothers movie "The Invention of Lying
The Invention of Lying
The Invention of Lying is a 2009 fantasy romantic comedy film that is written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson. This film is the directorial debut of Gervais. The film stars Ricky Gervais as the first human with the ability to lie...
." In October 2009, Good Times was featured in a one-minute short film entitled Dave Knoll Finds His Soul, featuring Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
star, Masi Oka
Masi Oka
Masayori "Masi" Oka is a Japanese-American actor and digital effects artist.He has performed in numerous feature films and TV series, most prominently as Hiro Nakamura in the NBC TV series Heroes from 2006 until its cancellation in May 2010. He resides in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:Oka...
and directed by Milo Ventimiglia
Milo Ventimiglia
Milo Anthony Ventimiglia is an American television actor best known for his role of Peter Petrelli on the TV series Heroes...
. The short was made for the Responsibility Project, a joint initiative of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and Liberty Mutual Group. The short aired during the Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
episode "Hysterical Blindness" on October 12, 2009.
In May and June 2010 Good Times was included in Continental Airlines in-flight radio show "Hit Factory" on every Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
flight.
His new album, "All Becomes One
All Becomes One
All Becomes One is the third Studio album by singer/songwriter Latch Key Kid. It was released on January 22, 2009.In the United States, the album is available as a single release in most retail and online stores...
," was released in Australia and New Zealand through Warner Music Australia
Warner Music Australasia
Warner Music Australasia is the Australian division of the Warner Music Group. The company's operations also include distribution to New Zealand.-History:In 1969, Warner Bros...
. "Last Song" became the unprecedented tenth song to be licensed off of Latch Key Kid's album "All Becomes One
All Becomes One
All Becomes One is the third Studio album by singer/songwriter Latch Key Kid. It was released on January 22, 2009.In the United States, the album is available as a single release in most retail and online stores...
," when it was used in Skyrunners which is the first Disney XD Original Movie that had premiered on November 27, 2009.
Charity
Latch Key Kid is an advocate for a variety of causes, working with Music for ReliefMusic for Relief
Music For Relief is a charity founded by the band Linkin Park. The goal is to provide relief to victims of natural disasters and to bring awareness to global warming.-About:...
and The Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation USA is a U.S. 501 grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves, and beaches...
, among others.
Albums
- Latch Key Kid (2005)
- Miracle Mile (2008)
- All Becomes OneAll Becomes OneAll Becomes One is the third Studio album by singer/songwriter Latch Key Kid. It was released on January 22, 2009.In the United States, the album is available as a single release in most retail and online stores...
(2009) - Live & AcousticLive & AcousticLive & Acoustic is the first live album by singer/songwriter Latch Key Kid. It was released on October 19, 2009.In the United States, the album is available as a single release in most retail and online stores.- Track listing :1. "Good Times"...
(2009) - Latch Key Kid Redux (2010)
- Wide Open (2010)
Singles
- 2008: "Good Times"
- 2008: "This World Keeps Turning"
- 2009: "Christmas Everyday"
- 2010: "It Might Be Love" (Duet with Lindsay Ray)
- 2010: "Wide Open"
Soundtracks
- 2009: I Love You, ManI Love You, ManI Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film...
- 2009: Packed To The Rafters Volume 2
- 2010: Degrassi Takes ManhattanDegrassi Takes ManhattanThe Rest of My Life: Degrassi Takes Manhattan is a 2010 Canadian film adaptation of the popular, long-running teenage drama Degrassi, which was known as Degrassi: The Next Generation prior to this film. The movie premiered in Canada on MuchMusic on 16 July 2010, and in the United States on TeenNick...