Keaton Simons knows the Los Angeles scene. He is not only a native of the city, his parents and grandparents were definitely well connected in the film and television industry. After college and performances with such artists as Snoop Dogg, Keaton Simons signed to Maverick records and thought he had “made it.” His full-length album, however, was turned into an EP and it seemed his career was over before it even had the chance to begin. After persevering through the unfortunate Maverick record deal and other hardships, including drug addiction and the ridiculously fickle machine that is the music “industry,” Keaton Simons somehow managed to pull himself up from the trenches, pick up his guitar and continue playing amazing music. Now signed with CBS records, Simons’ album, Can You Hear Me, is selling out in stores and getting great reviews on iTunes. His life is proof that hard work and perseverance can make your dreams a reality. I had the awesome opportunity to talk with Keaton and hope you have as much fun getting to know him as I did:
Are you originally from Southern California? If not, where did you grow up?
Yes, I am a native of Los Angeles.
Wow, that seems to be a rarity in this town.
Oddly enough, my dad’s side of the family has multiple generations of native Angelenos.
What, or who, first got you interested in music?
I’ve always loved music and I took to it quite naturally when I was a child. My mom used to play stuff for me on the piano and I was able to watch her then repeat it. It also helps that my family has a great appreciation of music and it’s always been a part of my, and my family’s life.
What three words would you use to describe your music?
Listen for yourself.
Fair enough. That is three words. Now, how long have you been playing music professionally?
My first professional gig was when I was 10 years old. Danny Elfman had me perform a song on his movie Scrooged. In college, I studied Ethnomusicology but I think I have been truly dedicated to music as a profession for the past 10 years.
Aside from being a solo artist, have you been involved in other music projects/bands?
Oh yeah, I worked with a lot of west coast hip-hop artists including Snoop Dogg on The Tonight Show, Gnarls Barkley, Tre Hardsdon of Far Side, Medussa and the Feline Science, amongst others.
What are the best and worst aspects of being a solo artist as opposed to being in a band?
Having the autonomy to make decisions for myself as opposed to by “committee.” There’s already enough of that in the industry with your manager, the record label, etc. If you are in a band it makes it that much more difficult. A drawback to being a solo artist would definitely be that when I need to play with a band, it can be difficult to put together a group of musicians since the people I love to play with are professional musicians and might be doing other, better paying gigs when I need them.
I know there is no formula for creating any type of art, including music, but what would you say is your “creative process?”
My process is very open and is different for each song. I think I have had a lot of success using different methods. I think, initially, I was able to write songs on one phonetic burst: I would just start a song and keep pushing through it well into the night until it was complete. Now, I have found great joy in co-writing songs. When you co-write a song, you are able to create something that neither person would have been able to create on their own. I wrote the song, “Masterpiece,” for example, with Josh Kelley and it’s a song I love but one that neither of us would have written by ourselves.
Josh Kelley is great. Are you guys friends?
Yeah, we’ve been friends for quite some time and I think we both feed off of each other creatively.
Awesome. What other artists influence your music?
The Beatles, defintiely, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Nick Drake, old blue singers like B.B. King. Also, as an Ethnomusicology major, I discovered a lot of amazing world music that definitely inspires me: West African, Turkish and Indian music are all incredible.
Music is such a joy and a passion; I never question why I do this. I take every opportunity to connect with music and rediscover why I love it. I need to focus on why I love music every time I perform because that is what translates on stage; That is what people want to see. I am not the only guy to pick up a guitar but I am the only Keaton Simons to pick up a guitar and I want to be the best performer possible. I strive to continuously find inspiration to influence my music so I don’t become just another guy to pick up a guitar.
How do you think living in Los Angeles influences your music?
That’s hard to say since I’ve always lived here. One thing that is amazing about LA is that there are a lot of different types of people in Los Angeles and I try to pay attention to a lot of them. As an artist, as a poet, we pay attention to the things going on and then regurgitate that into our art, art that is hopefully appealing to the masses. Another amazing thing about Los Angeles is the landscape; You can drive 5 minutes in any direction and end up in a completely different atmosphere: From the beaches to the suburbs to Hollywood, it’s amazing the numerous different landscapes that exist in one singular city: That’s definitely inspiring.
How do you think the Los Angeles music scene compares to the rest of the country?
I’d like to see more enthusiasm in music here from the audiences. A lot of people come to pursue their own goals and, therefore, it’s difficult for them to find the time to come out to shows. In places like Nashville and Chicago, for example, people are there to listen, pay attention, and be a part of the show. In Los Angeles, people are there to be seen themselves, to push their own career by networking at the concert.
What is your favorite venue in Los Angeles to play?
Hotel Cafe.
What bands/artists are you currently listening to?
Josh Kelley, Tony Lucca, Lelia Broussard, Jason Mraz’s new album is amazing, Nina Storey, Curtis Peoples, Todd Carey. Also, I am really excited about hitting the road Ernie Halter pretty soon. Will Daily and Sharon Little are both artists on CBS that I love. There is so much amazing music out there and I am proud to be friends with a lot of the artists I love listening to. We all feed off of each other’s successes and that definitely helps me be a better performer. There is competition amongst us, naturally, but even more so we are supportive of one another.
What is something you would want your fans to know about you?
I want them all to hear my music and I want to connect with all of them. I don’t ever want to get up on stage and feel like, “Why am I here? Why am I not hanging out at the beach?” Also, I definitely want people to listen to my new record. I am so proud of it and I just want to share it with the world. I would hand it to anyone; I am so proud of it. I have been through so much over the years and this CD is the culmination of all that. Lastly, I am touring a lot and would love everyone and their friends to come to any of my shows. I really feed off the energy of the audience.
What is your favorite place to eat in Los Angeles? Â
Gozmart Sushi, in the middle of the valley, no frills but the food is unbelievable. I also love Follow Your Heart, an awesome supermarket/restaurant that has some amazing vegan food.
Hang out With Friends?
Hotel Cafe is definitely a place I like to go. It’s not at all bar-like and there is practically always amazing music. I also love to be outdoors with my friends, I love to go hiking, and go to the beach. When you live in Southern California, you can’t stay inside all the time.
Shop?
Amoeba is an awesome place to shop! Also, iTunes is a great place to shop for music. I have discovered so many new artists I would have never known about if it weren’t for iTunes.
Who would play Keaton Simons in the film version of your journey in the music industry?
Subscribe to our RSS Feed And checkout our coffee competition to win a $30 gift voucher to your favourite coffee shop : click hereDakota Fanning just kidding. Honestly, I have been through a lot, overcome so many crazy obstacles that while I would be honored to have an actor portray me, I think I would want to play myself.
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