Broke-Ass of the Week: Singer/Songwriter Kendra Morris
Every week we feature a different person from the community shedding a little light on their life of brokeitude. Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something about the human spirit — probably not.
Wanna be a Broke-Ass of the Week? Holler at us here and we’ll send you the questionnaire.
I first got turned on to Kendra Morris by Rdio (goddamn I love Rdio!). I had been listening to some other soul artist’s station and when “Concrete Waves” came on, I stopped my typing and was like “Who the fuck is this?”. I then proceeded to listen to her entire album Banshee. It’s excellent. Check out this great video for “Concrete Waves”. Then recently I went and saw her play in Oakland at The New Parish and she killed it. After the show I asked her if she wanted to be Broke-Ass of the Week (like duh, who wouldn’t) and she said yes. So here we are. Now let’s see what this bad-ass singer has to say about being a broke-ass singer:
Name: Kendra Morris
Age: 33
Occupation: Singer and songwriter
What neighborhood do you live in?: East Village, NYC
Best money saving tip: I save all my loose change that I find in the bottom of my purse and put it into my monkey bank.. then after it’s full.. there’s a bunch of extra money to spend!!! Also, there is dollar pizza two doors down from my apartment and Punjabi around the corner that has great Samosas for two dollars or the taco truck on my corner with three dollar tacos. Basically, I could just eat the food from my block all week and spend next to nothing!!!
What do you refuse to spend money on?: Hmmm…. That’s tough. There are a lot of things that I’d love to not spend money on but somehow I still do. However, living in New York City for the past ten years I have managed to find a good deal of corners to cut through barter and nice friends in all sorts of places.
Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: Hmmm… first thing that comes to mind is either my taxidermied Moose head that hangs on my wall from the Chelsea Garage using a chunk of my rent money for $500 or a pair of thigh high leather boots that I only wore out once many years ago for $600… I guess I’d consider that the most expensive as it wound up serving me no use at all.
How’d that feel?: Buying the Moose… I was on top of the world until I realized I no longer had enough to pay rent. The boots were definitely an impulsive thrill buy and I still haven’t been able to give them up because I keep thinking maybe, just maybe I’ll wear them??? Probably not though. Ha.
Favorite cheap eat: Bereket on Houston and Orchard was the best… and it closed down just last week.. RIP Bereket!!!!! Back to the Grand Morales Taco Truck on Avenue A and 2nd Street.
Favorite dive bar: Library Bar NYC
Best deal you’ve ever gotten: I bought this crazy old Hammond Organ for $200 off my buddy Manny who sells all kinds of crazy things he finds around the neighborhood on Avenue A. I’ve gotten tons of stuff from him.. but the organ was by far the coolest.
Favorite free thing to do: Walk my dog around the east village on a beautiful day!!!!!
If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?: An El Camino and drive it cross country!
Despite not having money, do you still love your life?: Absolutely!!!! I think the fact that I don’t have very much money just makes me appreciate life all the more… It’s all just a bunch of stuff…When you have your health, family and good friends, perhaps a pet to cuddle with.. that’s the bees knees!!!
Do you own my book?: I do not!!!! However I had a friend who had it and I did plenty of digging through it… found it pretty helpful actually!!!! Nice work Stuart!
Best hangover cure: Buffalo Wings and a Coca Cola in a can.
Are you a hipster?: Nope…I’m an old dork named Kendra Morris.
