New song release part of KC Streetcar extension opening
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The streetcar has a new sound — and it's not the chimes, bells and musical notes that signal passengers and traffic.
The big picture: A local musician partnered with the KC Streetcar to create a Main Street extension anthem he hopes will boost civic pride.
Catch up quick: The song is part of a two-day celebration for the extended line, which opens Friday and adds 3.5 miles and eight additional stops to the original route.
Zoom in: Kemet Coleman, the artist and producer behind the new song, "Stay In Your Lane (Down Home Version)," says the idea is to use music to promote the city and bring massive infrastructure projects "down to earth."
- "At the end of the day, I want people to see Kansas City as a dope city," Coleman tells Axios. "We got all the things happening."
Zoom out: The new song follows Coleman's "Get Out (the Streetcar Song)," which dropped nine years ago, shortly before service began on the original route.
Context: Coleman, a KC native, wanted to help promote the streetcar when it opened in 2016 after learning about Kansas City's history with streetcars during his urban studies classes at UMKC.
- He said the streetcar board let him create a good song — not a "corny" PSA, but a funky bop that locals and listeners across the country could enjoy.
What he's saying: The new song is designed as an extension of the old one — like the new line is an extension.
- "In 2016, it was very raw and organic," he says, while the new song is bigger and more orchestrated. It includes nearly 30 musicians, including Grammy-nominated Dominique Sanders.
- The music video, produced by Sensei Brands, pays homage to the old video while enhancing some of its elements.
Behind the scenes: Filming on the streetcar presents some fun gravitational challenges, Coleman says, like adjusting for hills and the start-and-stop motion of traffic.
- "I felt like I was in 'Inception.'"
What's next: The song drops on YouTube and music streaming platforms Friday at midnight.
- Coleman will perform the song live for the first time Friday at 6pm at the UMKC stop.
Keep reading: KC bets on streetcar to revive Midtown